Below was just sent to me on the BARGE E-Mail list. Andy - Las Vegas
On this day in 1876, at Saloon #10 (also known as the Nuttall and Mann Hall) in Deadwood in the Dakota Territory, Jack McCall gunned down James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok. McCall shot Wild Bill in the back of the head, as Hickok sat playing poker with his back to the door of the Hall.
As I'm sure everyone knows, Wild Bill was holding Aces and Eights (all four black cards) at the time. McCall was hanged for the shooting.
Some reports at the time indicated that McCall claimed he was avenging his brother's death at Hickok's hand, but other reports indicated that McCall died on the gallows without ever revealing his motive.
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