The Life of John Wesley Hardin

During the Reconstruction Era in Texas, just after the Civil War, many folks considered him a hero for standing up to the Federal Army of occupation and the State Police, many of whom were former slaves. His first victim was a black man and he went on to kill many more.

Others say he was a cold-blooded murderer who killed more for personal reasons and minor disagreements than any other cause. He supposedly shot and killed a man for simply snoring too loud. He always had a reason to justify his killing. He once said, "I never killed a man who didn't need killin!'"

This book contains the story of his life and escapades in his own words. Read it and judge for yourself.

Originally published in 1896, this book is part of the Historical Collection of Badgley Publishing Company and has been transcribed from the original. The original contents have been edited and corrections have been made to original printing, spelling and grammatical errors when not in conflict with the author's intent to portray a particular event or interaction. Annotations have been made and additional contents have been added by Badgley Publishing Company in order to clarify certain historical events or interactions and to enhance the author's content. Photos and illustrations from the original have been touched up, enhanced and enlarged for better viewing. Additional illustrations and photos have been added by Badgley Publishing Company.