Friends Turned Foes A woman came between Loving and Richardson.

Frank Loving and Levi Richardson were friends, often gambling together in Dodge City’s Long Branch Saloon in 1879. But then a woman came between them and the relationship turned frosty. Violence threatened—and broke out on April 5.

The two ran into each other that night at the Long Branch and both went for their guns. By the time the law interrupted the fight, Loving had emptied his pistol and Richardson had fired five times. Richardson dropped dead from a chest wound; Loving had a scratch on his hand and was released on self-defense.