Wild Bill Hickok: The Springfield Square Incident

Howdy folks and greetings from the Great Plains of North Texas!

I've been talking about the life and adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
out in the Western territories of the United States.

My last post left off with him serving in the Army as a scout and spy in
which he had many purported adventures but few with corroborating
accounts or witnesses except the one of him crossing the river under
enemy gunfire so I'm not going to go into those as they may be
just tall tales.

We do know when he was released from is military duty in 1865 and
we know that his last official assignment was to ride out and give a
wagon train the news the the Civil War was over and we have a
description of him doing that by one of the men on the train:

"When about a half mile from the fort Wild Bill, on a dandy horse,
came riding by on a run, shouting as he rode by "Lee's surrendered!
Lee's surrendered!"

He was a striking figure as I noticed him, a large broad-brimmed at
on his head, long drooping mustache, long flowing hair that fell about
his shoulders, a brace of ivory-handled revolvers strapped to his
waist, and an extra pair in holsters that fitted about the horn of his
saddle where he could reach them instantly.

These latter were long barreled ones, capable of carrying quite a
distance. It was common talk that he had got many an enemy with
them just on account of their long-range qualities."

Apparently they didn't have much of a dress code in the Army back
then.

This was Wild Bill's last official assignment in the Army and was
released shortly after, I read a copy of his discharge papers dated June
10th, 1865.

This was in Springfield, Missouri and that's where he stayed for
awhile. It was still a pretty wild place to be at the time, not very
civilized with quite a few rough men hanging out there.

Springfield, Missouri 1870

source

One well known reporter said this about Springfield:

"It's strange, half civilized people who, from all the country round,
make this a place of barter and trade. They wear buckskin pants and
homespun; they were dirty and lazy. Their most marked
characteristic was in indisposition to move, and their highest
ambition to let their hair and beard grow.

The only indication of action was the inevitable revolver which every
body, excepting perhaps, the women, wore about their persons."

Sounds like a lovely place to live doesn't it? lol. This wasn't the
Western edge of expansion but it sure sounds like one.

Things heat up with an old enemy...

Springfield was the city where Wild Bill was stationed during the war
and lived there off and on as duty allowed, much of his time being
away behind enemy lines. But of course he did have people who he
wasn't fond of and who didn't like him as well.

One of those men was named Dave Tutt and they had known each
other for years and not in a cheerful way, they had bad feelings that
had brewed for a long time. Friends of their's say that Tutt started
seeing a girl that Wild Bill had liked and that didn't set well with Bill.

So Wild Bill then started seeing one of Tutt's sisters to get even with
him. The story is that the sister got pregnant and had a son. Well Tutt
was of course furious and swore revenge on Wild Bill. Back then this
was quite a controversial situation and stigma to be pregnant with no
husband. I'm not sure what the circumstances were but I think Wild
Bill was away in the Army and Tutt's sister left and went back East.

source

Friends of Tutt also claim that Tutt accused Wild Bill of killing one of
Tutt's Confederate friends during the war.

Now come's the time after the war and Tutt is living in Springfield and
is known to be a Southern sympathizer which of course is disgusting
to Wild Bill. And Tutt hates Wild Bill for being a womanizer to his
sister and being a damn Yankee. Plus they are both gamblers, heavy
drinkers and everyone is allowed to wear their pistols as there are no
gun laws in place.

Gee, I wonder what could possibly happen next?

The watch incident...

Well, they were playing cards in a saloon of course. Wild Bill was
winning and collected a hand of $200. Now, I don't know what that
would be in todays dollars but it had to be equal to about $10,000
right? That's a ton of money for back then!

Tutt was angry and reminded Wild Bill that he owed him $40 which
Wild Bill promptly paid to him. Then Tutt told him he still owed
another $35 for another debt but Wild Bill disagreed and said it was
only $25. At this point Tutt reached over and grabbed Wild Bill's
classic gold pocket watch which was lying on the table, one which
Wild Bill cherished.

At this point Wild Bill stood up. Not happy. This was dishonorable to
have an item taken from you especially in public like that.

A friend of his that was there quoted Wild Bill as saying this.

"I don't want ter make a row in this house. It's a decent house, and I
don't want ter injure the keeper. You'd better put that watch back on
the table."

Of course Tutt didn't put it back, he grinned a big grin and walked out.
Tutt had friends there who wanted a fight between the two because
Tutt was known as a crack shot with a pistol and they dared Wild Bill
to go fight him and when Wild Bill didn't they told him that Tutt was
going to cross the town square the next day wearing Wild Bill's watch.

That action would of course be a great humiliation and dishonor to
Wild Bill. Well everyone in town was talking about the situation, it's
probably the most action that had happened there for awhile. A friend
of Wild Bill called Captain went to talk to him the next day and found
him in his room cleaning his revolvers.

"Now Bill, Captain says.." you're goin ter git inter a fight."

"Don't you bother yourself Captain. It's not the first time I have been
in a fight...and these damned hounds have put on me long enough.
You don't want me ter give up my honor do yer?"
"No Bill, yer must keep yer honor."

The next day about noon Wild Bill went down the the square. He said
that Tutt shouldn't pack that watch across the square unless dead men
could walk.

Well, of course here comes Tutt showing up on the square wearing
Wild Bill's watch. Wild Bill warned him not to cross the square but
Tutt laughed him off and started walking, at the same time pulling out
his pistol.

Bill instantly drew both of his and fired at the same time, striking Tutt
in the heart. Captain said as soon as Bill fired he whirled around to
face the group of Tutt's friends who were there to see him die. They
had already drawn their guns.

Wild Bill snarled "Aren't yer satisfied gentlemen? Put up your shootin-
irons or there'll be more dead men here." They put them up and said it
was a fair fight.

There WAS actually lawmen there but I reckon they were there to
enjoy the show. Wild Bill was arrested and charged with murder and
had to stand trial. But he was released on a $2,000 bail while the trial
was going on. That had to be a fortune back then so he had some
wealthy friends.

The defense presented witnesses which all claimed that Tutt fired first
even though Captain didn't say anything about Tutt firing. But the defense
presented Tutt's pistol with one fired chamber.

One report said that as they walked toward each other they both fired
at the same time so that witnesses couldn't determine who fired first
but Tutt was encumbered with a long linen duster(coat) and his pistol
got caught in it and it is believed he fired before he was ready and
received Wild Bill's balls near his heart. Seemed Lady Luck was
always with Bill.

It was a short trial. Two days. The jury met for ten minutes and
returned a Not Guilty verdict. Another idiot who was full of hate and
was in favor of slavery bit the dust. Justice. Wild Bill acted in self
defense.

Thanks for reading folks, next post will continue Wild Bill's
adventures. God bless you all!
-jonboy Texas
the gentleman redneck

ps- ya know....you might just be a redneck if:

Getting a package from your post office requires a full tank of gas
in the truck!