JOHN H. SELMAN - MANUSCRIPT DOCUMENT SIGNED - HFSID 285913

JOHN H. SELMAN
Jailed by the sheriff of Shackleford County, Texas, Selman signs a manuscript petition to a state judge for a writ of habeas corpus
Scarce Manuscript DS: "J.H. Selman", 1 page, 7¾x10. State of Texas, Shackleford County, no date. To T.A. Hutchinson, Judge, 12th Judicial District of the State of Texas. In full: "The petition of John Selman would show that he is illegally constrained of his liberty by J.C. Jacobs sheriff of Shackleford County Texas by virtue of the writ hereto attached and prayed to be made foul of this petitioner. That by virtue of said writ said Jacobs now holds petitioner in custody and demands of petitioner unreasonable bail. Wherefore petitioner prays for writ of Habeas Corpus that he may be discharged or held in honorable bail." Like many western gunslingers, JOHN SELMAN lived on both sides of the law. His career not only included cattle rustling, robbery and murder, but also arresting cattle rustlers, robbers and murderers. He assisted Shackleford County sheriff and friend John Larn, in making arrests, and as evidenced in this documents, was arrested by another sheriff. Selman, who engaged in eight known gunfights, is best known for a killing that ended in a mistrial. Around 11 P.M. on the evening of August 19, 1895, Texas' most notorious gunfighter, John Wesley Hardin was shooting dice with grocer H.S. Brown in the Acme Saloon in El Paso. Selman, who had been appointed constable of El Paso in 1892 and had already killed Bass Outlaw, walked across the room, held his gun to the back of Hardin's head and pulled the trigger. Witnesses say that Hardin reached for his six-shooter as he fell to the floor. Selman kept shooting, even as Hardin lay dead on the floor. The gunfighter's death brought a huge sigh of relief to many citizens of El Paso, but Selman's motive for killing Hardin had nothing to do with justice. Hardin owed him money. Ironically, Selman, who was waiting for a new trial for Hardin's death, was killed the next year by fellow lawman George Scarborough for the same reason. Some ink blots in blank area, horizontal fold underlines signature. Overall, fine condition.