Story of Ed Masterson. Old West Lawman and Brother to Bat Masterson

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American lawman Edward Masterson (1852-1878)

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Hello! I'm Mr. Ed

Blog Created: 11-8-2023

Credits:

Edward John Masterson (September 22, 1852 – April 9, 1878) was a lawman and the oldest brother of the American West gunfighters Bat Masterson and James Masterson.

Early life ~

Of Irish descent, Edward John Masterson was born in Henryville in Canada East. In the early 1850s, his family moved to the area around Wichita, Kansas.

Edward John Masterson - baptised 24 Sept 1852 Henryville, Quebec, Canada. The baptising priest writes the child was 'ne hier' or 'born yesterday'...yesterday being the 23rd of September. This conflicts with the traditional birth date, i.e. Sept 22.

Career ~

Prior to beginning his lawman career, he and his two brothers worked as buffalo hunters. During his service as deputy marshal and then marshal of Dodge City, Kansas, Ed Masterson was shot twice. The first incident occurred in November 1877, when he was shot in the breast by Bob Shaw in the Lone Star Dance Hall. Although his right arm was paralyzed, Ed switched his gun to his left hand and shot Shaw in the arm and leg. After Masterson's recovery, he replaced Larry Deger as the town marshal. It is commonly believed that he replaced lawman Wyatt Earp, but it was actually Deger. On March 15, 1878, Masterson assisted his brother Bat Masterson, who was the Ford County sheriff at that time, and lawman Charlie Bassett in the capture of two train robbery suspects.

Ed's brother Bat Masterson (standing) and Wyatt Earp, Dodge City lawmen, 1876. Bat's hand rests on the butt of his six gun, holstered for cross draw. Courtesy Jack DeMaattos collection.

Death ~

Later that same month, Masterson announced publicly that he had a new plan to rid Dodge City of vagrancy and street violence, which included the disarming of gun-carrying men inside the city limits, with immediate implementation. On April 9, 1878, while attempting to disarm a drunken cowboy, Jack Wagner, Ed was shot once in his right side. Bat Masterson, who was nearby, responded, ran across the street, and shot at both Wagner, and his boss Alf Walker, who was holding a gun. Ed Masterson died approximately an hour later, after walking across the street and collapsing. Wagner, hit in the abdomen, died in agony the next day at a nearby room. Walker, hit in the lung and twice in the arm, was thought likely to die but was taken back to Texas and subsequently recovered to take the trail to Kansas again. Witnesses who saw the killing of Ed Masterson report that it appeared he was carrying a rather pungent cigar in his hand. Actually it was the close range muzzle blast from Wagner's gun which had set Ed Masterson's clothes smoldering.

The killing of Ed Masterson.

There has been some debate as to whether Bat Masterson or Ed shot Wagner and Walker. Local papers reported that Ed, after being shot, staggered across the Santa Fe tracks to the north side and into Hoover's Saloon. All the "Texan" bars were on the south side of the tracks and this is the area that Ed Masterson patrolled, while the more "respectable" establishments were on the north side of town. Bat was the elected Ford County sheriff and thus did not have direct jurisdiction in town. The incident occurred approximately 10:30 at night and the local newspapers were ambiguous, perhaps trying to shield Bat from Texan vengeance, although Dodge City residents of the time generally suspected that Bat had been responsible. In later years, the newspaper reports led some historians to conclude that Ed had shot his own attackers, and two or three reminiscences have come to light that suggest that Ed might have shot Wagner at least. However, far more of the published accounts by those who were in Dodge City at the time were clear that Bat shot both Wagner and Walker. This is supported by accounts by another Masterson brother, Tom, and Alf Walker's family always believed that Bat had shot him. The recent discovery of two court cases in which Bat testified that he had shot both men when it was hardly in his interests to do so means that it is now generally accepted that Bat avenged his brother.

Charlie Bassett was named by Mayor James H. "Dog" Kelley to replace Ed Masterson as marshal, with Wyatt Earp, James Earp, and Ed's brother, Jim Masterson, working as deputies. His brother Jim would later replace Bassett as marshal. Despite common belief, Wyatt Earp never served as the marshal of Dodge City but as the deputy marshal.

Charlie Bassett.

Lost grave ~

Ed Masterson was initially buried at the cemetery at Fort Dodge five miles to the southeast of Dodge City in Ford County. In later years all but military graves were moved to a new city cemetery called Prairie Grove north of Dodge City, then eventually to Maple Grove west of Dodge City. It is believed that Ed's grave was moved from Fort Dodge to Prairie Grove, but was lost when the city closed Prairie Grove and relocated the cemetery to the new Maple Grove west of Dodge City. His current location is unknown.

Western depictions ~

On April 2, 1957, the western actor Brad Johnson played Ed Masterson in the episode "The Nice Ones Always Die First" of the ABC television series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, a Desilu Production starring Hugh O'Brian in the title role. Mason Alan Dinehart is cast as Ed's brother, Bat, who took the view that his brother was unsuited to be a lawman.

In the 1959 MGM film, The Gunfight at Dodge City, Harry Lauter portrayed Ed Masterson, historically portraying him as killed, shot in the back by a man avenging his own brother's death.

In the 1994 Warner Bros. film, Wyatt Earp, Bill Pullman portrayed Ed Masterson, whom Wyatt Earp (played by Kevin Costner) claimed lacked the temperament to be a lawman.

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Ed Masterson Shootout ~

April 9, 1878, Dodge City Times and Ford County Globe.

At ten o'clock last night, City Marshal Edward Masterson, discovered that a cowboy named Jack Wagner was carrying a six- shooter contrary to the City Ordinance. Wagner was at the time under the influence of liquor, but quietly gave up the pistol. The Marshal gave it to some of Wagner's friends for safe keeping and stepped out into the street. No sooner had he done so than Wagner ran out after him pulling another pistol, which the Marshal had not observed. The Marshal saw him coming and turned upon Wagner and grabbed hold of him.

Wagner shot Marshal Masterson at once through the abdomen, being so close to him that the discharge set the Marshal's clothes on fire. Masterson then shot Wagner. About this time a man named Walker got mixed up in the fight. It appears he was a boss herder and Wagner was working under him. He also got shot once through the left lung, and his right arm Was twice broken.

Wagner, being shot ran into Peacock's saloon and fell upon the floor, where he remained until carried away by friends. He was fatally shot through the abdomen. He died on the evening of the 10th, and was buried on the hill near town (Boot Hill) at 4 P.M. on the eleventh.

Walker, the boss herder, ran through Peacock's saloon and fell some distance in the rear of the saloon from whence he was carried by his friends to a room over Wright Beverly & Co.'s store, where he now lies in a very precarious condition.

Marshal Masterson walked across the tracks and street and entering Hoover's saloon in the agonies of death he said to George Hinkle, "George, I am shot," and sank to the floor. His clothes were still on fire from the discharge of the pistol. He was carried to his brother's room where in half an hour he died.

Everyone in the City knew Ed Masterson and liked him. They liked him as a boy, they liked him as a man, and they liked him as an officer. The funeral procession marched to the military cemetery at Fort Dodge where last rites were performed.