Online: The Gunfight at the OK Corral

Historical documents continue to be made easily available to the public. One of the latest additions is the original documents from an event known as "The Gunfight at the OK Corral."

While most Americans have heard of the incident that occurred in Tombstone, Arizona on October 26, 1881, most of us don't know the details. In fact, a detailed Coroner's Inquest of the event was made shortly after. Typewritten versions were created in the 1960s by deputy clerks, then apparently mis-filed and lost.

On March 31, 2010, while reorganizing a records storage area in the old county jail, two deputy clerks of the Cochise County Clerk of the Superior Court office discovered these long-missing documents.

Quoting from the Arizona Memory Project's web site: "When these original documents were turned over to Arizona State Archives on April 21st, people around the world had their interest piqued about this notorious event in Arizona's history. Digitization began immediately to make this material available online. To enhance the documents' readability, many hours of painstaking 'digital scrubbing' was required during the initial cataloging process. This task was performed by state archivist specialist, Wendi Goen. Cataloging was completed by Cindy Hayostek, a historian from Cochise County in early July, 2010. The OK Corral documents represent the first phase of this collection. Following will be photos and biographies of judges, lawyers and others in the legal community, the art and architecture of the County's courthouses, and historically significant court cases. Completion date for this collection is Arizona's Centennial - February 14, 2012."

Documents already available online today include:

Testimony of J.H. Behan - 1881 handwritten transcript and a circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
John H. Behan, Sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona Territory in 1881, testifies he was present on Fremont Street during the gunfight in which William Clanton, Tom McLowery and Frank McLowery were killed. Behan says he attempted to disarm both the Clanton/McLowery and Earp/Holliday groups, and recounts his version of the subsequent action. He mentions: Hafford’s corner, Ike Clanton, Marshal Virgil Earp, Clanton brothers, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, 25-30 shots, William Claiborn, nickel-plated pistol, shotgun, Fly’s Photograph Gallery, vacant space, little board house, horses, coat lapels, and “old man” Frink.

Testimony of R.F. Coleman - 1881 handwritten transcript and a circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
R.F. Coleman, mining man, testifies he “saw the trouble that occurred on Oct. 26, 1881.” Coleman says he watched Marshal Virgil Earp arrest Ike Clanton, and then recounts his version of the subsequent action. He mentions: Smith’s old store, Billy Clanton, Dunbar’s Corral, OK Corral on Allen Street, J. Doling, Frank McLowery, West End Corral, Fremont Street, saloon on Allen Street, Billy Allen, Fly’s Gallery, Johnny Behan, Tom McLowery, William Claiborn, Bauer’s Meat Market, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, Doc Holliday, barber shop, Mr. Fly, revolver, two shots, the Epitaph, and Winchester rifle.

Testimony of Joseph I. Clanton - 1881 handwritten transcript and a circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
Joseph I. “Ike” Clanton, cattle dealer, testifies he was in Tombstone Oct. 26, 1881 and was the brother of William Clanton, who was killed. Clanton describes encounters with Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers before the gun battle, and then recounts his version of the subsequent action. He mentions: Occidential lunch room, poker, pistols, Winchester, six-shooter, William Clanton, Dexter Corral, McLowery brothers, coats, Occidental saloon, threats, shotgun, horse, Major Frink, Antelope Springs, and nickel-plated pistol.

Testimony of W.C. Claiborn - 1881 handwritten transcript and a circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
William “Billy” C. Claiborn, New York M[ining?] Co. driver and Hereford resident, testifies he was present when “the shooting commenced between certain parties” on Oct. 26, 1881. Claiborn describes his time with the Clantons and McLowerys before the gun fight, and then recounts his version of the subsequent action. He mentions: Mr. Behan, Dr. Gillingham, Fourth Street, Johnny Behan’s stable/corral, OK Corral, horses, Morgan Earp, Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, coat lapels, photograph gallery, coroner’s jury, undertaker, coroner, vacant place, pistols, two shots, nickel-plated six-shooter, Kellogg’s saloon, 28-30 shots, and William A. Cuddy.

Testimony of P.H. Fallehy - 1881 handwritten transcript and a circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
P.H. Fallehy, laundry man, testifies he was in Tombstone on Oct. 26, 1881. Fallehy describes his perambulations about town, and then recounts his version of the OK Corral gun fight. He mentions: the corner of Fremont and Fourth streets, Fourth Street gun shop, Ike Clanton, Allen Street, double-barreled shotgun, Marshal Virgil Earp, Jack Doling’s Saloon, Thomas Keibs’ Saloon, Hafford’s Saloon, Smith’s store, Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, Summerfield’s Store, horses, and revolvers.

Testimony of C.H. Light - 1881 handwritten transcript and a circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
C.H. Light, miner, testifies he witnessed “a portion of the shooting affray” on Oct. 26, 1881. Light was in a barber shop and so recounts his version of what he saw out the building window. He mentions: the Earps and the cowboys, Fremont and Third streets, two shots, Fly’s Photograph Gallery, and horses.

Testimony of M.A. Smith - 1881 handwritten transcript and a circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
M.A. Smith, lawyer, was excused by the coroner.

Testimony of W.A. Cuddy - 1881 handwritten transcript and a circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
W.A. Cuddy, theatrical manager, describes what he saw while walking on Allen Street on Oct. 26, 1881, and then recounts his version of the gun battle. He mentions: Mr. Dillion of Dillon & Kenneally, Mr. Page, cowboys, Sheriff Behan, four farmers, William Clanton, Ike Clanton, Allen and Third streets, Mexican dance house, back door of the little house next to Fly’s, horses, and Mr. Comstock.

Testimony of Mrs. M.J. King - 1881 handwritten transcript and a circa 1960's court clerk typed transcript.
Martha J. King, housekeeper, was in Bauer’s Meat Market, and recounts her version of the shooting. She mentions: Earp boys and cowboys, horses, Mr. Holliday, long coat, and gun under coat.

You can access these documents at the Arizona State Library's Arizona Memory Project web site at http://azmemory.lib.az.us/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=/ccolch

My thanks to Dee Snook for telling me about this online collection.