Died
on this day in 1882, Morgan Seth Earp (April 24, 1851 – March 18, 1882)
was an Tombstone, Arizona Special Policeman when he helped his brothers
Virgil and Wyatt and Doc Holliday confront outlaw Cowboys in the
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881. All three Earp brothers
had been the target of repeated death threats made by the Cowboys who
were upset by the Earps' interference in their illegal activities. The
lawmen killed Cowboys Tom and Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton. All four
lawmen were charged with murder by Billy's older brother, Ike Clanton,
who had run from the gunfight. During a month-long preliminary hearing,
Judge Wells Spicer exonerated the men, concluding they had been
performing their duty.
Friends of the slain outlaws retaliated, and
on December 29, Cowboys ambushed Virgil, leaving him maimed. Two and a
half months later, on March 18, 1882, they ambushed Morgan, shooting him
at night through the window of a door while he was playing billiards
and killed him. The Cowboys suspected in both shootings were let off on
technicalities or lack of evidence.[1]:242[2] Wyatt Earp felt he could
not rely on civil justice and decided to take matters into his own
hands.[3] He concluded the only way to get justice for his murdered
brother was to avenge his death.[2] Wyatt assembled a posse that
included their brother Warren Earp and set out on a vendetta to kill
those they felt were responsible.
Morgan married Louisa Alice
Houston sometime in the 1870s. They lived in Montana before joining his
brothers in Tombstone. Louisa was staying with his parents in California
when Morgan was murdered.