John Wesley Hardin, a notorious Old West outlaw, was killed on August 19, 1895, in El Paso, Texas. Born on May 26, 1853, in central Texas, Hardin had a violent history, claiming to have killed his first man at the age of 15 and at least 20 more over the next decade. His criminal activities included shooting a man in his sleep for snoring too loudly and killing a Texas sheriff, which led to his imprisonment in 1878.
After serving 14 years in prison, Hardin was released in 1892 and moved
to Gonzales, Texas, where he worked as an attorney and attempted to enter politics. However, his violent tendencies persisted, and he eventually relocated to El Paso, where he spent more time in saloons than in court. In 1895, El Paso's sheriff banned carrying guns within city limits, and Hardin's girlfriend was arrested for violating this law by officer John Selman.
Hardin threatened Selman over the arrest, and on August 19, 1895, Selman found Hardin playing dice at the Acme Saloon. Without a word, Selman shot Hardin in the head, killing him instantly. Selman was tried for Hardin's murder but was acquitted by an El Paso jury, which felt that Selman had done the town a favor.
John Wesley Hardin's death marked the end of a violent life that left a lasting impact on the history of the Old West. His grave is located in Concordia Cemetery in El Paso, guarded by a prison-like structure.
