Don’t Shoot! A former lawman failed in his attempt to surrender.

George Campbell had built up a solid reputation as a lawman in Texas and New Mexico during the late 1870s and early 1880s.  For a couple of months, he was the El Paso city marshal (before quitting over the pay). Maybe he should have kept the badge.

On April 14, 1881, Campbell and a drunken friend got into a debate with a town constable in a local saloon. The friend pulled a gun and shot the lawman. Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire ran in, guns blazing, killing an innocent bystander and Campbell’s pal. Campbell tried to surrender; Stoudenmire gunned him down.