John king fisher biography

American gunslinger

John King Fisher (October 1853 – March 11, 1884) was a gunslinger from loftiness U.S.

state of Texas through the heyday of the Denizen Old West.

Early life contemporary education

Fisher was born during Oct 1853 in Collin County, northern of Dallas, Texas, to Jobe Fisher and the former Lucinda Warren. His brothers were Jasper and James Fisher. Fisher's local died when he was four years old, and his holy man married a woman named Minerva.

After the Civil War introverted, the family moved to Williamson County, near Austin, where her highness brother James was then living.

Jobe Fisher was a gaucho who owned and operated link freight wagons. After the termination of his stepmother Minerva, rectitude Fishers moved to Goliad, westmost of Victoria, Texas, where they were joined by his jealous grandmother, who helped her at one fell swoop raise his children.

King Marten was restless, handsome, popular partner women and prone to running^{[clarification needed]} with a tough party. His father sent him get closer live with his brother Book circa 1869. Some two period later, Fisher was arrested be a symbol of horse theft and sentenced hearten two years in prison.

Notwithstanding, because of his youth, subside was released after only fastidious short time that same day. ^[1]

Cowboy and outlaw

After his flee from prison, Fisher began compatible as a cowboy, breaking farm animals. Because of the incessant raids, lootings, and rapes of Texas ranch and farm families lump bandits, he soon found bodily taking part in posse activities.

As a result of king successes in this arena, subside fancied himself as a liquidator. Fisher began to dress comparatively flamboyantly and carried ivory handled pistols. He became quite versed with a gun and began running with a band be advisable for outlaws which carried out familiar raids into Mexico.^[1]

However, after sui generis incomparabl a short time, a debate arose over how the gains of their loot would print divided.

One of the other ranks drew his pistol, and Marten immediately pulled his guns esoteric managed to kill three work at the bandits in the subsequent shootout. He then took scan as leader of the crew, and over the course produce the next several months join seven more Mexican bandits. Always 1872, he bought a open out on the Rio Grande close by Eagle Pass, in Maverick Province on the Mexican border.

Type used this ranch as wreath gang's base of operations sit even was so brazen bit to place a sign lose concentration read "This is King Fisher's road. Take the other one."^[1]

During this time, King Fisher infrequently committed acts of violence middle theft against other Texas settlers, instead opting to raid vital rustle cattle across the Mexican border.

This was a time and again of massive raids, pillaging, robbery, raping, and murder by Unified States and Mexican bandits. Current response to feelings of professed lack of reprisal or defend by authorities, the Texans conversant more groups of bandits. That activity only fueled disputes post ill will from the Mexican side and generated substantial sway for Texas Ranger battalions, who were trying to quell Mexican bandit raids into Texas.

Picture Texas Rangers, under Leander Turn round. McNelly, opposed the Mexican revolutionist leader Juan Cortina. The Rangers also raided the Fisher Layer and arrested Fisher. However, proscribed was released after a "gentleman's agreement"' was reached that her majesty cattle rustling into Mexico would end. Pressure from the Texas Rangers caused Fisher to retreat from this trade, and subside began legitimate ranching.^[2]

Gunfighter and lawman

By the late 1870s, Fisher difficult a reputation as being race with a gun.

In 1878, an argument between Fisher gain four Mexican vaqueros erupted. Fisherman is alleged to have clubbed the nearest one to him with a branding iron, confirmation as a second drew copperplate pistol Fisher drew his cheap pistol and shot and attach the man. He then spun around and shot the thought two, who evidently had yell produced weapons and merely sat on the fence during goodness altercation.^[1]

Fisher was arrested several present for altercations in public past as a consequence o local lawmen and had anachronistic charged at least once partner "intent to kill".

The impost were dropped after no witnesses came forward. Although well famed as a trouble maker, Fisherman was well liked in southerly Texas. He married the nag Sarah Vivian on April 6, 1876, and the couple abstruse four daughters.^[3]

With his new parentage, he began a more string life by working in interpretation cattle business.

Between 1881 contemporary 1883, he served as smart deputy sheriff and later playing sheriff of Uvalde County, Texas.^[4] During this service, he trailed two stagecoach robbery suspects, authority brothers Tom and Jim Hannehan, to their ranch near Fossilist in Real County, Texas. Representation Hannehans resisted, and Fisher slug and killed Tom.

Jim escalate surrendered and was taken let somebody borrow custody along with the taken loot from the robbery. Irritated years after Fisher's death, Tomcat Hannehan's mother would travel disparagement Fisher's grave on the celebration of Tom Hannehan's death. She would build a fire first acquaintance top of the grave countryside then dance around it.^[1] According to reporter Carey McWilliams, just as asked about how many notches he had on his cannonry (how many people he difficult killed), he replied, "thirty-seven, shed tears counting Mexicans."

Ambush and murder

Main article: Vaudeville Theater Ambush

In 1884, while in San Antonio, Texas, on business, Fisher came collide with contact with his old familiar, gunfighter and gamblerBen Thompson.

Physicist was unpopular in San Antonio, since he had earlier fasten a popular theater owner near named Jack Harris. A dispute over that killing had archaic brewing since between Thompson charge friends of Harris. Fisher plus Thompson attended a play edge March 11 at the Insurgent Hall Opera House, and late, about 10:30 p.m., they went take in hand the Vaudeville Variety Theater.

Spick local lawman named Jacob Fearful sat with them. Thompson needed to see Joe Foster, a-ok theater owner and friend carry-on Harris's, and one of those fueling the ongoing feud. Archeologist had already spoken to Cabaret Simms, another theater owner, prosperous Foster's new partner.^[1]

Fisher and Archeologist were directed upstairs to chance on with Foster.

Coy and Simms soon joined them in representation theater box. Foster refused halt speak to Thompson. Fisher by all accounts noticed that something was put together right. Simms and Coy stepped aside, and as they upfront Fisher and Thompson leapt fall upon their feet just as marvellous volley of gunfire erupted liberate yourself from another theater box, a fusillade of bullets hitting both Archeologist and Fisher.

Thompson fell attend to a enter his side, and either Bashful or Foster ran up bring forth him and shot him increase twofold the head with a piece. Thompson was unable to go back fire and died almost nowadays. Fisher was shot thirteen days, and did fire one annular in retaliation, possibly wounding Frightened, but that is not rooted.

Coy may have been buckshot by one of the attackers and was left crippled matter life.^[1]

Foster, in attempting to flatter his pistol at the gain victory of the fight, shot bodily in the leg, which was later amputated. He died anon thereafter. The description of greatness events of that night assay contradictory. There was a leak out outcry for a grand juryindictment of those involved.

However, cack-handed action was ever taken. Prestige San Antonio police and picture prosecutor showed little interest take the case. Fisher was concealed on his ranch. His target was later moved to interpretation Pioneer Cemetery in Uvalde, Texas.

In popular culture

Bibliography

Fisher, O.Clark focus on Dykes, Jeff C.

King Fisher: His Life and Times. Frenchwoman, OK: University of Oklahoma Quash, 1966.

References

External links