Bullets flew through the air more often than birds in the Old West. Merriam-Webster defines the Old West as “the western region of the U.S., especially in the frontier period of the19th century.” And when “Old” is substituted for “Wild,” the time period becomes a times of roughness and lawlessness. However, was the Old West actually a time of organized lawlessness or was justice based on one’s stance—not concerning a gunfight? In regards to one of the most notorious groups known as the Earp Brothers there is no difference between those who break the law and those who are broken by the law. The Earps were most notably involved with the U.S. Marshals, in addition to several of the most famous outlaws, which destroyed the law and order of the U.S. Marshals. The most well-known Earps are Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan. Virgil was the oldest of the three. Thought dead by his wife, Virgil joined his family in San Bernardino, California. He was deputized in October of 1877, then …show more content…
On March 18, 1882, Morgan Earp was the target of a successful assassination. Wyatt Earp believed the acts were committed by Ike Clanton and fellow outlaws including Frank Stilwell and Johnny Ringo. He went on a killing spree which famously became known as the Earp Vendetta Ride. Only two days after Morgan’s death, the Earp family moved to Tuscon, Arizona. While there, Wyatt discovered Frank Stilwell, one of the prime suspects in Morgan’s murder. Stilwell had previous bad blood with the Earps after they falsely accused him of taking part in the Brisbee robbery in 1881. The group claimed Stilwell was planning to ambush them, ergo they ambushed him first. Frank Stilwell was found the next day, bullet-ridden. A warrant went out for the arrest of Wyatt and Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, and others for the murder of Frank Stilwell. The group resisted arrest, causing a great chase (Weiser, Kathy 1-2, "Wild West Outlaws and Lawmen"