Virgil Earp tombstone true west magazine
Virgil Earp.

It was just three days after three men died in Tombstone’s street fight behind the OK Corral.  Ike Clanton—who had run from the battle—decided to take a different tack. He filed murder charges against the Earps and Doc Holliday on October 29, 1881.  A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Halloween, October 31. That same day, town fathers suspended Virgil Earp from his marshal position.

Things moved quickly after that.  The preliminary hearing turned into a de facto trial.  And after a month of testimony and arguments, the defendants were exonerated.

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