U.S. Marshal question.

[MikeG]

Morgan was never sworn in as a deputy US Marshal. Wyatt was in the Arizona Terrority.

RDS is correct, in that Virgil swore him in as a deputy marshal for Tombstone.

Morgan was not in such position when he was ambushed and murdered.

So here's what I got so far:
Morgan was a city deputy Marshal during OK corral shooting like RDS and cat_doc witnessed.
He was paid for a time according to Wyatt's trial testimony while the others were "day only deputies." Virgil was both Deputy U.S. Marshal and Tombstone City Marshal having beeing appointed by U.S. Marshal Dake and taken over the city job when the previous city Marshal Fred White was killed.

When Virgil was ambushed and crippled in December, Wyatt petitioned the U.S. Marshal Dake for deputy U.S. Marshal status with the power to deputize as it didn't appear that Virgil would survive. Dake granted this.

Wyatt received that authority and created a posse of "Special U.S. Deputy Marshals" to go after Virgils shooters in Jan '82. Morgan was included in that posse. Morgan was not appointed by Dake though so he received Posse pay only and his authority as U.S. Marshal probably only extended to the posse.

Wyatt and Virgil sent resignation letters to Dake in Feb 1882. Resignation letter said they would remain until replacements found so it's not clear when they left service. The posse had apparently been disbanded during this time. I think some of the posse members were also arrested by the Sherriff since they weren't particularly upright.

Morgan was assassinated in March, Wyatt was also targeted but escaped. Wyatt formed another posse as he apparently still had authority to do it and this was called the "Earp Revenge Ride."

Morgan's tombstone that claimed deputy U.S. Marshal status was fabricated in 1990. The U.S. Marshal Dake never appointed him as such, though, so that status must have been symbolic. I believe Dake considered the encounter at OK Corral as Virgil trying to arrest robbers on a federal warrant.

Between February and his death, I still haven't found out what Morgan's job was. Could have been Saloon keeper or deputy city Marshal.

It's pretty amazing how different the accounts are.

[retdetsgt]

Oddly enough, Virgil is buried up here in Portland.

[Cat_Doc]

Wyatt formed another posse as he apparently still had authority to do it and this was called the "Earp Revenge Ride."

This is actually more commonly referred to as the "Vendetta Ride" and received more national press and debate than the OK Corral incident.

In a strange sense, this may also be the most documented event that is the foundation for many movie scripts in which a cop goes rogue and is cheered by the crowds as he whacks bad guys outside the acceptable boundaries of law.

[MikeG]

This is actually more commonly referred to as the "Vendetta Ride" and received more national press and debate than the OK Corral incident.

You are correct sir. My mistake.

In a strange sense, this may also be the most documented event that is the foundation for many movie scripts in which a cop goes rouge and is cheered by the crowds as he whacks bad guys outside the acceptable boundaries of law.

Those Rouge cops are all red in the face too .

[Cat_Doc]

Those Rouge cops are all red in the face too .

LOL. Good one!

I got your pm and will get back to you on that with some good info.

[bluelightzgrl]

Morgan was a city deputy Marshal during OK corral shooting like RDS and cat_doc witnessed.

Points for that one...and no one else noticed yet!

[MikeG]

Points for that one...and no one else noticed yet!

Switch deserves the credit. He was the brains on that one. I just piled on.

[bluelightzgrl]

Switch deserves the credit. He was the brains on that one. I just piled on.

That shouldn't surprise me... but obviously, he didn't have the balls to post it.

[Kimble]

That shouldn't surprise me... but obviously, he didn't have the balls to post it.

Careful, Blue, the last time someone said something like that Switch was in a ghillie suit five klicks out with the person making the remark in his cross hairs.

[bluelightzgrl]

Careful, Blue, the last time someone said something like that Switch was in a ghillie suit five klicks out with the person making the remark in his cross hairs.

Aww, the old man knows I'm only pickin on him, it's all outta luv.


Besides, I'm not even sure he remembers how to put a ghillie suit on anymore...

[MikeG]

That shouldn't surprise me... but obviously, he didn't have the balls to post it.

Actually he did. previous page though. And he apologized so still kinda wussie.

[Switchback]

Actually he did. previous page though. And he apologized so still kinda wussie.

He and I regularly trade cigars... can't screw with that! Hahaha