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00:14Now, if you could name any hero from the Wild West,
00:19Wyatt Earp would probably be at the top of your list.
00:26I mean, he was a good guy, always on the right side of the law.
00:33Right?
00:34Wrong.
00:43Three days after the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, he was arrested for murder.
00:51And it wasn't just Wyatt.
00:54Virgil and Morgan were put under house arrest while they recovered from their wounds,
00:57and Doc Holliday was also charged with murder.
01:01In just 72 hours, the lawmen had gone from heroes to accused murderers.
01:08And now we're set to hang.
01:28Ike Clanton must have been feeling pretty pleased with himself, and was probably thinking that while he may not have
01:35been as fast as Wyatt Earp with his gun, he was sure as hell quicker with his brain.
01:42I mean, who else could have figured out a way to put the toughest lawmen in the West behind bars?
01:49He must have thought it was a stroke of genius.
01:51Oh, man.
01:54He wasn't just a mob boss, he was like the puppet master of Tombstone.
02:00And with Wyatt in jail, the town was his.
02:05What are you looking at?
02:06To do whatever he wanted.
02:08Ike, Ike! Yeah!
02:10I mean, Ike was probably already thinking about where to build a gallows.
02:16He wanted as many people as possible to see Wyatt hang, for maximum humiliation.
02:36So you think we can escape?
02:38We're not doing that.
02:42Well, how are we gonna get out of here?
02:46I think it's fair to say that Wyatt had absolutely no idea.
02:50But fortunately for them, the Earps had some friends in high places.
02:56Let me explain.
02:58You see, not everyone thought that Wyatt and Doc should be in jail.
03:02That's because Tombstone was what you might call a divided town.
03:08On one side, you had the cowboy supporters,
03:12people who benefited from doing business with them, like saloon keepers and butchers.
03:17But then you had another group of citizens who couldn't stand the cowboys.
03:22Chaos and lawlessness, which is what the cowboys represented, was bad for business.
03:29And that's exactly why the banks, the financiers, the mine owners, they all supported the Earps.
03:37The two sides managed to tolerate each other.
03:40There was a sort of equilibrium.
03:42Until the arrest of the Earps.
03:45Now the business community feared Ike and his cowboys would run riot.
03:48So, they raised some money to pay for a lawyer to free the Earps.
04:00Your land is now safe.
04:02You won't have any more trouble.
04:07I will take no payment.
04:09It is my duty to help hard-working people like yourselves prosper in this great country.
04:14As the founding fathers, expected of all of us.
04:21Meet Thomas Fitch.
04:24Lawyer and part-time actor.
04:29So, Thomas Fitch was well-educated, well-spoken, he had a reputation of being a great orator.
04:35And he was a lawyer, but he had also a number of other enterprises.
04:40What do you think, huh? What do you think?
04:44Fitch had been a journalist, a novelist, a theater impresario, a playwright, a lawyer, and an actor.
04:53Come on!
04:55He was what you might call a jack of all trades, and a master of none.
04:59Thank you for coming.
05:02Now, you might be thinking that someone with this many careers doesn't know what they want to be, right?
05:08But Fitch knew.
05:10He wanted to be great, and adored by the public.
05:15Yeah!
05:19So, when supporters of the Earps came looking for a lawyer, Fitch of course said yes.
05:25This could be his moment of greatness.
05:28Don't worry. I'll have him out of jail in no time.
05:39The first thing Fitch did was raise some money to get Wyatt and Doc out on bail.
05:47But getting the murder charges dropped was going to be a whole nother ballgame.
05:51So, there's murder, and then there's murder.
05:57Now, let's take first-degree murder. No, it's serious. No? That's very serious.
06:04Are we going to hang?
06:06That's a good question.
06:11If there's a trial, yes.
06:16Fitch had a point.
06:20A trial involves a jury.
06:23Twelve people selected at random.
06:27But Fitch thought it highly likely the jury would be tainted by the cowboys.
06:32And regardless of the evidence, they'd convict the Earps and Doc of murder.
06:44So, we need to avoid a trial.
06:49How?
06:57Bear with me. Bear with me.
07:04Yeah.
07:06There's going to be a hearing.
07:14So, under Arizona territorial law, they would hold a preliminary hearing
07:18to determine if there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
07:23And it was up to the judge to decide this.
07:27So, all Fitch needed to do was present the facts of the case during the hearing
07:32and prove the evidence against his clients was so weak there was no need for a trial.
07:39Sounds easy enough.
07:41Right?
07:47The stage was set for another showdown between Wyatt Earp and Ike Clanton.
07:52Only this time, the whole world would be watching.
07:57The shootout at the OK Corral had gained such notoriety that newspaper reporters poured in from all over
08:04to send stories back east to their excited readers.
08:10You see, people in the east loved reading about the Wild West,
08:15either in dime novels or in newspapers.
08:18Their environment was factories and offices.
08:20For them, the West was the stuff of myths, full of adventure, opportunity, and romance.
08:28In the 1880s, Americans east of the Mississippi are just increasingly fascinated with the American West
08:34and all the stories of the American West.
08:36And so, various pop culture entrepreneurs begin to feed that market
08:40with endless numbers of dime novels about gunslingers and cattle rustlers and buffalo hunters.
08:47But what made the trial of the Earp something special
08:51was that it was a story that nobody had heard before.
08:55This time, it was the lawmen, the so-called good guys,
08:59who were accused of murder.
09:01And the cowboys, the so-called bad guys, who were the victims.
09:06It was like the world had gone mad.
09:14Now, normally for a murder case, the Attorney General would run the prosecution.
09:19But Ike didn't trust him.
09:22So, he hired the top lawyer in Tombstone to take on the case.
09:28Ben Goodrich.
09:30I think the prosecution did think that they had a chance to win.
09:34And their contention was that the Earps went down to the O.K. Corral to kill Ike Clinton.
09:40All rise.
09:44But Fitch had a simple plan to counter the prosecution's case.
09:50This court is now in session.
09:53He rounded up witnesses who'd seen glimpses of what happened on that fateful day
09:57To show that the Earps had no intention of starting the gunfight
10:02That the shooting was an act of self-defense
10:04And thus, they were innocent
10:09There was Wes Fuller, jeweler
10:13Thomas Keefe, carpenter
10:16Ernest Storm, butcher
10:19Bob Hatch, saloon keeper
10:22Martha King, housewife
10:26Unlike a normal hearing which lasts only a couple of hours
10:29Fitch extended this into weeks, calling numerous witnesses
10:33Turning the proceedings effectively into a murder trial
10:38Mrs. King, could you please tell the judge what you saw and what you heard?
10:44I saw the Earp party walking toward the O'Key Corral
10:51And what happened next?
10:56Trouble is, Ike Clanton was one step ahead of Fitch
11:05Heard he was gonna be a witness
11:06Let's talk about what you see
11:10Handsome lad you got there
11:12We'll be seeing ya
11:15Let's have a chat
11:19Mrs. King
11:23I heard Morgan Earp say
11:28Let him have it
11:36Fitch hadn't expected any of the witnesses to lie
11:40Especially Martha King
11:41Now the situation was a whole lot worse
11:45Martha King's testimony was evidence that the Earps had planned to kill the Cowboys
11:52Which meant they'd be guilty of premeditated murder
11:57These witnesses came in and testified that the Earps had committed murder
12:03That the Cowboys were in the act of surrendering when the Earps fired down upon them
12:09And this would be in every paper around the Southwest
12:12And all of a sudden the Earps who had been such big heroes were looked upon as murderers
12:19And that's when the story exploded
12:22Because it wasn't just about an exciting shootout between daring gunslingers anymore
12:29Now it was about corrupt lawmen abusing their power
12:33See this
12:34Ruling these western towns with an iron fist
12:38Across the country people began taking sides
12:42You had people that wanted to paint the Earps as bad
12:47And sanctify the Cowboys
12:50And you had people on the other hand trying to sanctify the Earps
12:54This was music to Ike's ears
12:56Because now he knew his testimony wasn't just to the court
13:02It was to the whole country
13:08Left hand on the Bible
13:12I swear the evidence that I shall give
13:15Shall be the truth
13:18The whole truth
13:20And nothing but the truth
13:22So help me God
13:27Proceed
13:31Can you tell the court what happened on October 26th, 1881?
13:36You really think swearing an oath was going to make Ike tell the truth?
13:42We were just about to leave town
13:45When I heard Wyatt Earp screaming my name
13:48Ike Clarton!
13:50Ike Clarton!
13:52Where are you?
13:53And can you describe the commencement of the fight?
13:58The Earps and Holliday
14:00Pulled their pistols
14:02As soon as they got there
14:04And Wyatt Earp and Holliday
14:08Said you sons of bitches
14:10And they all began shooting
14:19Ike's story is
14:20Nobody's armed
14:21And they all put their hands up
14:22You know
14:23They got little halos over their heads
14:26They're just honest cattlemen
14:27Who've just come to town
14:28And these evil men in these long coats
14:31Come down and abuse them
14:34This is horrible
14:34Ike told the same lies he told Sheriff Behan
14:38And more
14:40Pretty much every account of the gunfight
14:42Has Ike begging for his life
14:45Begging Wyatt not to kill him
14:47But once he gets on the witness stand
14:49Ike claims he tried to grab Wyatt's gun
14:52And kind of presents himself as a hero almost
14:55Trying to be peacemaker
15:00Can you describe the moment of your brother's death?
15:05I saw Morgan Earp
15:09Pull his pistol two feet
15:12From Billy's chest and fire
15:15Then Wyatt Earp
15:17Finished him off like a dog
15:20Please don't
15:27Ike realizes that there are a lot of people now
15:30Reporting on this
15:31Reading about it
15:32And so he becomes a bit savvy
15:34And he speaks in these lines
15:36That are just perfect for quotes in the newspaper
15:41They were like an execution squad
15:48An execution squad
15:52No further questions, Your Honor
15:54This son of a bitch is lying through his teeth
15:58I know
16:01Don't worry
16:05Fitch saw his chance
16:07He'd pull apart Ike's testimony
16:09Show the judge it was a pack of lies
16:11And make Ike a laughing star
16:18On October 26th, 1881
16:21Did you or did you not set out
16:23With the sole intention
16:25Of killing Wyatt Earp
16:27His brothers and Doc Holliday
16:29Nope
16:31Wyatt Earp wanted me dead
16:33Oh really?
16:34Hmm
16:35Huh
16:36Well, I'm sure we'd love to know why
16:39A lawman with an impeccable record
16:41Would want to kill you
16:43Impeccable record?
16:45Huh
16:47Wyatt Earp is a stagecoach robber
16:55Order
17:02Instead of being exposed as a liar
17:06Ike just doubled down
17:10One night
17:11Wyatt Earp told me that
17:13He robbed the Benson's stagecoach
17:15You remember the stagecoach robbery, right?
17:22The one that Wyatt Earp
17:24Investigated and implicated Ike's cowboys
17:28Yeah, that one
17:30Now Ike was saying that Wyatt
17:32Was the one behind the robbery
17:35Later
17:36Wyatt offered me money
17:38Because he thought I would squeal
17:41But I refused
17:43And from then on
17:46Wyatt wanted me dead
17:50Ike started telling these incredible stories
17:53Under Fitch's determined examination
17:56He started telling how
17:58The Earps had confided in him
18:00That they were robbing stages
18:02And would he keep their secret?
18:05No further questions, you're on
18:09Ike had taken his lying to a new level
18:12But as they say
18:14The bigger the lie
18:15The more people will believe it
18:22Was any of that true?
18:26No
18:29There was a deal
18:31And nothing like he said
18:34I want the sons of bitches
18:36To kill Bud Philpott
18:37When do I get the money?
18:39When they're arrested
18:43Clanton guesses that at some point
18:44Fitch might reveal
18:46The secret deal between he and Wyatt Earp
18:48And so
18:48In order to get ahead of the story
18:50He concocts this wild tale
18:52That Wyatt Earp is actually the criminal
19:09Today was a day for truth and justice
19:14Soon the Earps will face their day of judgment
19:18But let's not forget our missing friends
19:23Frank McClary
19:24Tom McClary
19:28And Billy Clanton
19:32Who fought bravely defending our freedom
19:41Ike was becoming a master storyteller
19:46But even he had no idea
19:48Of the effect his words were having
19:52Because inadvertently
19:55He was stirring up some deep-seated grievances
20:07So here's what you have to understand
20:11The Civil War came to an end 16 years earlier
20:14The North won
20:16The South was defeated
20:18And the hope was that everything would go back to normal
20:22But it was a false hope
20:26You see, a lot of Southerners had no interest
20:28In rejoining the United States of America
20:32In the aftermath of the Civil War
20:34Many Southerners see themselves
20:36As a besieged, put-upon, occupied people
20:39They do not like the federal government
20:41Basically declaring martial law
20:43And, as they see it, running their lives
20:45And those same kind of resentments
20:47Are carried by people who leave the South
20:50Many people that head west
20:51Are former Confederate soldiers
20:56Soon, ex-Confederates were moving into territories
20:59Where they could do what they wanted
21:01Without interference
21:02Like Arizona
21:06And that included the Cowboys
21:08Led by Ike Clanton's father
21:11Who'd fought with the South
21:15Whereas the Earps were from the North
21:18Virgil Earp even fought with the Union
21:23In many ways
21:24It was a trial of North versus South
21:31But even though the news of the trial
21:33Was exploding around the country
21:36The President wasn't getting involved
21:41And there was a reason
21:48You see, during the Civil War
21:50Chester Arthur was a general for the North
21:54He was in charge of handing out contracts
21:57And made a fortune accepting bribes
22:01So Chester A. Arthur was known as incredibly corrupt
22:05And he's just unashamed about the spoils system
22:10Of just taking whatever you could
22:12After the war, he became a politician for the Republican Party
22:16Which was then considered to be the party of the North
22:21It was rumored that he stole the election of 1880 from the Democrats
22:28Considered then to be the party of the South
22:33The election of 1880 is actually one of the closest in U.S. history
22:37And at a dinner for some of his biggest supporters
22:40Following the election, including J.P. Morgan
22:42Chester Arthur actually boasts about buying votes
22:47Effectively rigging the election
22:50The South hated him
22:52So there was no way he was going to say anything about the trial
22:55And make the situation even worse
23:02Meanwhile, back in Tombstone
23:03It was Fitch's move
23:06But he was fighting an uphill battle
23:13To counter Ike's lies
23:15He wanted the judge to hear the truth
23:18So he put Wyatt on the stand
23:29I told Ike Clanton
23:31That if he would put me on track with Billy Leonard
23:34Tell me where he hid
23:35I would give him
23:37But here's the problem
23:39Wyatt read from a statement
23:41And it sounded like a police report
23:44When I saw Billy Clanton
23:46Frank McClory
23:47Billy Clanton leveled his pistol
23:48The testimony of Ike Clanton
23:51And I aim at him
23:52Wyatt wasn't a great talker
23:53So he agreed to take the stand
23:55But not be cross-examined
23:58By either the prosecution or the defense
24:00So he just gave a statement
24:01Which no doubt his lawyer helped him write
24:04He shooting at me
24:05And I shooting at Frank McClory
24:13It was a bad performance
24:18But as far as the judge was concerned
24:20It was Wyatt's word against Ike's
24:27At that point
24:28Things were fairly balanced
24:30Unless you were a supporter of Wyatt or Ike
24:33It was hard to know who to believe
24:35But there was one person
24:38Who had the power
24:39To tip the balance
24:40Call Sheriff Behan
24:45As the top lawman
24:46Behan's testimony
24:48Was going to be key
25:01Left hand out in the Bible
25:02I swear to tell the truth
25:03The whole truth
25:04And nothing but the truth
25:05So I'll be God
25:13Sheriff Behan
25:14Can you please tell the court
25:16Why you're at the O.K. Corral
25:18Shortly before the gunfight
25:20Well I'd heard that there was trouble
25:22So I went to see the night
25:23Clanton and his boys
25:24And left town
25:26Then I went to see the herbs
25:30I'll leave them town
25:31You can turn around
25:33And what happened next?
25:52The Arabs pushed past me
25:54And pulled out their weapons
25:57Get out of the room
25:59Wyatt!
26:01Boy
26:04Wyatt, don't
26:09Billy Clanton beg for mercy
26:12Please don't
26:27No further questions, Your Honor
26:33After the Earps had been celebrated
26:35As heroes
26:35Behan came in and testified
26:38That the Earps had committed murder
26:40That the Cowboys were in the act
26:42Of surrendering
26:44When the Earps fired down upon them
26:47And it was just a shock
26:49It was a shock to the town
26:50And Behan again
26:51Is the most liked and trusted man in town
26:54And all of a sudden
26:56They have put together a case
26:58Against the Earps
26:59Where not only does it look like
27:01They might convict them of murder
27:04They might put their heads in a noose
27:07Order!
27:09Bail for Wyatt and Doc was revoked
27:12And they were put back in jail
27:15I mean, you couldn't have murderers free to walk the streets
27:32I need to know why Behan was lying
27:39Tell her
27:41To them what?
27:43Tell them about Josephine
27:45What about Josephine?
27:46Jesus, Wyatt
27:49I know about you and her
27:51Who is Josephine?
27:53The Sheriff's girl
27:57Really?
28:01Wyatt and her
28:06Holy shit
28:11It's perfect
28:13He's dismissed
28:23We can show the judge
28:25That Behan's testimony is prejudiced
28:26Yeah, it's not gonna happen
28:29What?
28:31Josephine
28:31She stays out of it
28:34Great
28:37We're gonna hang
28:42Josephine was key to the whole yarn of Tombstone
28:49Her name never came out during the trial
28:52And that was Wyatt
28:56Wyatt did not want her reputation stained
28:59So he protected her
29:19Fitch was out of ideas
29:22And he didn't know what to do
29:26He'd taken on the case for the glory
29:34But now Wyatt, his brothers, and Doc were gonna hang
29:43He had to do something
29:46He had to find a way
29:55Was there anyone?
29:58Anyone at all?
30:00I'm asking everyone
30:01I'm desperate
30:05There's one man
30:08I saw him
30:08I saw him
30:09I was by the O.K. Corral
30:09I heard them talking
30:10They're coming to kill you
30:12Do you know his name?
30:13No idea
30:15Don't think he was from around here
30:17Well, what did he look like?
30:22He, uh...
30:22Walked with Limp
30:23He had a king
30:27Yeah
30:33Good luck with that
30:36Small man
30:37Late thirties
30:38Walks with a limp
30:39I'm looking for a gentleman
30:41He walks with a cane
30:44Sir, excuse me
30:46Fitch had gotten nowhere
30:47The mystery witness had disappeared without a trace
30:51Small man
30:52Has a cane
30:53He walks with a cane
30:54He walks with a cane
30:55Small
30:56The only life and death
30:59Either he'd left town
31:00Or maybe the cowboys had gotten to him
31:34Mr. Fitch
31:37Yes
31:38I think you've been looking for me
31:43Yes
31:45Incredibly
31:46The one witness that could help Fitch win the trial
31:49Turned up at his door
31:53H.F. Sills
31:54Was a railroad man
31:57Who had come to get medical treatment in Tombstone
32:00And on the morning of the street fight
32:03He had gone to Virgil Earp
32:05And said the cowboys are heavily armed
32:07They're down at the O.K. Corral
32:09And they're making threats
32:12Mr. Sills
32:18Can you please point to the map
32:20And show the judge
32:21Exactly where you were standing
32:23Prior to the gunfight
32:29Sills was there
32:31And saw parts of the gunfight
32:33And he testified
32:35That the Earp brothers had acted properly
32:37Why have you
32:39Come forward to testify
32:41Are you not afraid of the cowboys?
32:48No
32:49And why is that?
32:52Because I'm dying
32:58H.F. Sills is a stranger in town
33:01So he has no affiliation
33:02Either with the cowboys
33:03Or the Earps
33:04Which makes him an unbiased witness
33:06In addition
33:07There's a rumor circulating
33:09That he's suffering from tuberculosis
33:11Which is essentially
33:12A death sentence
33:13So he has no reason
33:15To fear retaliation
33:16From the cowboys
33:18Could you please
33:18Tell the court
33:19What you overheard
33:20Prior to the gunfight
33:22Taking place?
33:25I saw
33:26Five or six men
33:28Standing out in front of the O.K. Corral
33:31One was talking about
33:33Some trouble he had
33:34With a Wyatt Earp
33:36They'll think they control the town
33:39Can you identify that person
33:41For the court?
33:46And what else did this person say?
33:49I heard him say
33:53We ought to go kill all the Earps
33:55And that son of a bitch
33:56Doc Holliday right now
33:57Lies
33:58Lies
33:59Lies
33:59Order
34:00No more questions
34:01Order
34:03For the first time in the case
34:05Fitch had gotten a break
34:09Unbiased testimony
34:10That corroborated the Earps version of events
34:16But that wasn't enough
34:18Though the judge thought Sills was a compelling witness
34:21He was just one man
34:24Whereas Ike's team had almost 30 witnesses
34:27Testifying the opposite
34:28Let him have it
34:30But even more than that
34:32They had Sheriff Behan
34:34The top lawman in Tombstone
34:37And his testimony carried enormous weight
34:50So Fitch had to find a way
34:52Of tearing apart
34:53Sheriff Behan's testimony
34:54And there was only one person
35:02Who carried anything close
35:03To the same weight as Behan
35:05And had yet to testify
35:07And that was Tombstone's marshal
35:11And when we approached them
35:13Near the O.K. Corral
35:14They already had their guns raised
35:17Billy Clanton, he fired first
35:19We fired in self-defense
35:21And then all hell broke loose
35:25I got shot in the leg
35:26And I guess you know the rest
35:30And have you told your version of events
35:32To anyone?
35:33Yeah, Sheriff Behan
35:36And when was that?
35:38That evening
35:39He came to my room
35:40I didn't even know what happened
35:42I told him everything
35:44And what did he say?
35:49He left us no choice but to fire back
35:53He said
35:54You didn't do the right thing
35:57I ain't sure
35:58I done the right thing
36:00No, you're lying
36:01I ain't lying
36:02Well, then I guess it's your word
36:05Against Sheriff Behan
36:12Anything else?
36:15Yes
36:18He was there
36:24He was there
36:27Yep
36:28You tough son of a bitch
36:35He was there
36:49Fitch had stumbled upon a way
36:51To blow apart the case for the prosecution
36:56Could you please identify yourself with the court?
37:00Winfield Scott Williams
37:02Assistant to the prosecution
37:06Winfield Scott Williams
37:08Had just started working for the prosecution
37:10And on the night of the gunfight
37:12He had gone down to visit Virgil Earp
37:15And had gone in and was seeing Virgil
37:19When Johnny Behan came in
37:20To visit Virgil
37:22So
37:23So
37:25Sheriff Behan said to Virgil Earp
37:27You did perfectly right
37:44Yes
37:47So
37:48Sheriff Behan's testimony
37:52Is a falsehood
37:55A pack
37:56Of
37:59Lies
38:05When Williams came on
38:07He said that he witnessed Behan
38:09Telling Virgil Earp
38:10That he had done just right
38:11So essentially
38:13They caught Behan lying
38:15And
38:15Impeached the testimony of Behan
38:18Who was
38:18Considered the most credible witness
38:20For the prosecution
38:21And it was a critical moment
38:25In the trial
38:26Order
38:27No more questions
38:28Order
38:32Order
38:32Order
38:35Case dismissed
38:44Fitch finally had his moment of glory
38:49This is a great victory
38:51Not just for the Earps
38:53And Doc Holliday
38:55But for America
38:57But for America
39:03And as for the Earps and Doc
39:05Well
39:06They were celebrating
39:09After a month of hell
39:10They were looking forward to peaceful times
39:19And that could have been the end of it
39:24But Ike
39:25Wasn't done
39:28He was consumed with vengeance
39:32And he wasn't gonna stop
39:36Until Wyatt Earp
39:38Was dead
39:41And that could have been the end of it
39:42And that could have been the end of it
39:46And that could have been the end of it
39:47And that could have been the end of it
39:47And that could have been the end of it
39:52And that could have been the end of it
39:54And that could have been the end of it
39:55And that could have been the end of it
39:55And that could have been the end of it
39:57And that could have been the end of it
39:57And that could have been the end of it
39:57And that could have been the end of it
39:57And that could have been the end of it
39:59And that could have been the end of it
39:59And that could have been the end of it
40:01And that could have been the end of it
40:08And that could have been the end of it
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