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Virgil Walter Earp (1843-1905) was one of the Old West’s
great lawmen. While not as famous today as his younger brother
Wyatt, Virgil’s role in protecting the law of Tombstone
and other Western towns was far more impressive.
On June 28, 1880, Virgil was appointed city marshal of the
small mining camp of Tombstone, Arizona. Virgil took it upon
himself to enforce local ordinances such as the ban on concealed
or open weapons within town limits. His actions brought him into
direct conflict with outlaws Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton,
which led to the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Virgil,
along with new deputy Morgan Earp and temporarily deputized citizens
Wyatt Earp and John “Doc” Holliday took on the Clanton
gang in a blaze of gunfire behind the Corral. Three of the outlaws
were killed, and in the following week both Morgan and Virgil
were the targets of assassination attempts, in which Morgan was
killed and Virgil lost the use of his left arm. |