John Selman
Encyclopedia
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
and sometimes lawman of the Old West. He is best known as the man who shot outlaw John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin was an American outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk hero of the Old West. He was born in Bonham, Texas. Hardin found himself in trouble with the law at an early age, and spent the majority of his life being pursued by both local lawmen and federal troops of the...
in the Acme Saloon in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
on August 19, 1895.
Early life, service with the Confederacy
Selman was born in Madison County, ArkansasMadison County, Arkansas
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 15,717. The county seat is Huntsville. The county was formed on September 30, 1836, and named for James Madison, President of the United States...
to an English
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
father and an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mother. The family moved to Grayson County, Texas
Grayson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 110,595 people, 42,849 households, and 30,208 families residing in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile . There were 48,315 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
in 1858. After his father's death on December 16, 1861, Selman joined the 22nd Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Cavalry and served in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He deserted in April 1863.
Life as a lawman
On August 17, 1865, Selman married Edna Degrafenreid, and the couple eventually had four children. He and his family moved to Fort GriffinFort Griffin
Fort Griffin was a Cavalry fort established in the late 1860s in the northern part of West Texas, specifically northwestern Shackelford County, to give settlers protection from early Comanche and Kiowa raids...
in Shackelford County, Texas
Shackelford County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,302 people, 1,300 households, and 941 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 1,613 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
, and in 1877 he became a deputy Inspector for hides working under fellow Inspector, ex-Shackleford County Sheriff John M. Larn. During this time he crossed paths with several notable Old West personalities, such as Doc Holliday
Doc Holliday
John Henry "Doc" Holliday was an American gambler, gunfighter and dentist of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
, Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...
, Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson
William Barclay "Bat" Masterson was a figure of the American Old West known as a buffalo hunter, U.S. Marshal and Army scout, avid fisherman, gambler, frontier lawman, and sports editor and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph...
, and Dave Rudabaugh
Dave Rudabaugh
David Rudabaugh , was an outlaw and gunfighter in the American Old West. Modern writers often refer to him as "Dirty Dave" on account of his alleged aversion to water, no evidence has emerged to show that he was ever referred to as such in his own lifetime.-Early life:Rudabaugh was born as David...
. Selman and Larn fought against rustlers and vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
justice in the then very wild area of northwest Texas. The two were involved in several shootouts with bandits and outlaws during the period that followed. On June 24, 1878, vigilantes shot Larn to death in an Albany Texas jail cell. Larn had been arrested after six hides which did not belong to him had been found behind his house. Even though Selman was out of town at the time, he found himself a wanted man, and was being hunted by these same vigilantes, who were friends with several men who had previously been either arrested or killed by him.
Life as an outlaw
Selman went into hiding. His wife died in 1879, and he moved with his children to Lincoln County, New MexicoLincoln County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.1% White*0.5% Black*2.4% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*9.1% Other races*29.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. There, he organized a band of outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
s known as Selman's Scouts (also known as 'The Rustlers'). The group was later accused of numerous acts of rape and murder in that area. By 1880, the band had been driven from Lincoln County, and began operating in Jeff Davis County, Texas
Jeff Davis County, Texas
Jeff Davis County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 2,207, and 2,258 by 2009...
. Selman was captured shortly thereafter by Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
, and taken to Shackelford County for trial.
Escape and return to law enforcement
Selman escaped, and fled to Chihuahua, Mexico, where he hid out until around 1888, when his name was cleared and all charges against him were dropped. He then moved to El Paso, TexasEl Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, and on August 23, 1893, he married Romula Granadine. He began working as a constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
, but also spent time gambling. On April 5, 1894, Selman killed a former Texas Ranger named Bass Outlaw during a drunken brawl in "Tillie Howards brothel". He was not arrested for the shooting, which was ruled justified.
In that shooting, Outlaw had already previously been ordered by Selman to return home to sleep off his intoxication, as Outlaw had verbally stated he intended to kill a local judge whom he felt had wronged him. Instead, Outlaw entered the brothel, and became disruptive, discharging his pistol. Texas Ranger Joe McKidrict, who knew Outlaw, attempted to calm him. Outlaw responded by shooting and killing McKidrict. Selman confronted Outlaw, and a gunfight ensued. Selman was wounded twice in the thigh, and Outlaw was killed.
Incident with John Wesley Hardin
El Paso Policeman and Selman's son, John Selman Jr arrested the mistress of gunman John Wesley HardinJohn Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin was an American outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk hero of the Old West. He was born in Bonham, Texas. Hardin found himself in trouble with the law at an early age, and spent the majority of his life being pursued by both local lawmen and federal troops of the...
, the widow M'rose, for "brandishing a gun in public". Hardin confronted Selman Jr., and the two men had a verbal dispute. Upon being told of the argument, Selman Sr. approached Hardin on the afternoon of August 19, 1895, and the two exchanged angry words. That night, Hardin went to the Acme Saloon, where he began playing dice. Shortly before midnight, Selman Sr. walked in to the saloon to confront Hardin. Drawing his gun at the door, he fired and hit Hardin in the head, killing him instantly as he went for his gun. As Hardin lay on the floor, Selman fired three more shots into him. Selman was arrested for murder and stood trial. Selman testified that he had observed that Hardin had seen him enter in the mirror and Hardin had gone for his gun. Selman swore he fired in self defense, and a hung jury resulted in his being released on bond.
Final gunfight
On the night of April 5, 1896, Selman was killed in a shootout by US Marshal George ScarboroughGeorge Scarborough
George Scarborough was a cowboy, lawman, and possible outlaw who lived during the time of the Wild West...
. The two men had been playing cards and gotten into an argument. Both men exited to the alley and "shot it out", after which Scarborough returned alone. Scarborough was arrested for murder because it was found that Selman had no gun. Just before his trial, a thief was arrested and it was discovered he had Selman's gun. The thief stated he had seen the shooting and stolen the gun before the crowd arrived. Scarborough was acquitted on murder charges and released.
Selman was buried in an unmarked grave in the Catholic section of El Paso's Concordia Cemetery. His exact grave location in the cemetery is not known.