Talk:John Wesley Hardin

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[edit] References to the movie "Maverick" starring Mel Gibson

This whole section which I just removed is simply a plot synopsis of a scene starring Mel Gibson in the 1994 movie "Maverick." Keep it out:

While making his way to Kansas, Hardin had a notable confrontation with a poker player by the name of Bret Maverick. The two had played together in a poker game in a saloon at Crystal River with a number of other players - notably, thief Annabelle Bransford and a ne'er-do-well only known as Angel - before a confrontation broke out. After losing a hand to Maverick's three-of-a-kind, Hardin commented that he didn't "think the hand should count". After some small talk between the two, Maverick was stunned to learn that his opponent was the famed Johnny Hardin. There was more tension, eventually leading up to some quick-talking and gunslinging showmanship from Maverick. Finally the two agreed that they should "just play cards", in accordance with a raise-of-hands by the players of who wanted or didn't want to see someone shot. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.116.170.6 (talk) 18:53, 14 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] How did his life as a fugitive begin?

I believe it was when he was still living with his parents. If I recall correctly, from a biography I read when I was in middle school, Hardin's run from the law began after he was confronted by a black state policeman (not a Texas Ranger, but the widely hated Reconstruction-era state police force imposed on Texas by the federal government or the Reconstructionist state legislature). Hardin took offense at what he believed an insulting tone and shot the officer dead with one of two cap-and-ball revolvers he carried.

  • William Longley also claimed to have killed a TSP in 1868-however the Texas State Police only existed from 1870 to 1873! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 134.53.145.188 (talk) 23:19, August 22, 2007 (UTC)

[edit] His marriage to Jane Bowen?

I was surprised this info wasn't in the article since Jane Bowen figures prominetly in some of the stories about Hardin. Here's one citation:

>> Spouse: Jane BOWEN b. 1857 d. 6 Nov 1892 Married: 29 Feb 1872 in Riddlesville, Gonzales Co, TX <<

from http://www.ku.edu/heritage/families/hardin.html

Lisapollison 13:08, 24 January 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Him getting access to a Colt .45. in 1870?

I seriously doubt the validity of this information since the it was not until 1873 that Colt actually introduced a .45 pistol in the form of the Colt Model P or Peacemaker. It was more likely to have been a Colt Army model of 1860 - in .44 cal or a Colt Navy 1851 model in .36 or even one of a shedload of Colt copies. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 202.72.164.103 (talk) 07:29, 18 April 2007 (UTC).

If I recall correctly, in his autobiography he says he used something in .44 cal.
Agreed, this wouldn't be possible. Pirate Dan 14:26, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
Hardin used M1860 .44 Colt armies and it is known he had a pair taken from him in 1877. When he was arrested in 1896 he had a .41 Colt Thunderer. When he died he was carrying a Smith and Wesson .44-40. Wayne (talk) 19:54, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Objectivity, sources?

From the start this article is completely subjective and dramatizes as well as uses colorful words to describe what is supposed to be historical fact. Hardin was a very bad dude, but how about letting the reader surmise it without the storytelling and metaphors used in this article? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.249.156.227 (talk) 08:46, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Photo

Er...is that Hardin? It looks like it might actually be Belle Stars boyfriend Blue Duck. Wayne (talk) 19:58, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

  • Blue Duck photo can be found here [[1]] {reference only}

[edit] Two Urban legends on JWH

  • Supposedly after being killed there were two Ubran legends on Hardin:
    • That he wasn't bad looking except for being dead.
    • THat he was shot {first} in the front it was good marksmanship; if he was shot {first} in the back of the head it was good judgement. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.53.145.169 (talk) 14:18, 25 May 2008 (UTC)