Phil Coe
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Phil Coe, born Phillip Houston Coe (1839-1871), was an Old West gambler, soldier and businessman from Texas, and the business partner of gunfighter Ben Thompson in Abilene, Kansas.
Coe was born either on July 17 or July 18, 1839, in Gonzales, Texas. In March, 1862, Coe joined the Confederate Army during the Civil War, specifically the "Thirty Sixth Texas Cavalry". He later served in the "2nd Texas Cavalry", ending his service in the army in April of 1863. He is believed to have served in Mexico under Emperor Maximilian following the Civil Wars end. Coe then drifted through Texas, meeting gunman Bill Longley, and learning the art of gambling from gunman Ben Thompson, with whom he'd served in the military in Mexico. Coe drifted through the Old West, landing, for a time, in Salina, Kansas. Coe was later well known in Old West Kansas as a talented gambler and saloon owner. In May, 1871, Coe became a business partner with Ben Thompson in Abilene, running the Bullshead Saloon. As such, he became associated with many Old West personalities, to include John Wesley Hardin and Abilene town marshal Wild Bill Hickok.
Coe and Hickok had several disagreements due to their differences on several topics. Coe greatly disliked Hickok, but Thompson generally got along with him, as the two seemed to have a respect for each another's reputation. At one point, Coe and Hickok passed words during a disagreement, during which Coe bragged of his expertise in shooting. Hickok's retort to Coe, who supposedly stated he could "kill a crow on the wing", is one of the West's most famous sayings (though possibly apocryphal): "Did the crow have a pistol? Was he shooting back? I will be." On October 5, 1871, Hickok was standing off a crowd during a street brawl. Coe, who was in the crowd, fired two shots at Hickok, missing with both. Hickok returned fire, hitting Coe. Due to the chaos of the crowd, Hickok also accidentally shot and killed his deputy, Mike Williams, who was coming to his aid, an event that haunted Hickok for the remainder of his lifetime. Thompson did not retaliate against Hickok for the shooting, as some anticipated, but instead by some estimations seemed to believe the shooting was justified.
Coe lingered for several days, dying on October 9, 1871. He was Hickok's last known gunfight victim. Coe was taken to Brenham, Texas, where he had family, and was buried in Prairie Lea Cemetery.
