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The Wild West Extravaganza

John Wesley Hardin: Dark Angel of Texas (Part 1)

The Wild West Extravaganza

Wild West Josh

Education, History

4.8667 Ratings

🗓️ 3 January 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In November of 1868 – at just the tender age of fifteen – John Wesley Hardin killed his first man. And, a few weeks later, he’d kill yet again; this time three soldiers who came looking for him. Fearing a hangman’s noose, Wes struck first, dispatching two troopers with a shotgun and finishing the third with an old cap and ball colt. And you better believe the hits just kept on a coming. Before it was all said and done, Hardin would be responsible for anywhere between twenty to possibly as many as fifty killings, each of which – according to him – were justifiable. But how true is that? Was John Wesley Hardin a persecuted hero or a homicidal killer? How’d the son of a minister become one of the deadliest gunmen of the Old West? And did he really kill someone just for snoring?   Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/   Bill Longley | The Deadliest Gun in Texas - https://www.wildwestextra.com/bill-longley-the-deadliest-gun-in-texas/   Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/   Merchandise! https://www.teepublic.com/user/wild-west-extravaganza   Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:29.7

In November of 1868 at the tender age of 15, John Wesley Hardin killed his first man.

0:36.4

And a few weeks later, he'd kill yet again.

0:39.2

This time three soldiers who came hunting after him.

0:42.0

Fearing a hangman's noose, West struck first,

0:44.5

dispatching two of the troopers with his shotgun and finishing off the third with an old cap and ball colt.

0:49.9

And believe me, when I say, the hits just kept on a-coming.

0:53.3

Before it was all said and done,

0:54.7

Hardin would be responsible for anywhere between 20 to possibly as many as 50 killings, each of

1:00.5

which, according to him, were justifiable. But how true is that? Was John Wesley Harden a persecuted

1:06.6

hero or simply a homicidal killer? How the son of a minister turned out to be one of the

1:12.1

deadliest gunmen of the Old West.

1:14.4

And did he really kill someone just for snoring?

1:17.8

My name's Josh and you're listening to the Wild West extravaganza. John Wesley Hardin was born near Bonham, Texas on May 26, 1853.

1:38.8

His father James, a Methodist preacher, was what folks back in them days referred to as a circuit rider. Rather than

1:45.2

tending his own congregation, the Reverend Hardin would move extensively throughout the state of Texas,

1:50.4

helping to open and close churches and sometimes even schools. He'd moved the family down to Polk County

...

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