Original subtitles

Hardin: MY NAME IS JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

AND THIS IS MY TRUE STORY AS IT'S NEVER BEEN TOLD.

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN WAS EASILY

THE DEADLIEST GUNFIGHTER OF ALL TIME.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Bell: THAT BOY NEEDED TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED.

HE'S A NARCISSIST. HE KILLS WITHOUT REMORSE.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin: FROM MY EARLIEST DAYS, I FOUGHT EVERYONE

WHO STOOD AGAINST ME AND MY WAY OF LIFE.

Man: BELIEVES IN GOD AND BELIEVES IN THE GUN.

WHAT HARDIN DID MOSTLY WAS KILL.

JOHN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Man: PUTS YOUR HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE 'EM!

Man #2: STICK YOUR HANDS UP, YOU SON OF A BITCH!

EVENING, GENTLEMEN. MR. SWAIN, IS IT?

ALL RIGHT, HARDIN. TIME TO GO BACK TO TEXAS.

A MAN-KILLER, A HUNTED FUGITIVE.

SOME SAY THE WORST BAD MAN THAT TEXAS EVER PRODUCED,

YET TO SOME HE WAS A HERO.

...TEXANS I'VE EVER SEEN!

Hardin: I LEFT A TRAIL OF BLOOD ACROSS THE MIDWEST.

MADE "WILD BILL" HICKOK WILT LIKE A DAISY.

TAKE 'EM IF YOU DARE.

AND GALVANIZED THE REBEL SPIRIT OF TEXAS.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

I WAS ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE LAW.

TEXAS, MY GOD.

UNTIL THE DAY THE LAW CLOSED IN.

[ GRUNTS ]

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

[ GUNSHOT ]

WAKE UP, HARDIN.

Bell: LEGEND HAS IT THAT WHEN JOHN WESLEY HARDIN WAS BORN,

THE MIDWIFE TOLD HIS FATHER THAT HE'S EITHER GONNA BE

ONE OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE OF HIS AGE OR ONE OF THE WORST.

AND SHE SAID, "HE'S EITHER GOING TO BE YOUR STAFF,

OR HE'S GONNA BRING YOU SORROW TO YOUR GRAVE."

AND, OF COURSE, HE BECAME THE WORST OF THE WEST.

HE IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE DARKEST CHARACTERS

THIS SIDE OF CHARLIE MANSON.

Hardin: I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF KILLING OVER 40 MEN,

BUT I HAVE ZERO REGRETS.

I NEVER KILLED ANYONE WHO DIDN'T NEED KILLING.

Alexander: WHEN THERE WAS A CONFRONTATION WITH SOMEBODY,

UNLIKE MOST PEOPLE, HE HAD NO RESERVATION

ABOUT PULLING HIS GUN AND SHOOTING 'EM.

HE JUST FLAT DIDN'T GIVE A DAMN,

AND HE WAS GONNA LIVE HIS LIFE

THE WAY HE WANTED TO LIVE IT REGARDLESS.

AND IT COST HIM DEARLY IN THE END.

Hardin: I'VE BEEN CAGED IN HUNTSVILLE PRISON

FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS INSIDE THE NOTORIOUS WALLS UNIT.

IT WAS MAMMOTH.

IT HAD 25-FOOT WALLS AROUND IT,

THERE WERE ABOUT 400 PRISONERS IN THERE.

THE CONDITIONS WERE TERRIBLE,

AND THE GUARDS COULD GET AWAY WITH, REALLY,

ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO DO.

AND SO, BASICALLY, HE WAS PART OF A GROUP OF PRISONERS

THAT WERE TREATED AS MAXIMUM-SECURITY THREATS.

Hardin: THEY SAY WHAT DON'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER.

WELL, AFTER 16 YEARS ON THE CHAIN GANG, I MUST BE HERCULES.

I BELIEVE I'VE BECOME SOMETHING OF A FOLK HERO

IN MY NATIVE TEXAS,

AND I KNOW I WILL PROFIT HANDSOMELY

FROM TELLING MY STORY, IF I EVER MAKE PAROLE.

Roth: UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER UNREPENTANT KILLERS,

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN CAME FROM A GOOD FAMILY BACKGROUND.

HIS FATHER WAS A PREACHER, AND HE ALSO STUDIED LAW.

SO, HE'S A WALKING SET OF CONTRADICTIONS, REALLY.

THE NAME OF JOHN WESLEY HARDIN IS IRONIC,

BECAUSE HE'S NAMED FOR JOHN WESLEY,

THE FOUNDER OF THE METHODIST CHURCH.

INSTEAD, HE TAKES THAT NAMESAKE

AND GOES OFF ON A DIFFERENT PATH.

TO UNDERSTAND JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TEXAS

AND RECONSTRUCTION WAS LIKE.

Alexander: HE WAS A PRODUCT OF THE OLD SOUTH,

HE WAS BORN PRIOR TO THE CIVIL WAR

AND HE HAD HIS CHILDHOOD THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR

AND WAS INFLUENCED BY ALL OF THE THINGS

THAT HE WAS HEARING.

TEXAS WAS A CONFEDERATE STATE,

AND SO THAT'S THE WAY HE GREW UP.

Hardin: I SAW ABRAHAM LINCOLN BURN

AND SHOT TO PIECES IN EFFIGY SO MANY TIMES

THAT I USED TO BELIEVE HE WAS THE DEVIL INCARNATE.

HE WAS WAGING A CRUEL AND RELENTLESS WAR ON THE SOUTH,

TO ROB HER OF HER MOST SACRED RIGHTS.

[ GUNSHOT ]

I WAS A CRACK SHOT BY THE TIME I TURNED 12.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

AND I TRIED EVERY CHANCE I GOT

TO SNEAK AWAY AND JOIN THE REBELS.

Man: JOHNNY.

BUT I WANNA FIGHT, PA.

YOU'RE TOO YOUNG.

YOU WONDER IF HE HAD SERVED ONE, TWO OR THREE YEARS

AS A SOLDIER ON THE BATTLEFIELD

AND EXPERIENCED THE CHAOS OF THE BATTLE,

WOULD HE HAVE BECOME THE MAN-KILLER DURING THE 1870s.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF OTHER YOUNG MEN

WHO GREW UP IN THE SAME SITUATION,

THE SAME ENVIRONMENT,

WHO DID NOT BECOME KILLERS OF MEN.

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN HAD SOME DIFFERENT SPARK IN HIM,

CALL IT CHEMICAL IMBALANCE,

SOME CAUSE CAUSED HIM TO BECOME MORE VIOLENT.

Man: GET HIM, JOHN! COME ON!

Man #2: COME ON NOW, BOY. WHOO!

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN FIRST ADMITTED KILLING SOMEBODY

WHEN HE WAS 15 YEARS OLD.

Hardin: IT STARTED AS A WRESTLING MATCH.

ME AND MY COUSIN AGAINST ONE OF MY UNCLE'S EX-SLAVES,

A FELLOW NAMED MAGE.

COME ON. WHOOP SOME ASS.

GET IN THERE. COME ON, JOHN WESLEY.

COME ON, JOHN.

GET IN THERE, JOHN WESLEY. GET IN THERE.

Hardin: HE WAS BIGGER, OF COURSE.

BUT WE THOUGHT TOGETHER, WE'D TAKE HIM.

Y'ALL DONE.

WINNER, MAGE.

Boy: NICE ONE, MAGE.

WHOO!

Hardin: HE MADE ME LOOK INFERIOR,

AND THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD LET THAT SLIDE.

HARDIN REALLY TOOK OFFENSE

AT THE FACT THAT HE WAS BESTED BY A BLACK MAN.

THIS KIND OF STIRRED UP ALL OF THOSE VALUES

THAT HE HAD IN HIM.

HE HAD A CERTAIN PERSONALITY WHERE HE HATED TO LOSE,

AND WHAT BIGGER LOSER WAS THERE AT THIS TIME

THAN THE CONFEDERACY.

IF HE LOST, HE SAW THIS AS AN INSULT.

HE DECIDED THAT HE WOULD ANSWER ANY TYPE OF THREAT

TO THE SOUTHERN TRADITION WITH VIOLENCE.

[ WHISTLING ]

HEY, JOHN.

JOHN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Parsons: IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY,

HE MAKES IT SOUND LIKE HE DEFENDED HIMSELF AGAINST MAGE

BECAUSE MAGE WAS GONNA BEAT HIM WITH A STICK.

Hardin: THAT WAS THE FIRST MAN I EVER KILLED.

MAGE LIVES LONG ENOUGH TO BE TAKEN BACK BY HIS FAMILY,

AND HE GIVES HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED.

AND HE SAYS HE NEVER WENT AFTER HARDIN.

WHAT IS PROBABLY MORE LIKELY WAS AFTER WHAT HAPPENED,

WAS THAT HE STALKED MAGE.

AND THIS WOULD BE JUST, YOU KNOW,

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN GETTING BACK FOR THIS PERCEIVED SLIGHT,

AND KILLING HIM.

PRAY WITH ME, SON.

Parsons: REVEREND HARDIN WAS FEARFUL FOR HIS SON TO STAND TRIAL.

HE FELT THAT UNDER THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION,

NO WHITE PERSON COULD GET A FAIR TRIAL

IF THEY HAD DONE ANY INJURY TO A BLACK PERSON.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

Roth: WHILE MOST OF HIS NEIGHBORS

WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED HIS ACTIONS,

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,

WHICH WERE IN THE HANDS OF THE UNIONISTS,

WOULD SEE THIS AS A MURDER.

AND THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT HE COULD HANG.

Hardin: I BECAME A FUGITIVE NOT FROM JUSTICE

BUT FROM THE INJUSTICE AND MISRULE

OF THOSE WHO HAD SUBJUGATED THE SOUTH.

I SOON LEARNED TO LIVE BY THE GUN,

AND MAKE MY OWN LAW IN PLACES WHERE THERE WAS NONE.

HE BEGAN TO GROW TO LIKE BEING IN GUNFIGHTS.

I WOULDN'T DO THAT IF I WERE YOU.

[ GUNSHOT ]

HE WASN'T AFRAID OF ANYTHING.

HE DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT DYING, HIMSELF,

SO YOU CAN TAKE RISKS THAT A NORMAL PERSON WOULD NOT TAKE.

HE WOULD SHOOT FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER.

WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON IN HERE?

WHEN HE SHOT SOMEBODY, HE RARELY WOUNDED HIM.

ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THIS VICTIMS WAS SHOT THROUGH THE HEART

OR THE HEAD OR BOTH.

Hardin: MY FIRST ARREST CAME TWO YEARS AFTER I LEFT HOME.

I WAS JAILED IN LONGVIEW, TEXAS

ON ONE COUNT OF FORCED THEFT AND FOUR COUNTS OF MURDER.

THE TEXAS STATE POLICE WERE ORDERED

TO TAKE ME TO WACO FOR TRIAL.

HE GOT ALONG VERY WELL WITH HIS FELLOW INMATES.

HE WAS SOMEBODY THAT YOU BECAME AN INSTANT FRIEND WITH.

HE KNEW HOW TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE AS WELL.

HE WAS ABLE TO CAJOLE ONE OF THE FELLOW PRISONERS

TO SMUGGLE IN A GUN TO HIM.

FOR SOME REASON, TWO OF THEM LEFT HARDIN, THE PRISONER,

WITH ONE STATE POLICEMAN.

IN RECONSTRUCTION TEXAS,

FULLY ONE THIRD OF THE STATE POLICE

WAS COMPRISED OF FREED SLAVES.

Alexander: IT WAS JUST A BITTER PILL

FOR A TEXAN AT THAT DAY AND TIME

TO STAND IN ARREST BY A BLACK PERSON.

Hardin: MY MOMENT CAME, AND I SEIZED IT.

AFTER I ESCAPED,

THE STATE ISSUED A $1,000 REWARD FOR MY CAPTURE,

BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE

IT WOULD REMAIN UNCLAIMED.

BY THE AGE OF 17, I HAD ENDED ALMOST THAT MANY LIVES.

EACH ONE DESERVED TO DIE,

SEEING AS THEY ALL AIMED TO CHEAT ME

OR TAKE AWAY MY FREEDOM.

BUT I WAS JUST GETTING STARTED.

SOON, THE ENTIRE FRONTIER WOULD KNOW AND FEAR

THE NAME JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin: IN 1872, I, JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

WAS ON THE RUN, WANTED FOR MULTIPLE MURDERS,

INCLUDING A TEXAS STATE POLICE OFFICER.

I HAD A $1,000 BOUNTY ON MY HEAD, BUT ONLY ON TEXAS SOIL.

[ LAUGHTER ]

YOU KNOW, I NEVER DID FIND THAT HORSE.

Hardin: I NEEDED TO LAY LOW AND LEAVE THE STATE,

SO I FELL IN WITH MY COUSINS, THE CLEMENTS,

WHO WERE HEADING NORTH FOR GREENER PASTURES.

Lawrence: HE SEEMS TO HAVE A LIMITLESS NUMBER OF COUSINS,

AND HE COULD ALWAYS GO AND HIDE OUT WITH THEM

FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE HEAT BLOWS OVER.

Parsons: THE CLEMENTS BROTHERS WERE GATHERING THEIR HERDS

TO DRIVE TO THE MARKETS IN KANSAS,

AND CONVINCED JOHN WESLEY, "WHY DON'T YOU JOIN UP WITH US?

BECOME A COWBOY."

Lawrence: THE CATTLE INDUSTRY IS REALLY BOOMING AFTER THE WAR

BECAUSE LAND IN THE WEST IS SO CHEAP.

THE RAILROADS DON'T COME INTO TEXAS,

AS FAR AS CLEAR EAST/WEST ROUTES, UNTIL THE 1880s.

THEY, THEREFORE, HAVE TO GO THIS LONG ROUTE

UP ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL.

Hardin: THE CHISHOLM TRAIL BECAME MY ROAD TO FREEDOM,

220 MILES OF LAWLESS LANDSCAPE,

BETWEEN THE CATTLE FARMS OF TEXAS

AND THE BEEF MARKET IN ABILENE, KANSAS.

IT WAS A PERFECT COVER FOR A MAN ON THE RUN.

Parsons: TYPICALLY, DURING THE CATTLE-DRIVING ERA,

LAWMEN LEFT THE CATTLE DRIVES ALONE.

THEY DID NOT WANT TO GO MESS WITH

TRYING TO TAKE ONE HERDER OUT OF THE MIX,

SO HARDIN BASICALLY LOST HIMSELF IN THE CATTLE DRIVE.

IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS WORK FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

JUST, PHYSICALLY, YOU ARE MOVING,

PERHAPS, THOUSANDS OF HEAD OF CATTLE.

COWBOYS COULD BE KILLED IN A STAMPEDE.

THEY COULD BE KILLED BY NATIVE AMERICANS.

IT'S A PERFECT PLACE TO BE, THOUGH, IF YOU'RE AN OUTLAW,

BECAUSE YOU'RE CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR AUTHORITIES TO CATCH UP WITH YOU.

Hardin: TRAIL LIFE SUITED ME JUST FINE.

THE WORK COULD BE HARD,

BUT I WAS FAR FROM THE REACH OF BOUNTY HUNTERS AND LAWMEN,

AND I WAS FREE TO DO AS I PLEASED.

THE RIDE TO ABILENE TAKES TWO TO THREE MONTHS,

AT POINTS PASSING THROUGH TERRITORIES

STILL CONTROLLED BY INDIANS.

HEY, GIP.

YEAH?

GO SEE WHAT THEY WANT.

YOU GOT IT.

WHAT Y'ALL WANT?

YOU.

[ LAUGHS ]

Roth: SOMETIMES THE INDIANS WOULD CHARGE A TAX.

IT WAS YOUR CHOICE AS A CATTLEMAN, AS A COWBOY,

TO PAY IT.

SOME PAID, SOME DIDN'T.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, JOHN WESLEY HARDIN DID NOT.

THEY WANT 10 CENTS A HEAD FOR THAT CATTLE.

10 CENTS, HUH?

SO, GIVE IT TO 'EM, BOYS.

Hardin: THE INDIANS THREATENED TO START KILLING CATTLE

IF WE DIDN'T PAY UP.

BUT WE SETTLED THAT ACCOUNT RIGHT QUICK.

[ GUNSHOT ]

WE MADE AN EXAMPLE OF THE LEADER,

AND LET THE OTHERS LIVE TO SPREAD THE WORD.

Roth: JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

IN THE ODD WAY THAT HE PIECED THINGS TOGETHER,

FIGURED, "I LEAVE YOU WITH A WARNING TO OTHERS

THAT THIS IS WHAT AWAITS YOU."

SO, THIS IS THE WAY HE SAW THINGS

IN THE STRANGE WORLD OF JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

HERE'S THE 10 CENTS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Lawrence: HE'S TURNING PEOPLE'S THREATS BACK ON THEM A LITTLE BIT.

HE HAS KIND OF THIS FLAIR HE PUTS INTO STUFF.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S THAT THE WHOLE IDEA

THAT HE JUST THINKS HE'S SO SPECIAL.

[ MAN GRUNTS ]

[ MAN SHOUTS ]

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Hardin: AFTER THE INDIANS,

WE ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER BAND OF MISCREANTS,

THIS TIME MEXICAN COWBOYS INTENT ON SKIMMING FROM OUR HERD.

WHAT THE HELL, JOHN?

DAMN LIAR SAID THAT WE DROVE OUR HERD INTO THEIRS.

IT WAS THEM WHO DONE IT TO US, BOYS.

WE BEST KEEP WATCH TONIGHT.

I KILLED FIVE MEN THAT NIGHT.

AFTER THAT, THE NAME JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

WAS THE TALK OF THE TRAIL.

[ LAUGHTER ]

COWBOYS WHO'D HEARD OF ME

WOULD STOP BY OUR CAMP AT NIGHT JUST TO SHAKE MY HAND.

HE'D ALREADY KILLED AT LEAST A DOZEN MEN

BY THE TIME HE REACHED ABILENE.

HE WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS REPUTATION.

Hardin: AS WE GOT CLOSE TO ABILENE,

THE TALK TURNED TO A CERTAIN LEGENDARY LAWMAN

WHO MIGHT BE WAITING FOR US THERE.

Lawrence: THEY KNEW WILD BILL HICKOK WAS THE MARSHAL THERE.

Roth: WILD BILL HICKOK WAS A LEGEND IN THE WEST,

AND SO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO

WHEN THEY FOUND HIM.

THEY WERE ALL THIRSTING FOR THIS POSSIBLE ENCOUNTER

BETWEEN WILD BILL HICKOK AND JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

YOU KNOW, JOHN, SHOOTING MEXICANS

AIN'T THE SAME AS FACING UP TO BILL HICKOK.

MAYBE NOT...

BUT IT'LL END THE SAME WAY.

YEAH! [ LAUGHTER ]

BOYS, I SAY WE PAINT THE TOWN OF ABILENE RED.

[ LAUGHTER CONTINUES ]

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin: BY THE TIME MY COUSINS AND I ARRIVED IN ABILENE, KANSAS

IN JUNE OF '71, MY NAME, JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

WAS UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED THERE,

THANKS TO MY INFAMOUS RUN-INS WITH MEXICANS AND INDIANS

ON MY WAY UP FROM TEXAS.

ABILENE WAS THE END OF THE CATTLE DRIVE,

WHERE WE GOT PAID, GOT DRUNK,

AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHER ROWDY COWBOYS DOING THE SAME.

THESE GUYS HAD NEVER SEEN PAYDAYS LIKE THIS,

THESE COWBOYS.

AND AS SOON AS THEY GOT TO TOWN --

THEY'D BEEN ON THE TRAIL FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS,

IN SOME CASES,

AND THEY WERE READY, REALLY, TO, YOU KNOW, GO CRAZY.

Bell: YOU HAVE TEXAS CONFEDERATES -- EX-CONFEDERATES,

COMING UP THE TRAIL AND LANDING IN KANSAS COW TOWNS,

WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO OWNED THE BUILDINGS

AND RAN THE PLACES WERE YANKEES.

THAT'S JUST A RECIPE FOR FISTICUFFS, IF NOT MORE.

Woman: HEY, HUSH UP, Y'ALL. YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE SOMETHING.

Hardin: ABILENE HAD JUST HIRED A NEW MARSHAL TO HELP KEEP THE PEACE.

HE HAD A NAME WE ALL KNEW...

WHOO. GO BILL!

...AND A LEGEND WE WERE EAGER TO PUT TO THE TEST.

HICKOK WAS AN INCREDIBLE MAN OF ACTION,

AND HE WAS ENGAGED IN REMARKABLE DERRING-DO

DURING THE PERIOD RIGHT AROUND THE CIVIL WAR.

Gomber: WILD BILL LOOKED THE PART.

HE HAD LONG, FLOWING HAIR.

HE WAS TALL AND HANDSOME.

EVERYBODY WAS IMPRESSED BY WILD BILL HICKOK.

Hutton: AND, OF COURSE, BECAUSE HE HAD A REPUTATION AS A MAN-KILLER.

AND BECAUSE HE WAS ON THE FRONTIER

IN VERY DANGEROUS COMMUNITIES,

HE WAS CONSTANTLY BEING CHALLENGED.

Hardin: A SALOON OWNER NAMED PHIL COE

HAD A GRUDGE AGAINST WILD BILL.

COE KNEW MY REPUTATION, OF COURSE,

SO HE ASKED ME TO SOLVE HIS PROBLEM.

CAN'T HAVE WILD BILL COMING IN HERE.

I'M TIRED OF IT. WON'T DO.

I AIN'T DOING ANYBODY'S KILLING NOW EXCEPT MY OWN.

THINK ABOUT IT, JOHN.

WE'LL MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WHILE.

IF WILD BILL NEEDS KILLING, WHY DON'T YOU KILL HIM YOURSELF?

NOW, I'D HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO PUT HICKOK IN THE GROUND,

BUT I'M NOT ONE TO DO ANOTHER MAN'S BIDDING.

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS REPUTATION

AS A TOUGH GUY,

BUT HE SEEMED TO BE IN AWE OF HICKOK.

THEY MET ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

SHE WAS UGLIER THAN A THREE-EYED FROG.

MAN.

Roth: THERE WAS A LAW THAT WAS ENFORCED

THAT YOU COULDN'T WEAR YOUR GUNS INTO TOWN,

AND JOHN WESLEY HARDIN REFUSED TO GO ALONG WITH THIS.

I THINK HE WAS JUST TRYING TO GET A RISE OUT OF HICKOK

TO SEE WHAT HE WOULD DO.

YOU DO KNOW THERE'S AN ORDINANCE

AGAINST GOING ABOUT ARMED, DON'T YOU?

LET'S HAVE 'EM.

AS HE WAS REACHING FOR MY PISTOLS,

I REVERSED AND WHIRLED 'EM UP OVER ON HIM,

MUZZLES IN HIS FACE, AND SPRANG BACK AT THE SAME TIME.

Parsons: IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY,

HE WRITES WHERE HE PULLS HIS PISTOLS OUT

TO HAND OVER TO HICKOK AND THEN FLIPS THEM IN SUCH A WAY

THAT HE NOW COVERS HICKOK.

WHAT WE WOULD CALL THE ROAD AGENT'S SPIN,

WHERE HE GOT THE DROP ON WILD BILL.

TAKE 'EM IF YOU DARE, LONG-HAIRED SCOUNDREL.

AND WILD BILL WILTED.

WHAT DO YOU SAY WE, UH, COMPROMISE ON THIS MATTER,

AND I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND.

AND TO CELEBRATE OUR FRIENDSHIP,

ALLOW ME TO BUY YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS A DRINK.

IT'S A GREAT STORY OF TWO VERY FAMOUS WESTERN CHARACTERS.

IT MIGHT WELL, THOUGH, HAVE ENDED IN ONE OF THEM BEING DEAD.

Hardin: I WAS HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME IN ABILENE,

I DIDN'T KILL ANOTHER MAN THERE FOR ALMOST A MONTH.

BUT NO HONEYMOON LASTS FOREVER.

IS IT TRUE YOU KILLED SEVEN MEN JUST FOR SNORING, JOHN?

OH, THERE'S LOTS OF LIES TOLD ABOUT ME.

TRUTH IS, I ONLY KILLED ONE MAN FOR SNORING.

[ SNORING ]

Parsons: ONE NIGHT, HE AND ONE OF THE CLEMENTS BROTHERS,

THEY'D PROBABLY BEEN DRINKING ABILENE WHISKEY,

AND THE MAN NEXT DOOR IS SNORING.

Roth: JOHN WESLEY HARDIN, OF COURSE, HAS VERY POOR IMPULSE CONTROL,

AND SO, IN ORDER TO SHUT THIS GUY UP,

HE DECIDED TO FIRE A COUPLE OF WARNING SHOTS

THROUGH THE VERY THIN WALLS THAT SEPARATED THEM.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

AND THEN IT WAS DEAD SILENCE.

JOHN, HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND, MAN?

HE WAS KEEPING ME UP.

[ FOOTSTEPS APPROACH, DOOR OPENS ]

[ WOMAN CRIES ]

WILD BILL HICKOK'S GETTING US NOW FOR SURE.

YEP.

DO YOU EVER KNOW WHEN TO CALM DOWN?

NOT NOW, JOHN. NOT NOW.

Roth: KNOWING WILD BILL HICKOK,

HE KNEW THAT THE BETTER PART OF VALOR WAS TO FLEE.

Hutton: SO, HE SKIPPED OUT OF ABILENE IN HIS NIGHTSHIRT.

GIP, FORGOT YOUR DAMN CLOTHES!

Hardin: AND JUST LIKE, I WAS ON THE RUN AGAIN.

BUT IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE TROUBLE CAUGHT UP.

BACK HOME IN TEXAS, IT WAS I WHO TOOK A BULLET,

FROM THE GUN OF A NO-GOOD CHEATING CARD SHARK

BY THE NAME OF PHIL SUBLETT.

Roth: JOHN WESLEY HARDIN LOST,

AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JOHN WESLEY HARDIN LOSES.

THEY GET INTO THIS DISAGREEMENT, HARDIN SLAPS PHIL SUBLETT,

KIND OF PUSHES HIM AROUND.

Hardin: YOU CAN GUESS BY NOW HOW I TRIED TO SETTLE THE SCORE,

BUT THAT SON OF A BITCH PUMPED ME FULL OF BUCKSHOT,

AND THEN TURNED TAIL AND RAN.

Lawrence: HE HITS HARDIN THE SIDE,

AND SOME OF THE SHOTGUN PELLETS END UP NICKING HIS KIDNEYS.

[ GRUNTS ]

IT LOOKED, IN FACT, FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AS IF HE MIGHT DIE.

Hardin: I WAS ALIVE, BUT TOO WEAK TO KEEP RUNNING.

AND THE LAW WAS RIGHT ON MY HEELS.

SO I TURNED MYSELF IN TO A FRIENDLY SHERIFF,

WHO WAS HAPPY TO COLLECT THE BOUNTY ON MY HEAD

AND SPLIT IT WITH ME.

HIS CRONIES ALSO HELPED ME ESCAPE,

LOOKING THE OTHER WAY WHEN MY COUSIN SMUGGLED IN A SAW

SO I COULD CUT MY WAY THROUGH THE WINDOW BARS.

ONCE AGAIN, I WAS IN CONTROL OF MY OWN DESTINY.

I COULD DO ANYTHING.

I WAS ABOVE THE LAW.

I THOUGHT NOTHING AND NO ONE

COULD BRING DOWN JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE RANGERS CAME CALLING,

AND MADE ME THE TARGET

OF THE BIGGEST MANHUNT IN TEXAS HISTORY.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin: MAY 26th OF 1874 WAS MY 21st BIRTHDAY.

I HAD PLENTY TO CELEBRATE.

I'D ESCAPED THE LAW YET AGAIN,

AND FOUND REFUGE AMONG FRIENDS AND FAMILY UP IN COMANCHE.

Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT LITTLE MUSKRAT-LOOKING BARKEEP?

Roth: HE WAS LUCKY HE HAD THIS WHOLE TRAIL OF RELATIVES

ACROSS PARTS OF THE SOUTH AND PARTS OF TEXAS

THAT HE COULD STAY WITH FROM TIME TO TIME

THAT WOULD HIDE HIM.

SO, I SOLD A MAN A HORSE THE OTHER DAY.

Man: YEAH. DRUNK.

AND I DON'T ME, I MEAN THE HORSE.

Hardin: BUT THIS WOULD PROVE TO BE THE LAST BIRTHDAY

I SHARED WITH MY KIN, BECAUSE THE NEXT MORNING,

I WAS THE TARGET OF THE LARGEST MANHUNT IN TEXAS HISTORY.

I'D COME BACK HOME WITH THE TAYLOR BOYS,

WHOSE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE I'D BEEN A PART OF

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

AND THEY PAID ME WELL TO KEEP THE NAME

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN ON THEIR SIDE.

WE HAD NO TROUBLE STAYING AHEAD OF THE LAW, AT FIRST.

BUT THAT CHANGED WHEN A GROUP OF CATTLE RANCHERS,

WHOSE HERDS WE'D BEEN STEALING FROM,

RESOLVED TO BREAK UP OUR GANG ONCE AND FOR ALL.

DEPUTY CHARLES WEBB WAS ONE OF THE POOR SOULS

CHARGED WITH CARRYING OUT THE ORDER.

[ LAUGHTER ]

JOHN, JOHN.

2:00. 2:00.

Roth: WEBB HAD A VERY GOOD REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS AN UPRIGHT, HONEST GUY.

HE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF CORRUPTION,

AND JOHN WESLEY HARDIN HAD A FEELING

THAT THIS GUY WAS LOOKING FOR HIM.

HARDIN WAS WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS.

THEY'D BEEN DRINKING ALL DAY.

AND WEBB CAME WALKING UP WITH ONE HAND BEHIND HIS BACK.

WHAT YOU GOT BEHIND YOUR BACK?

AH, JUST THIS.

DEPUTY WEBB, RIGHT?

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

HAVE YOU ANY PAPERS FOR MY ARREST?

I DON'T KNOW YOU.

Lawrence: WEBB BACKS AWAY.

HE DIDN'T COME TO TOWN FOR ANY TROUBLE,

AND HE TRIES TO EXTRACT HIMSELF FROM THE SITUATION.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]

THE NAME'S JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

WELL, UH, NOW I KNOW YA,

BUT I AIN'T GOT NO PAPERS FOR YOUR ARREST.

[ CHUCKLES ]

WELL, I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE SHERIFF OF BROWN COUNTY

IS SEEKING MY ARREST.

THE GUNS WENT OFF AS ONE.

Gomber: WEBB'S BULLET HIT HARDIN IN THE SIDE.

AND THEN HARDIN AND HIS FRIENDS OPEN UP.

Gomber: AS WEBB WENT DOWN,

HARDIN'S BUDDIES PUMP MORE BULLETS INTO HIM,

SO HE WAS DEAD WHEN HE HIT THE FLOOR.

CHARLIE WEBB DROPPED TO THE GROUND

WEIGHING A LOT MORE THAN HE DID IN LIFE,

BECAUSE HE WAS FILLED WITH LEAD.

Hardin: I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME,

BUT THAT WAS THE KILLING THAT DID ME IN.

Man: JOHN, YOU JUST SHOT A GOOD MAN.

YOU'RE GONNA BURN IN HELL!

Man #2: COME ON, BOYS. LET'S GO. GO, GO.

THAT WAS THE FIRECRACKER THAT BLEW UP ON COMPLACENCY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GENERALLY FELT

THAT HARDIN NEEDED TO BE MADE TO BE PAY

FOR THE KILLING OF CHARLIE WEBB.

HARDIN DOESN'T REALIZE THAT THE WIND'S BLOWING

IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

PEOPLE WERE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE

THAT HE WAS USED TO ANYMORE.

Hardin: BY THIS TIME, THE OCCUPYING YANKEE FORCES

HAD PULLED OUT OF TEXAS.

THERE WAS EVEN A REBEL BACK IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION,

RICHARD COKE, A FORMER CONFEDERATE.

SO, PEOPLE STARTED TO LOSE THEIR STOMACH

FOR VIOLENCE AND REBELLION,

AND CONSEQUENTLY, THEIR FONDNESS FOR MEN LIKE ME,

WHO LIVE BY OUR OWN LAWS.

TEXAS WAS MOVING TOWARDS, YOU KNOW,

MODERNIZATION AND PUBLIC ORDER,

INDUSTRIALIZATION AND THINGS LIKE THIS,

BEING DRAWN INTO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY.

AND PEOPLE LIKE JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

WERE A DETRIMENT TO THIS.

THEIR POSITION AS OUTLAWS DEFENDING THE CONFEDERACY

REALLY WAS A MOOT POINT.

Lawrence: HE CAN KIND OF GET AWAY WITH IT.

HE CAN SPIN IT AS HIM STRIKING BACK AGAINST YANKEES.

WELL, NOW THE WAR HAS BEEN OVER FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS.

HOW LONG ARE WE GONNA GO AFTER YANKEES?

Parsons: GOVERNOR COKE CREATES THE FRONTIER BATTALION,

WHICH IS WHAT WE KNOW AS THE TEXAS RANGERS.

Alexander: THE RANGERS GET CALLED IN.

THEY STARTED BEATING THE BRUSH FOR JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

HARDIN REALIZED THEN THAT HE WAS GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

HE WAS BEING CHASED LIKE A WET RAT ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Hardin: I HAD SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE

RUNNING FROM ONE LAWMAN OR ANOTHER,

AND NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF IT.

BUT NOW, I WAS TRULY HUNTED.

Parsons: HE HAD, BY NOW, A $4,000 REWARD OFFERED FOR HIM,

AND IN THE 1870s, THIS WAS A HUGE AMOUNT.

Hardin: TEXAS RANGERS, BOUNTY HUNTERS, AND PINKERTONS

WERE ALL ON MY TAIL, EAGER TO CASH IN ON MY CAPTURE.

BUT I STAYED ONE STEP AHEAD OF THEM ALL.

Alexander: NOBODY KNEW WHERE JOHN WESLEY HARDIN WAS.

Hardin: AND WHEN THE BASTARDS COULDN'T CATCH ME,

THEY WENT AFTER MY FLESH AND BLOOD.

Roth: THE SAD THING ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS IN THE AFTERMATH,

HIS BROTHER, WHO WAS LIVING NEARBY,

JOSEPH, HIS OLDER BROTHER,

WHO WAS A LAWYER AND HAD AN OFFICE IN TOWN,

AND TWO OF HIS COUSINS, WERE ARRESTED AND PUT INTO JAIL.

AND THE MOB EVENTUALLY WOULD TAKE OUT

THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS AND HANG THEM.

HANG THEM!

YOU BURN IN HELL!

ENJOY HELL.

BURN!

BURN!

BURN!

BURN!

Roth: JOHN WESLEY HARDIN DOESN'T SAY A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THIS.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THE GUILT OR THE REMORSE.

YOU GOT TO BE SURE THAT HE'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY SAD

BECAUSE HE WAS VERY TIGHT WITH EVERYBODY IN HIS FAMILY.

Lawrence: HARDIN CERTAINLY REALIZED THAT COULD BE HIM.

HE NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE STATE.

IT WAS BECOMING TOO DANGEROUS FOR HIM.

HE'S BEING PURSUED RELENTLESSLY.

Hardin: I THOUGHT IF I HID OUT IN FLORIDA FOR A WHILE,

THE HUNT WOULD DIE DOWN AND I COULD GO ABOUT LIVING.

BUT IT SEEMS I MAY HAVE UNDERESTIMATED

THE RESOLVE AND THE RESOURCEFULNESS OF MY PURSUERS.

Gomber: HE WROTE A LETTER TO HIS FAMILY BACK IN TEXAS.

WELL, AN UNDERCOVER OPERATIVE FOR THE TEXAS RANGERS

INTERCEPTED THE LETTER.

THE MAN WE SEEK IS IN FLORIDA,

GOING BY THE ALIAS JOHN SWAIN.

ALL RIGHT, HARDIN. TIME TO GO BACK TO TEXAS.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin: FOR NINE YEARS, I, JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

HAD LIVED ON MY OWN TERMS.

UNBRIDLED, UNAPOLOGETIC, AND FREE.

BUT MAINTAINING MY FREEDOM HAD COST MANY ENEMIES THEIR LIVES,

AND THE LAW WAS DETERMINED THAT I SHOULD ATONE

FOR WHAT THEY CALLED MY SINS.

SAID HE'D BE HERE.

IS HE?

THAT'S HIM.

HE GOES BY JOHN SWAIN.

IF HE'S NOT ON THAT TRAIN, I'LL END YOUR MISERY RIGHT HERE.

OKAY.

LET'S GO IN ON THREE, BOYS.

I LEFT TEXAS TO ESCAPE THE RANGERS,

BUT THREE YEARS LATER,

THEY TRACKED ME DOWN IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.

Man: PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE 'EM!

STICK YOUR HANDS UP, YOU SON OF A BITCH!

EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

THAT WAS ONE TIME I WANTED TO DIE BUT COULD NOT.

MR. SWAIN, IS IT?

ALL RIGHT, HARDIN. TIME TO GO BACK TO TEXAS.

STOP STRUGGLING, JOHN.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING LOOSE THIS TIME.

TEXAS, MY GOD.

JOHN, IT'S TIME.

Hardin: I NEVER KNEW FROM DAY TO DAY

WHETHER MY INCARCERATION WOULD END WITH DEATH OR FREEDOM.

Roth: THERE'S A DUNGEON THAT, TO THIS VERY DAY,

IS STILL THERE AT THE HUNTSVILLE WALLS UNIT

THAT HE WAS PUT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

IT'S ABOUT 6 FEET BY 6 FEET.

VERY MEDIEVAL REALLY, YOU KNOW, AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT.

Lawrence: HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO ESCAPE,

AND FELLOW CONVICTS WERE ALWAYS TURNING HIM IN

AND TELLING THE AUTHORITIES WHAT HE WAS PLANNING.

BUT HE DOES SEEM TO SETTLE DOWN, AT LEAST,

AFTER THE FIRST FEW YEARS.

HE HAD A LAWYER WHO IS CONSTANTLY WORKING

ON TRYING TO GET HIM PARDONED, TRYING TO GET HIM PAROLED.

Hardin: I HAD SPENT 16 YEARS IN A CAGE.

NOW, AT 40 YEARS OLD, I WAS PAROLED

AND RETURNED TO THE WORLD WITH A CLEAN SLATE AND A SECOND CHANCE.

SOME PEOPLE WERE CONVINCED THAT PERHAPS HE'D TURNED A CORNER.

OTHERS WERE NOT SO SURE. DOES A LEOPARD CHANGE HIS SPOTS?

Lawrence: THERE'S A LOT OF LETTERS HE GETS UPON THE TIME OF HIS RELEASE

THAT SAY THAT, "WE HOPE YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL."

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF HOPE THAT MAYBE HE WILL HAVE CHANGED

BY VIRTUE OF ALL THESE YEARS.

Hardin: AT HUNTSVILLE, I HAD EARNED A LAW DEGREE

AND PASSED THE TEXAS STATE BAR.

JOHN HARDIN, OUTLAW, WAS NOW JOHN HARDIN, ESQUIRE.

HARDIN COULD NEVER GET HIS LAW BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND

'CAUSE PEOPLE WERE STILL TERRIFIED OF HIM.

BACK WHEN HE WAS AT LARGE, WOMEN HAD TOLD THEIR CHILDREN,

"BE GOOD OR WES HARDIN WILL GET YA."

SO, HE WAS THE BOOGEYMAN.

Parsons: HARDIN GOES WEST,

AND ULTIMATELY ENDS UP IN EL PASO,

WHERE HE RETURNS TO THE OLD HABITS OF HIS YOUTH,

DRINKING, GAMBLING, THIS WILD LIFESTYLE.

Hardin: IN EL PASO, I RESOLVE TO FINISH A PROJECT I'D BEGUN IN PRISON --

TELLING MY OWN STORY.

Parsons: HE HAD TIME TO THINK ABOUT,

"HOW DO I WANT TO PRESENT MYSELF TO THE READING PUBLIC,

TO POSTERITY?"

AT THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE, HE'S PROBABLY THINKING,

"I WAS BEING A PATRIOT."

Lawrence: HARDIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY REALLY CEMENTS HIS LEGEND

BECAUSE IT'S HIS JUSTIFICATION FOR EVERYTHING HE DOES.

AND THE WAY HE TALKS ABOUT IT,

EVERY SINGLE TIME HE KILLED SOMEONE, THEY DESERVED IT.

Gomber: HARDIN ADMITTED TO 27 HOMICIDES IN HIS REMARKABLE AUTOBIOGRAPHY,

BUT MOST HISTORIANS PUT THE NUMBER AT 40 TO 42,

WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

TRUE, IT IS ALMOST AS BAD TO KILL AS TO BE KILLED.

IT DROVE MY FATHER TO AN EARLY GRAVE,

KILLED MY BROTHER AND COUSINS,

TO SAY NOTHING OF THE GRIEF OF COUNTLESS OTHERS.

I DO SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THE MAN WHO DOES NOT EXERCISE

THE FIRST LAW OF NATURE, THAT OF SELF-PRESERVATION,

IS NOT WORTHY OF LIVING AND BREATHING THE BREATH OF LIFE.

Roth: CLEARLY, HARDIN WAS ON THE SKIDS.

HE WAS DRINKING TOO MUCH.

AND FINALLY, ON AUGUST 1895,

HE WAS IN THE ALMOST DESERTED ACME SALOON,

WHICH IS STILL IN EL PASO,

AND JOHN SELMAN CAME THROUGH THE DOOR.

NOW, JOHN SELMAN WAS A CONSTABLE,

AND HAD BEEN, REALLY, AN OUTLAW FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE

THROUGHOUT THE WEST.

Alexander: HARDIN MADE SOME REMARKS ABOUT JOHN SELMAN'S SON,

SO SELMAN KILLED HIM.

Lawrence: THE PAST, REALLY, FINALLY CATCHES UP WITH HIM

WHEN HE LEAST EXPECTS IT.

AND SO, I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY WHAT HIS DEATH SAYS

IS THAT LIVE BY THE SWORD, YOU'RE GONNA DIE BY THE SWORD.

Roth: IF YOU PUT JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

IN THE PANTHEON OF WESTERN GUNFIGHTERS,

HE'S SURELY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

Gomber: RIGHT OR WRONG, HE WAS, I THINK,

THE MOST LETHAL OF ALL THE SHOOTISTS IN THE OLD WEST.

AND HE WAS POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MORE HONORABLE, TOO.

HE BELIEVED IN FACING HIS OPPONENTS.

RARELY, IF EVER, DID HE SHOOT SOMEONE FROM BEHIND.

Alexander: THERE WAS NO PLAYBOOK.

THERE'S NO RULE BOOK.

HE LIVED IN THE MOMENT.

WHEN HE AWAKENED ON WEDNESDAY,

HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN ON THURSDAY.

HE'D PULL OUT HIS GUN AND SOLVE HIS PROBLEM AND RIDE OFF,

AND WORRY ABOUT THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE SUN CAME UP.