Ellsworth Kansas True West Magazine
Ellsworth, Kansas.

Ed Crawford was a policeman in Ellsworth, KS (photo) just after Billy Thompson accidentally killed Sheriff Chauncey Whitney in August 1877.   

Crawford took out his anger on Billy’s friend Cad Pierce, first shooting him before pistol whipping him to death. Crawford was fired from the force.  He started drinking heavily as some of Pierce’s pals threatened to get revenge for their friend’s killing

A couple of months later, Texas cowboy compatriots of Pierce tracked Crawford to a brothel outside Ellsworth, where they shot the ex-lawman 13 times.  The last 10 or so were overkill.

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