No, he didn’t. No contemporary newspaper attributed the deed to Holliday. The first mention of Holliday’s involvement wasn’t until July 20, 1881, almost precisely two years after the shooting. Neither the publisher of the report, Russell A. Kistler, nor his newspaper, the Las Vegas Optic, had first-hand knowledge of the event; both arrived in town several months after the shooting. Kistler’s account is, at best, hearsay. At worst, engaged in a struggle with the Las Vegas Gazette f

True West January/February 2025