Death of an Outlaw

Lawman Bass Outlaw got into one fight too many.

In 1894, Bass Outlaw was a deputy U.S. marshal—a former Texas Ranger, fired for habitual drunkenness. He also had at least three dead men to his credit. On April 5—in his cups—Outlaw began shooting up an El Paso brothel. He put a bullet in the head of Ranger Joe McKidrict, then he began exchanging shots with Constable John Selman. The latter was hit three times before putting a fatal slug into Outlaw’s chest. One of the most dangerous of the Old West gunmen was permanently out of action.