A political argument got out of hand in Newton, KS.

Billy Bailey was a cowboy who took a trail drive up to Newton, Kansas (photo) in 1871. After he got there, he was hired as a special policeman, tasked with overseeing local elections in August of that year. The fact that Bailey had a reputation as a gunfighter probably helped him get the job.

But on August 11, he got into a political argument with fellow policeman Mike McCluskie. The two ended up in a street, where McCluskie shot and killed Bailey. Eight days later, the killing led to an even bigger gun battle.

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