Doing some research on the Texas Outlaw John Wesley Hardin I ran across a description of a watch he owned.

It appears the watch is still around some where & was auctioned in 2002.

It states the following about the watch;
"Court records show John Wesley Hardin was carrying a Colt Lightning Model 1877, serial number 84304 and an Elgin watch, serial number 4069110, when he was shot and killed on August 19, 1895. The revolver and the watch had been presented to Hardin in appreciation for his legal efforts on behalf of Miller in his trial for murdering Frazer. That trial lasted from April 8 to 14, 1895, ending in the jury being deadlocked."

"The hunting case pocket watch by Elgin is a 14 karat, gold-filled, lever set, inscribed on the front: "April/7th/1895." The inscription on the top of the inside lid reads: "J.W. HARDIN/From/J.B .MILLER." There is also a gold-plated brass chain, with a fob of a liberty head penny, with the date 1853 (the year of Hardin's birth)."

Just thought it was interesting.

Tom

Tom,
I find that very interesting, thanks.

"Miller" was better known as "Killin" Jim Miller. He was a relative by marriage of Hardin's and possibly the only more "massive" mass murderer in the West than Hardin. Hardin himself was murdered but "Killin" Jim eventually got the noose.

Yeah, some believe that Miller was the one who killed Pat Garrett. That area use to be my old stomping grounds.

I had a chance once to buy one of Hardin's playing cards that he would shoot holes in & then sign & sell there in El Paso. But I was a young kid & thought I had better things (booze) to spend my money on.

Tom