The Pistoleer: A Novel of John Wesley Hardin

FUGITIVE DAYS

The El Paso Daily Herald,

20 AUGUST 1895

Frank Patterson, the bartender at the Acme Saloon, testified before the coroner as follows:

“My name is Frank Patterson. I am a bartender at present at the Acme Saloon. This evening about 11 o’clock J. W. Hardin was standing with Henry Brown shaking dice and Mr. Selman walked in at the door and shot him. Mr. E. L. Shackleford was also in the saloon at the time the shooting took place. Mr. Selman said something as he came in at the door. Hardin was standing with his back to Mr. Selman. I did not see him face around before he fell or make any motion. All I saw was that Mr. Selman came in the door, said something and shot and Hardin fell. Don’t think Hardin ever spoke. The first shot was in the head.”

(Signed) F. F. Patterson

The Life of John Wesley Hardin as Written by Himself

“I liked fast horses and would bet on any kind of a horse race, a chicken fight, a dog fight, or anything down to throwing ‘crack-a-loo’ or spitting at a mark.”

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“I had been receiving letters from my father and mother urging me to quit my wild habits and turn to better ways.”

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“I was young then and loved every pretty girl I met.”

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“If there is any power to save man, woman, or child from harm, outside the power of the Living God, it is this thing called pluck.”

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“Everybody … tried to help me and everybody was my friend, but the infamous police were after me and there were several mischief-makers about me.”