The Life of John Wesley Hardin (Illustrated) E-Book

John Wesley Hardin

• Herausgeber: Arcadia Press
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

In an era and an area notable for badmen and gunslingers, John Wesley Hardin was perhaps the most notorious. Considered by many of his contemporaries to be almost illiterate, he nevertheless left for publication after his death in 1895 this autobiography, which, though biased, is remarkably accurate and readable.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Title

Copyright

Preface

The Life of John Wesley Hardin

Appendix

The Death of Hardin

The Killing of Selman

John Wesley Hardin

THE LIFE OF JOHN WESLEY HARDINWritten by Himself

Arcadia Ebooks 2016

[email protected]

www.arcadiaebooks.altervista.org

John Wesley Hardin

The Life of John Wesley Hardin

(1896)

Preface

In presenting this auto-biography of John Wesley Hardin to the public we feel sure that to many a new light will thus be thrown on the life and character of the most notorious desperado Texas ever produced. The deeds that men do live after them, and to the new generation the name of John Wesley Hardin is associated with the most desperate crimes and blood-thirsty atrocities ever printed in a 5-cent novel. By reading these pages a certain justice will be done his memory. Hardin, in the latter years of his life, often reiterated that he had never killed a man wantonly or in cold blood, and we believe that this book, evidently written without any purpose of self-justification will bear him out. The manuscript itself is written in a clear, blunt and direct style, and is given to the public with little, if any, alteration. Hardin was a born leader of men, whether for good or evil, and had it not been for the unfortunate surroundings of his boyhood days, would undoubtedly have made a mark in civil life. His determination, often amounting to the most daring and unreasonable obstinacy, may be traced through this self-told story of his life and can be even detected in his handwriting. Brave, reckless and daring he certainly was, and he loved his wife and children with depth and tenderness. He was a daring character in daring times, born with utter contempt for the consequences of yielding to a high and fierce temper. Such, in brief, is the framework of the life of the intrepid character to be found in these pages. To the lion. P. S. Sowell, member of the Legislature from Guadalupe county, we are indebted for being enabled to publish this manuscript. With marked legal ability he fought for the claim of the Hardin children through the El Paso courts, finally securing this manuscript for the heirs.

The short appendix to be found at the conclusion is compiled from letters and papers found among his effects and is republished with the consent of his children.