George Scarborough - Killing of John Selman

Killing of John Selman

On August 19, 1895, lawman/outlaw John Selman shot and killed John Wesley Hardin at the Acme Saloon Bar in El Paso. Scarborough had long been feuding with Selman. Selman had, as Constable of El Paso, shot and killed a former Texas Ranger named Bass Outlaw on April 5, 1894, who was a close friend to Scarborough. Selman had been tried for the shooting, and found not guilty.

In reality, Bass Outlaw was not innocent in his own death that night. Intoxicated, and having already been ordered by Selman, a constable at the time, to return home and sleep off his intoxication, after he had verbally threatened to kill a local judge, Outlaw instead visited a brothel then a saloon. He became involved in an argument with Texas Ranger Joe McKirdict, who was attempting to talk him into leaving. Outlaw shot and killed Ranger McKirdict, then turned on Selman, who engaged him in a gunfight. Constable Selman was wounded twice, in the thigh, and Outlaw was killed. The shooting of Bass Outlaw was found justified by the court.

On the second anniversary of his friend's death, Scarborough called Selman into the back alley behind the Wigwam Saloon, the two men argued and began fighting. Scarborough claimed both drew their guns, and Scarborough fatally shot Selman. However no gun was found on Selman's body. Conveniently, a thief was arrested before the trial, who claimed to have stolen Selman's gun immediately after the supposed gun fight. Therefore, Scarborough was acquitted at his murder trial. Scarborough then moved to Deming, New Mexico, where he worked as a gunman for the Grant County Cattlemen's Association. He was also associated with the arrest of Pearl Hart.