Beschreibung:

SELMAN, JOHN HENRY Texas gunfighter, killer of John Wesley Hardin . RARE DS accomplished in manuscript, Presidio County, Texas, 22 July, 1880. A PETITION FOR WITNESSES IN SELMAN'S DEFENSE AGAINST THE CHARGE OF THEFT. 1 page, folio. Selman is credited by some authorities with shooting at least 12 men (others claim twice that number), and may have participated in numerous lynchings through his leadership of a vigilante band. Serving with the Texas Calvary during the Civil War, Selman deserted in 1863 then joined the Texas Militia only to desert again in 1865. He later ended up in the lawless Brazos area where he was involved with illegal law-enforcement and rustling. Many attempts to ambush and arrest Selman failed and Selman's "Seven Riders Gang" raided in West Texas throuhout the late 1870's. Eventually settling down in Fort Davis after being cleared of rustling charges, Selman was elected constable in El Paso in 1892. He killed John Wesley Hardin in the Acme Saloon in 1895, the shooting provoking a trial which ended in a hung jury. Selman was himself slain by a U.S. Marshall in a private quarrel before the case could be retried. With such such a bloody life it is amazing that Selman is not as notorious as other more notorious gunfighters. Selman material is very scarce.