The Original Fighting Earp

Papa Nicholas had his own violent run-ins…

On November 27, 1881, the patriarch of the Earp clan, Nicholas, went to a bank in San Bernardino, California. He soon got into a heated argument with a couple of prominent citizens—both of whom were decades younger than the 68-year-old. At some point, words turned to fisticuffs. Before the melee was stopped, Nicholas was “damaged about the eye and badly lamed.” He and the other two men were taken into custody, found guilty of disturbing the peace and fined small amounts. The father of the “Fighting Earps” was a battler himself.