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by Michael Knost (Author)
History tells us Jack McCall, going by alias Bill Sutherland at the time,
killed James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok on August 2, 1876 at Nuttal and
Mann's Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, Dakota Territory.
Myth and legend surround so much when it comes to the killing. For
instance, we get the term Dead Man's Hand being aces and eights as that is
what is speculated Hickok held when he died. However, most historians
will tell you that's nothing more than speculation. Oh, and that Hickok
Death Chair hanging above the door of the Saloon #10 in deadwood today?
It's hard to believe the original chair Hickok was killed in would have
survived the fires of 1879, 1894, 1948, 1951, 1959, and 1987.
So there are a great number of myths, lies, and marketing deceptions
surrounding this historic event. And although we know McCall pulled the
trigger, what we don't know is why he did it. It was noted that McCall was
cross-eyed and his nose had been broken by being struck with a six-shooter,
so is it possible McCall may have suffered brain trauma with hallucinations
and paranoia or did he actually encounter what he found down that Trail of
Darkness? That, my dear reader, is for you to decide.
