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13NOVEMBERDECEMBER2013Kansasduringafeudbetweenasaloonownerandthereformelementofthecity.IthascometobedubbedtheDodgeCityWar.OneoftheprimaryplayerswasthemayorLawrenceDegerandopposinghimadiminutivegamblerappropriatelynamedLukeShortco-owneroftheLongBranchSaloon.WhileDegercollectedanassortmentoftownspeopleonhissideShortalignedtohiscausesuchluminariesasWyattEarpW.B.BatMastersonandCharlieBassett.Anticipatingviolenceandseeingtheneedforaneutralassistantmarshaltoworkwithnon-partisancitymarshalJackBridgesthecityfathersappointedMysteriousDavetothepostdespitethefactthatfouryearsearlierTheFordCountyGlobeDodgesmajornewspaperhadnamedhimasaregularassociateofnotorioushorsethiefDutchHenryBorn.DavealsomanagedtowinelectiontothepostofFordCountydeputysheriffunderSheriffPatSughrue.ThewarwasresolvedwithoutbloodshedandMathercontinuedtoserverelativelyeffectivelyasassistantmarshal.HowevertheopposingpoliticalpartywonthenextelectionandthenewmayorGeorgeHooverfiredbothMatherandBridgesandappointedhisownpartychoicesBillTilghmanandThomasClaytonNixonasmarshalandassistantmarshalrespectively.BothhadreputationsastoughcapablemenbutTomNixonwassomethingofalocallegend.NixonhadbeenafixtureintheregionsincetheonlystructuretobreakthehorizonwasFortDodge.ASouthernerbybirthhehadcomewestandtriedhishandatprospectingbeforemovingwithhisfamilyin1870tothesiteofwhatwouldsoonbecomeDodgeCity.HebuiltaranchintheareaandmadeanameforhimselfasoneofthemostskilledbuffalohuntersonthePlains.LoathtostayatonejobforverylongNixonwentintothewagonrepairbusinessbutinapoliticalturnaroundin1881apparentlythiswasafairlycommonoccurrenceinDodgeCityhewastappedtoreplacetheexistingassistantcitymarshal.HeheldthepostforthenexttwoyearsduringwhichtimeheandanassociatenamedOrlandoBrickBondboughtasaloonanddancehall.AfterbrieflylosinghisbadgetoDaveMatherin1883NixonreclaimeditafterHooverselectionasmayor.JackBridgesMathersformerbossseemstohaveacceptedthefactofhisreplacementwithrelativeequanimity.MatherhoweverharboredadeepresentmenttowardNixon.Itwasthefirststepinadancethatwouldleaveoneofthemendeadandtheotherontrialforhislife.InMay1884whilestillservingasFordCountydeputysheriffDaveMatherboughttheOperaHouseSalooninpartnershipwithoneDavidBlack.Theyimmediatelysetaboutconvertingitintoadancehallanimprovementthatthenewmayorwasdeterminedtostop.HeandhiscitycouncilmetspecificallytoaddresstheissueandpassedanewordinancestatingItshallbeunlawfulforanypersonorpersonstokeepormaintaininthecityofDodgeCityKansaswhatiscommonlyknownasadancehall...wherelewdwomenandmencongregateforthepurposeofdancingorotherwise.ToMathertheordinanceitselfwasbadenoughwhatpouredfuelontheflameswastheglaringfactthatwhiledirectingthebanatDaveandhispartnerthecityfathersdidnothingtoenforcethenewrestrictionsonarivalsaloonanddancehalltheLadyGay.FurtherexacerbatingthesituationtheLadyGaywasownedbynoneotherthanDavesnewlyappointedreplacementAssistantMarshalTomNixon.TohiscreditDavelefthispistolinitsholsterthistimeandsoughtretributionthroughcommerce.HeandhispartnerdroppedthepriceofbeertofivecentsaglassconsiderablylessthantheLadyGayandtheothercitysaloonswerecharging.InresponseTomNixongottheDodgeCitysaloonownerstobandtogetherandputpressureonthebrewersandwholesalerstowithholdsalesfromtheOperaHouseeffectivelycausingDavesbeersupplytodwindletonothing.TherecentelectionandthesaloonwarweresufficientreasonstocreatethebadbloodbetweenDaveMatherandTomNixonhoweveraccordingtoMatherbiographerJackDeMattostherewerecontemporaryreportsoffurtheranimositybetweenthetwomenovertheaffectionsofawoman.ZoeTilghmanBillTilghmanswidowlaterwrotethatthefemmefatalewhohadwonMysteriousDavesheartoratleasthisattentionwasnoneotherthanNixonswifeCornelia.Continuedonpage16