James Masterson
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James Masterson, also known as Jim Masterson, (1855-March 31st, 1895) was a lawman of the old west, and the brother of gunfighter and lawman Bat Masterson and lawman Ed Masterson.
[edit] Lawman career
James Masterson, regardless of not achieving the fame that his brother Bat achieved, actually was involved in more shootouts than his brother ever was. Bat Masterson's fame, mostly attributed to his association with Wyatt Earp, Luke Short, and others, was built on his being a gunfighter. However, historical records indicate that Bat Masterson was only in one gunfight throughout his lifetime. Whereas James was involved in at least three gunfights. Although historically he receives little notoriety, James Masterson was well known in the Kansas and Oklahoma areas as a for formidable gunman.
After working on the western frontier as a buffalo hunter with his brothers, he returned to Kansas. He became Assistant Marshal in Dodge City, Kansas in June of 1878. At that time Charlie Bassett was the Marshal, and Wyatt Earp was a Deputy Marshal. In the summer of 1878, a cowboy named George Hoy opened fire on the Comique Variety Hall, outside of which stood Masterson and Wyatt Earp. Earp had been involved in an altercation with Hoy previously. Both Earp and Masterson returned fire, and Hoy was shot from his horse by one bullet that severely injured his arm. Hoy died a month later, and Earp always claimed to have fired the shot that ultimately killed Hoy. However, that was never confirmed, and it is entirely possible that the shot was actually fired by Jim Masterson. Masterson, however, never disputed Earps claim, and simply didn't comment.
He made several hundred arrests during the next two year time span, mostly of drunken cowboys that came through Dodge City on cattle drives. In November, 1879, he was promoted to Marshal after the resignation of Bassett. He shot at least one man during his service with the Dodge City Marshal's Office, aside from the Hoy shooting. On April 6th, 1881, he lost his job after a change in city government, and the belief that the long standing hard-lined stance of the Marshal's Office was past its prime and no longer useful. Ten days later, during a shootout, he shot Al Updegraff, and was ordered out of Dodge City. [1]
Masterson moved to Trinidad, Colorado, where he became town Marshal. He later moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma, and then later became a Deputy Sheriff of Logan County, Oklahoma. On September 1st, 1893, he was involved in a shootout while arresting thieves. He died of consumption on March 31st, 1895.
