Each ___?___ below represents the name of the gunfighter in question. Source for this and future such posts is Bill O'Neal's Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters.
April 5, 1879, Dodge City, Kansas. A quarrel over a woman had grown between ___?___ and Levi Richardson, a twenty-eight-year-old freighter who had come to Kansas from his native Wisconsin. Between 8:00 and 9:00 P.M. on a Saturday night Richardson was in the Long Branch standing by the stove. He started to leave, but ___?___ entered and took a seat at a gambling table. Richardson followed him and sat down on the table, whereupon ___?___ stood up, and the two rivals began exchanging words.
You darn SOB, (edited by Hamp) said ___?___, if you have anything to say about me why dont you come and say it to my face like a gentleman.
You wouldnt fight, sneered Richardson.
You try me and see! retorted ___?___.
Richardson went for his pistol, and ___?___clawed for his. Richardson fired first, and when ___?___ tried to shoot back, his gun misfired.
___?___ ran behind a stove, with Richardson in pursuit. Richardson fired twice more, and the crowd scampered for cover. ___?___ then began to empty his gun methodically at his opponent. Richardson was hit, but continued to trigger his .44 as he staggered back and fell against a table.
Suddenly bystander William Duffey rushed forward and seized Richardsons weapon as the wounded man slumped to the floor. Struck in the chest, side, and right arm, Richardson died within minutes; ___?___ suffered only a scratch on the hand.
