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Missing OK Corral records found | Missing OK Corral records found |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Records from an inquest into the notorious 1881 shootout at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, have been discovered in a court storeroom. | |
The scrawled notes are a transcript of a witness statement about the shootout between lawmen including Wyatt Earp and three outlaws, who were killed. | The scrawled notes are a transcript of a witness statement about the shootout between lawmen including Wyatt Earp and three outlaws, who were killed. |
The documents were last seen about 1960 when they were photocopied. | The documents were last seen about 1960 when they were photocopied. |
Researchers hope that restoration by archivists will reveal margin notes not visible on the reproductions. | Researchers hope that restoration by archivists will reveal margin notes not visible on the reproductions. |
But the notes are unlikely to shed much new light on the incident, as researchers already had access to the copies. | But the notes are unlikely to shed much new light on the incident, as researchers already had access to the copies. |
The pages will soon be digitised and made available online to researchers and Wild West history buffs. | The pages will soon be digitised and made available online to researchers and Wild West history buffs. |
Thirty-second firefight | Thirty-second firefight |
The yellowed pages, said to be as brittle as potato crisps, were discovered in a manila envelope by court staff assigned to clean out a storage room at Cochise County superior court in Bisbee, Arizona, about 23 miles (37km) south of Tombstone, the Arizona Daily Star newspaper reported. | The yellowed pages, said to be as brittle as potato crisps, were discovered in a manila envelope by court staff assigned to clean out a storage room at Cochise County superior court in Bisbee, Arizona, about 23 miles (37km) south of Tombstone, the Arizona Daily Star newspaper reported. |
On 26 October, 1881, Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday confronted Ike and Billy Clanton and Frank and Tom McLaury behind the OK Corral. | On 26 October, 1881, Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday confronted Ike and Billy Clanton and Frank and Tom McLaury behind the OK Corral. |
The witness account was recorded by hand on 36 pages | The witness account was recorded by hand on 36 pages |
The McLaurys and Billy Clanton were killed in the ensuing 30-second firefight. The incident and subsequent investigation were covered heavily in the news media at the time. | The McLaurys and Billy Clanton were killed in the ensuing 30-second firefight. The incident and subsequent investigation were covered heavily in the news media at the time. |
The fight entered the folklore of the Wild West and made heroes of the Earps. It has been portrayed numerous times in film and in literature. | The fight entered the folklore of the Wild West and made heroes of the Earps. It has been portrayed numerous times in film and in literature. |
Nearly 130 years after the shootout, it remains unclear which party fired first and whether all of the outlaws were armed. | Nearly 130 years after the shootout, it remains unclear which party fired first and whether all of the outlaws were armed. |
The Earps and Holliday said they were defending themselves, but supporters of the dead men said they were murdered. | The Earps and Holliday said they were defending themselves, but supporters of the dead men said they were murdered. |
The document appears to include testimony by William Claiborn, who a historian identified as a friend of the three dead men, according to the Associated Press news agency. | The document appears to include testimony by William Claiborn, who a historian identified as a friend of the three dead men, according to the Associated Press news agency. |
It was recorded as part of an inquiry by a local official into the shootout. | It was recorded as part of an inquiry by a local official into the shootout. |
The document indicates that Doc Holliday was carrying a weapon concealed under a long coat. | The document indicates that Doc Holliday was carrying a weapon concealed under a long coat. |
The town of Tombstone celebrates its part in Wild West history, attracting tourists with re-enactments of the gun battle. | The town of Tombstone celebrates its part in Wild West history, attracting tourists with re-enactments of the gun battle. |
Earlier this month Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, signed into law a measure allowing Arizonans to carry concealed firearms without a permit. | Earlier this month Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a Republican, signed into law a measure allowing Arizonans to carry concealed firearms without a permit. |