Bat Masterson - Lawman of Dodge City

The ball; however, passed through her and severely wounded Masterson, who fell to the floor. While in lying there, he raised himself, drew his gun, and took one shot at the sergeant, killing him before he could make another move. This was his first man that Masterson killed.  Some months later, he was one of the besieged hunters at Adobe Walls in a several days' fight with infuriated Indians who were out on a war of extermination against the buffalo hunters. 

He served two terms as sheriff of Ford County, and his brother, Ed Masterson, was marshal of Dodge City while Bat was sheriff. One day a squad of Texas cowboys came into town, took possession of one of the dance halls and started a row. Bat and Ed went over to straighten out matters, the former going inside while the latter kept guard in front. Another cowboy appeared on the scene whom Ed asked to surrender his gun. He replied by placing his gun against Ed's body, firing, giving him a mortal wound,  and setting his clothes on fire at the same time. Bat, hearing the shot, came out to see what was the matter, told his brother to go for help, and turned his attention to the assailants. A few minutes later two of the cowboys were dead and the disturbance in the dance hall was quieted.

About 1881 he moved to Tombstone, Arizona, and while there received word from a Dodge City friend that his brother James had been injured in a quarrel with the proprietor of the Lady Gay Dance Hall -- a saloon operated by a man named Peacock and his barkeeper named Updegraff. He took the first train for Dodge City, reached there at 11 a.m., and soon met Peacock and Updegraff, whom he invited to come shooting. During the fracas, which was participated in by friends on both sides, only one man was hurt, Mr. Updegraff, and he subsequently recovered. After the battle was over the mayor arrived on the scene with his Winchester rifle, and ordered Masterson to throw down his gun, which he did at the solicitation of his friends. He was then arrested, fined $5 and costs which he cheerfully paid and a few hours later took the train for Tombstone.

Some years later he moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where he filled the office of deputy marshal. He also saw military service as a ranger under General Nelson A. Miles, and in 1893 he went to New York City at the request of a former superintendent of police, Thomas Byrnes. At that time George Gould had received a number of threatening letters, in one of which the writer threatened to shoot Gould on sight. Byrnes suggested to the multi-millionaire that he needed the services of some man who wouldn't be afraid to "shoot up" Broadway during the busy hours if necessary, who would hit the man he shot at instead of some other individual, and suggested Masterson

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