In Wichita and Dodge Wyatt was part of two great law enforcment teams. Tombstone was the opposite. On one side you had the Town Marshal Virgil Earp and his brothers. On the Other side you had county Sheriff Johnny Behan and his criminal deputies.
Both sides could not work together. Johnny Behan was a moron. He could not enforce the law, I meant would not enforce the law. Persons he deputized included, Johnny Ringo (known oulaw), Frank Stilwell (murderer) and let's not forget Curly Bill Brocious (cop killer).
Virgil Earp duty was to enforce the law in the town of Tombstone. After Curly Bill Murdered Town Marshal Fred White Virgil was appointed to replace him. Virgil would deputize his brothers on occasion and they managed to keep Tombstone very quiet. Virgil's counter part over at the Sheriffs office could not do the same.
Cattle Rustling had reached an all time high and almost triggered a war with Mexico. Clanton & CO would rustle cattle from Mexico and then in turn provide very cheap meat to Butchers ect. The "Cowboys" were the major source of revenue for the business men of Tombstone, therefore you could question whether Behan was afraid of them or he did not want to ruffle any feathers.
The Sheriff's position payed extremly well but you had to be elected. The major factor leading to the gunfight was politics.
After a couple of stage robberies, a theft of government mules and a few back room deals gone sour, the Clantons and Mclaurys found themselfs on the recieving end of some buckshot.
Wyatt and his brothers had their toughest foe to deal with....public backlash. The city was divided in two. The people for the Earps called them heros the people against called them murderers. Both sides were well represented and both were passionate. Ike Clanton would press murder charges against the Earps and Will Mclaury tried to get them hanged.
The prosecutors case had the Cowboys with thier hands in the air trying to surrender while the Earps opened fire. Wyatt read a statment claiming it was self defence. To make a long story short the Earps were aquitted after their defence attorny Thomas Fitch discredited every witness for the prosecution.
The damage had been done though, people would not forget the testimony given by Behan, and Clanton.
Tombstone became much more dangerous for the Earps after they were cleared of murder charges. Wyatt moved his wounded brothers and their wives into the Cosmopolitan hotel. In late December 1881 Virgil Earp was ambushed leaving the Oriental. Virgil barely survived, and left his left arm useless for the rest of his life.
Virgil saw Frank Stilwell seconds before he was shot and Ike Clanton would leave his hat at the scene. When Ike Clanton was aquitted Wyatt knew the Earps were on thier own. On the Eve of Wyatt's 34th birthday Morgan was murdererd while playing pool with Bob Hatch.
Wyatt was only feet away and a bullet hit the wall behind him inches from his head. That was the last straw.
Wyatt sent the rest of the Earps back to Colton along with Morgan's Casket. Wyatt and Doc Holliday accompanied the train to Tuscon were it was rumored that Ike Clanton and his friends were seen. When the train reached Tuscon
Wyatt spotted Ike Clanton and Frank Stilwell. Wyatt caught up to Stilwell and killed him with his shotgun. Ike Clanton was true to form and ran away. Wyatt later killed Indian Charlie and Curley Bill Brocious.
Luck was clearly on Wyatt's side when he killed Curly Bill. As the Earp party rode to Iron Springs they were ambushed by a few cowboys. Wyatt was in the lead and must not of relized that Doc Holliday and the others were in full retreat. Wyatt got of his Horse and leveled his shotgun at Curly Bill and fired.
Wyatt's clothes were riddled with bullets, He got shot in his boot heel and a bullet hit his saddle horn when he attemted to climb back on his horse. Texas Jack Vermillion's horse was killed in the battle and Wyatt would rescue him as well. That would be the closest the cowboys would get to killing Wyatt Earp.
They clearly had their chance to finish off Wyatt but they failed.
With the killing of Curly Bill the vendetta was finished. News papers across the country would either defend or attack Wyatt. Wyatt and Doc parted company, Doc went to Denver and Wyatt and his youngest brother Warren would travel to Gunnison. Cochise county would try to get Earp and Holliday brought back to Tombstone to face justice.
Bat Masterton was instrumental preventing Holliday's extradition. Nobody tried to arrest Wyatt.
