Morgan Earp | |
|---|---|
 Morgan Earp, about 1881, in Tombstone | |
| Born | Morgan Seth Earp April 24, 1851 Pella, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | March 18, 1882 (aged 30) Tombstone, Arizona Territory, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
| Resting place | Hermosa Gardens Cemetery, Colton, California |
| Occupation(s) | Soldier, sheriff, shotgun messenger, deputy U.S. marshal |
| Known for | Gunfight at the O.K. Corral |
| Opponents | |
| Spouse | Louisa A. Houston |
| Parent(s) | Nicholas Porter Earp and his second wife, Virginia Ann Cooksey |
| Relatives | Siblings Newton, Mariah Ann, James, Virgil, Martha, Wyatt, Warren, Virginia Ann, and Douglas Earp |
| O.K. Corral gunfight |
|---|
| Principal events |
| Lawmen |
| Outlaw Cowboys |
Morgan Seth Earp (April 24, 1851 – March 18, 1882) was an American sheriff and lawman. He served as Tombstone, Arizona's Special Policeman when he helped his brothers Virgil and Wyatt, as well as Doc Holliday, confront the outlaw Cochise County Cowboys in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881. All three Earp brothers had been the target of repeated death threats made by the Cowboys who were upset by the Earps' interference in their illegal activities. The lawmen killed Cowboys Tom and Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton. All four lawmen were charged with murder by Billy's older brother, Ike Clanton, who had run from the gunfight. During a month-long preliminary hearing, Judge Wells Spicer exonerated the men, concluding they had been performing their duty.
Friends of the slain outlaws retaliated, and on December 29, Cowboys ambushed Virgil, leaving him maimed. Two and a half months later, on March 18, 1882, they ambushed Morgan, shooting him at night through the window of a door while he was playing billiards and killed him. The Cowboys suspected in both shootings were let off on technicalities or lack of evidence.[1]: 242 [2] Wyatt Earp felt he could not rely on the criminal justice system and decided to take matters into his own hands.[3] He concluded the only way to get justice for his murdered brother was to avenge his death.[2] Wyatt assembled a posse that included their brother Warren Earp and set out on a vendetta to kill those they felt were responsible.
Morgan married Louisa Alice Houston sometime in the 1870s. They lived in Montana before joining his brothers in Tombstone. Louisa was staying with his parents in California when Morgan was murdered.
- ^ Roberts, Gary L. (2007). Doc Holliday: The Life and Legend. New York: Wiley, J. p. 544. ISBN 978-0470128220.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
historynetwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ WGBH American Experience: Wyatt Earp, Complete Program Transcript. January 25, 2010. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017.