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16SmokeSignalsMysteriousDavecontinuedfrompage13Conjectureasideeventssoontookaviolentturn.OntheeveningofJuly181884DaveMatherwasstandingatthetopofthestairsofhisOperaHousesaloonwhenTomNixonstandingatthefootofthestairstookashotathim.AccordingtoareportinthenextdaysDodgeCityDemocratThebulletwentwildandstruckthewoodworkoftheporch.Mathersfacewasconsiderablypowderburnedandthelittlefingerofhislefthandwasinjuredbyasplinter.InretrospectTommadetwoseriousmistakesheshotatMysteriousDaveashootistofsomerenownandhemissed.AccordingtoZoeTilghmanthemarshalmadethisfactcleartohisassistantYououghttoshootstraightornotatallwithamanlikeDave.Watchoutnow.Hellgetyou.Thesewerepropheticwordsindeed.SheriffSughrueimmediatelyarrestedNixonbutMatherrefusedtolodgeacomplaintwhichshouldhavecausedTomtobeespeciallyalert.ItwascleartomanyofDodgescitizensthattheaffairwasnotoverthreenightslaterDaveprovedthemright.IntheclassicWesternnovelsandmoviesshootoutsbetweentwoantagonistsaregenerallyconductedface-to-faceinthemiddleofMainStreetatdawnorhighnoon.Lifehingesonthecomparativespeedofthecombatantsdrawbutfairplayistheunderlyingpremiseuponwhichtheduelisconducted.NotsointhehistoricWestandforgoodreason.Commonsensedictatedthatifyouresentedamanespeciallyaskilledpistolfighterenoughtotakehislifeitwastheheightoffoolishnesstoallowhimanequalchanceatendingyours.Mostoftherenownedgunmenwhodiedviolentlywereshoteitherfrombehindorfromambush.J.B.WildBillHickokJohnWesleyHardinBillDoolinBenThompsonJohnKingFisherWilliamBillytheKidBonneyandJesseJameswerejustsomeofthemoreprominentpistoleerswhosedeathscameasacompletesurprise.OnthenightofJuly211884wasaddedthenameofThomasClaytonNixon.UnderthebannerTheMurdertheGlobeLiveStockJournalofthe22ndreportedthatwhileassistantMarshalThos.NixonwasondutyatthecornerofFrontstreetandFirstAvenueMysteriousDaveDaveMatherssicwhokeepsasaloonintheOperaHousecamedownstairsanddeliberatelyshothimthrough.TheaccountgoesontosaythatMathercalledtoNixonandasNixonturnedaroundMathercommencedshootingathimfiringfourshotskillinghiminstantly.ApparentlytheshootingtookplaceinthesamespotasNixonsattemptonMatherslifethreenightsbefore.TruetoformDaveshotstraightthecoronerwouldlaterreportthatatleastthreeandpossiblyalloftheshotswerefatal.OneoftheroundsthatpassedthroughTomstruckanearbycowboyintheleg.MatherwasimmediatelyarrestedandashewasmarchedofftojailutteredhissoleregretIoughttohavekilledhimsixmonthsago.Whenaviolentsituationsuddenlyeruptstotheaccompanimentofseveralstaccatoexplosionstheaccountsoftheeyewitnesseswillvary.Predictablyinthepreliminaryinvestigationwitnessesgavedifferingversionsoftheshooting.FredBoydwhotestifiedthathestoodabout8rodsand10feetdistantatthetimeoftheshootingsworethatNixonwasleaningonthesaloondoorwatchingagameinside.MathertwicecalledoutTomwhereuponNixonstartedtoturnfollowedbythereportofarevolver.NixonsaidBoydexclaimedeitherOhIamshotorOhIamkilledBoydreportedthatDavefiredthefirstshotintoTomwhileNixonwasstandingandthelastthreeroundsasTomlayontheground.TomNixonsworeBoydneitherdrewnorattemptedtodrawanyweapons.AsecondwitnessAndrewFaulknertestifiedthatheheardthefirstshotthenwatchedasDaveMatherstandingonlyfourorfivefeetfromTomNixonfiredthreemoreshotsintoNixonspronebody.HoldinghisrevolverreportedlyaColts.45calibreinhisrighthandMatherthenwalkedtothefootofthestairandcameupthesteps.FollowingBoydtothewitnessstandH.V.CooksworethatNixonwasnotleaningonthedoorbutwaswalkingtowardthedoorofthesaloonwhenheheardMathercallOhTomandwheeledjustpriortotakingthefirstshot.MatheradvancedtowithinfourfeetofNixonashecontinuedtofire.ThemostinterestingtestimonycamefromArchieFranklinthecowboywhomMatherhadinadvertentlywoundedintheleg.Hisstatementwastakenashelayinbedstillsufferingprettyseverely.AccordingtoHIGHNOON