Chunk Colbert
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Chunk Colbert (18??-1874) was an Old West gunman, known mostly for having been killed in a gunfight with noted gunfighter Clay Allison.
Originally from West Texas, Colbert had a sizable reputation as a "gunfighter", believed to have killed seven men during gunfights in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. In the early 1870s, he had killed a man named Charles Morris, in Cimarron, New Mexico, after believing the latter was involved romantically with his wife. It is the only confirmed killing to his credit.
On January 7th, 1874, Colbert and Allison entered the Clifton House, an Inn located in Colfax County, New Mexico. The two had just finished a friendly quarter mile horse race. Some say that nine years earlier, Allison had killed Colbert's uncle in a gunfight. As to whether that claim is fact or legend is unknown beyond some doubt.
What is known is that at some point while the two men were having dinner, Colbert drew his pistol, but the barrel hit the table as he brought it up. Allison quickly fired, hitting Colbert in the head, killing him. Allison was later asked why he had accepted a dinner invitation from someone who would likely try and kill him. Allison replied "Because I didn't want to send a man to hell on an empty stomach".
Colbert was buried in an unmarked grave behind the Clifton House.
