Just The Facts!

Jack McCall (c.1850-1877): Lousy Poker Man I

He was also known as John McCall, Crooked Nose, Bill Sutherland, and the Coward who shot Wild Bill Hickok from behind. Whatever possessed McCall to commit such an act has not been known for certain. In a miner's court that was shortly organized after his arrest in Deadwood, he reasoned that a brother of his was killed by Hickok in Abeline. It was soon found out that McCall never had a brother.

He was born around the early 1850's in Jefferson County, Kentucky, along with three sisters. He grew up scouring the Kansas-Nebraska border with a group of buffalo hunters, became one himself in 1869, and may have even been a cattle rustler. For some reason, Wyoming was of special interest to him. Before being sighted in Deadwood, he was first in Wyoming. After fleeing Deadwood, having murdered Hickok, he returned to Wyoming and extensively boasted his achievement.

The Black Hills by the mid-1870s was teeming with gold prospectors, and it could be a reason for McCall's migrating into Deadwood. But was it really because of the gold rush? Research investigation continues to show that McCall may have had made connections with the opportunists' of the region. Hickok had been invading poker matches in Deadwood since mid-July of 1876. His presence intimidated the opportunists. They certainly did not want their illicit rise to golden riches be hampered by one as the Wild Bill.

So how does McCall fit into all these? It was said that McCall was actually known for his stupidity and for being a scoundrel. Some historians believe that there was a gunman that went by the name Lew McCall during that time, and was in fact executed by Hickok in Kansas. It could have been that Jack was made to believe that this was a brother by some stroke or joke of destiny. This may tie-up McCall's claim of a murdered brother.

So the story went as told that on August 1, 1876, Jack McCall was apparently tailing his target. At Sweeney's Silver Dollar Saloon, the unobtrusive McCall was pouring down the drinks, probably finding the appropriate level of liquor to trigger an amount of courage. He awaits his chance that comes when one player in Hickok's full table drops out. He staggers and volunteers to replace him. Drunk and overmatched, McCall's resources dry up. Hickok then hands him some money with some suggestions: to buy something to eat and refrain from the deck until he has covered all his losses. McCall was insulted.

The next day, he consummates his mission at the Nutt and Mann's Saloon Number 10 with the words "Damn you, take that!" Escaping the saloon, a shocked and indignant crowd came after him. He was cornered in a butcher shop and tried in a "miner's court." He was acquitted two hours later after an alleged bribe of its officials. Where did the money come from?