George Scarborough

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George Scarborough (October 2, 1859 - April 5, 1900) was a cowboy, lawman, and outlaw (disputed) who lived during the time of the Wild West.

George Scarborough was born in Louisiana. His family moved to Texas and for a while worked as a cowboy. In 1885, he was appointed sheriff for Jones County. Later he worked as deputy marshal at El Paso, Texas. On June 21, 1895, he killed Martin McRose, a Texas rustler. (Incorrect. Martin M'Rose, according to his tombstone at the Concordia Cemetery, in El Paso Texas, reads: Martin M'Rose, Polish Cowboy, "Died at the hands of others" with the date: June 29, 1895. M'Rose was not a rustler, but was suspected of the theft of some grain. M'Rose is buried near John Wesley Hardin, and "Diamond Dick," Texas Ranger Ernest St. Leon.)

John Wesley Hardin claimed that he paid Scarborough and Jeff Milton to kill Martin McRose. (M'Rose) Milton and Scarborough were arrested but Hardin later withdrew his comments and the men were released. (Jeff Milton was Chief of Police in El Paso, and Scarborough was a US Marshal at the time. M'Rose was being brought back from Mexico for an outstanding warrant.)

On August 18, 1895, John Selman shot John Wesley Hardin in the back of the head while he was standing at the Acme Saloon Bar in El Paso. Scarborough had long been feuding with John Selman because he had shot and killed a friend a former Texas Ranger named Bass on April 5, 1894, on the second anniversary of his friend's death, Scarborough called Selman into the back alley behind the Wigwam Saloon, where he fatally shot his rival. Due to Selman's bad reputation (a known rapist, murderer, and cattle rustler) Scarborough escaped punishment.

Scarborough now moved to Deming, New Mexico, where he worked as a gunman for the Grant County Cattlemen's Association. He was also associated with the arrest of Pearl Hart.

On April 1, 1900 Scarborough was involved in a shoot-out with George Stevenson and James Brooks. He was shot in the leg and he had to be taken back to Deming where he had his leg amputated. He died four days later, ironically, exactly six years to the day after the death of his friend (Texas Ranger Bass) and four years after he shot Bass' killer, John Selman.