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17NOVEMBERDECEMBER2013FranklinwhohadbeenleaningagainstanearbypostNixonwaswalkingalongasheapproachedMather.BothspokestatedFranklinbutIdidnotunderstandeitherone.FranklintestifiedthatNixondidnotfallafterthefirstshot.Hefellbetweenthesecondandthirdshots.Thesecondshothitme.FranklinfurtherstatedthatasthetwomenhadwalkedtowardeachotherMathertoldhimbeforeheshotthathewasgoingtokillhim.Ikindofthinkhesaidyouhavelivedlongenough.NootherwitnesstestifiedthateithermanspokeotherthanforMathersperemptoryTomAndyetArchieFranklinwhoseinvolvementintheshootingwasperhapsmoreintimatethanthatofanyotherwitnessdescribedhispositionatthetimeoftheshootingascloseenoughtohaveheardthemexchangewords.ThenextwitnesswassomethingofalocalcelebritybuffalohuntergunfighterandformerFordCountysheriffW.B.BatMastersonandthereisaninterestingaspecttohistestimonyaswellIwasamongthefirsttogettothebodyofNixonafterhewaskilled...Hehadhisrevolveronhim.Hewaslyingonit.Itwasinhisscabbard.Itlookedasifitmighthavefallenpartlyoutorhadbeendrawnpartlyout.authorsitalicsAssumingthepistolhadntbeendislodgedfromitsheavyleatherholsterashestruckthegroundNixonmighthavebeentryingtoanswerMathersattackevenashelaydying.TheAugust4editionoftheTopekaCommonwealthwhosereportersatbesidethedefendantduringtheproceedingsportrayedMysteriousDaveindetailforitsreadersHewascalmandcollectedand...thebestobserverofhumannaturecouldnothaveselectedhimasthemanwhoselifewasinjeopardy.ThereporterdescribedsomewhatinaccuratelyMatherscareerinlawenforcementandwentontostatethatDaveisreportedtohavekilledseveralmen...ItissaidthatatLasVegashecamenearhangingbyamob...Thereportersfirst-handdescriptionofMathershowsamancoolunderpressureDuringthetrialMathersatquietlyandapparentlylittleconcernedwhittlingtheedgeofhischairbuttoacloseobservertakingineveryword.ObservingareporteroftheCommonwealthpresentnodoubtthewriterofthearticleheturnedandadvisedustogivehimafairshowwhentheothersideofthestorycametobetold.Thisremarkwasmadeinasnonchalantamannerasifwehadbeenreportingabullfight.DavewasreleasedonbailneartheendofthemonthandtwomonthslaterhewasgivenachangeofvenuetoKinsleyEdwardsCountywithatrialdatesetforlateDecember.DespitearumorthathehadbeenshotandkilledinthemeanwhileMathershowedupforhistrial.Afterhearingtheevidencethejurytookaveryfewminutesdeliberationtoacquithim.AccordingtotheDodgeCityTimesofJanuary81885TheverdictwasundoubtedlyaproperoneastheweightofthetestimonyshowedthatNixonwastheaggressorintheaffrayandthatMatherwasjustifiedinshooting.MysteriousDaveMatherhadbeenacquittedonthegroundsofself-defense.Inretrospecttheverdictsomewhatstretchestheletterifnotthespiritofthelaw.ThefactthatthreedayshadpassedbetweenTomsattemptonDaveslifeandMatherslethalresponseandthatMatherhadearlierrefusedtopursuealegalmeansofremovingNixonasathreatapparentlyhadnoinfluenceuponthejurysdecision.ThejustificationwassimpleTomhadtriedtokillDaveandhadDavenoteliminatedTomashedidsoonerorlaterTomwaslikelytotryagain.ThiswasOldWestjusticeinitsmostpragmaticform.OnewouldthinkthattheanxietyofgoingthroughsuchalegalordealforseveralmonthswithhislifehanginginthebalancewouldhavecausedMysteriousDavetoreflectonhisgoodfortuneandperhapsexercisesomerestraint.ThishedidforfourmonthsatwhichpointheandhisbrotherCybecameinvolvedinanothershootout.ThefighttookplaceattheJunctionSaloononMay10withanotherpairofbrothersJohnandDavidBarnes.TheBarnesbrothershadcometoDodgetoproveuponsomeland.BytheendofthedayDavidBarneswouldbelyingdeadonthefloorofthesaloonwhichstoodnextdoortotheOperaHouseandmerefeetfromwhereDavehadkilledTomNixonthepreviousyear.ByallreportstherowhadbegunwhenDaveMatherwhohadlostasmallamountofmoneytoDavidBarnesatagameofseven-uptookthepotanywayandthrewthecardsatBarnes.WhenBarnescomplainedDavestruckhim.Atthatpointpistolsweredrawnandameleeensued.Accordingtothe