December 13, 1871. Abilene (KS) Town Council President J.A. Gauthie moves to dismiss Marshal J.B. “Wild Bill” Hickok after just eight months in the position. His service has been generally good, but Hickok did get into a gunfight that left two men (one a jailer) dead. Besides, the cattle trade, which led to much unrest in the town, has now moved further west; Wild Bill isn’t needed.
The temporary replacement: J.A. Gauthie, who had run for council on a platform calling for a crackdown on prostitution. It’s not clear if he followed through on that promise.
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