26 Facts About Frank Stilwell

Frank Stilwell was a partner in a Bisbee-area saloon with ex-Texas Ranger Pete Spence.

Frank Stilwell was closely involved in the events leading up to and following the Gunfight at the OK.

Two days after Morgan's death, Frank Stilwell was killed by Deputy US Marshal Wyatt Earp in a Tucson train yard.

Frank Stilwell's family moved shortly afterward near Palmyra, Kansas Territory, on the Santa Fe Trail.

Frank Stilwell's older brother Simpson "Comanche Jack" Stilwell was an Indian fighter, scout, Deputy US Marshal, police judge, and US Commissioner.

Frank Stilwell later staked a claim and worked a mine in Pima County and on November 9,1879, got into an argument over claim-jumping with Col.

Frank Stilwell was hired as an assistant deputy sheriff by Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan in April, 1881.

When Frank Stilwell arrived in Bisbee with his livery stable partner, Pete Spence, Tombstone Marshal Virgil Earp, Special Police Officer Wyatt Earp, and Cochise County Deputy Sheriff Billy Breakenridge arrested them for the robbery.

Frank Stilwell told Morgan that the McLaurys would kill the Earps if they tried to arrest Spence, Stilwell, or the McLaurys again.

Witnesses said they saw former Cochise County Sheriff's Deputy Frank Stilwell running from the scene.

Frank Stilwell stood there helpless and trembling for his life.

Frank Stilwell's body was found the next day alongside the tracks riddled with two rounds of buckshot, one in his leg and the other in his chest marked with powder burns, along with four other bullet wounds.

Frank Stilwell dropped his weapon and stumbled as he ran in the dark train yard, and Wyatt caught up to him and killed him with a point-blank shotgun blast under the ribs as Frank Stilwell tried to fend off Earp's weapon.

Frank's brother "Comanche Jack" Stilwell soon heard of his brother's death and went west with hopes of avenging him, but he never reached Tombstone and soon went back without doing so.

Frank Stilwell talked to Wyatt Earp at the Porter Hotel near the station and shook hands with Virgil when he arrived.

Frank Stilwell testified at the inquest that the Earps were not armed, but that he had seen Stilwell, and thought he saw a bulge under his coat that indicated a pistol.

Frank Stilwell said he saw Ike Clanton at the depot.

Frank Stilwell said that when they walked from Porter Hotel to the station, they appeared to be looking for someone.

Frank Stilwell said Holliday was carrying a pistol holster over his shoulder and the two Earps were each carrying a short messenger shotgun.

Frank Stilwell watched the Earps get on the train and one of them inspected the far side of the train, looking up and down the tracks.

Frank Stilwell did not see where the men went afterward.

The coroner reported that Frank Stilwell had been shot by five different weapons.

Frank Stilwell asked his friend in Trinidad, Colorado, Sheriff Bat Masterson, to help get Holliday released.

Life-sized statues of both Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday stand at the approximate site of where Frank Stilwell was encountered by Wyatt Earp and his posse, at the former Tucson Southern Pacific Depot, and began their pursuit of Frank Stilwell.

The death of Frank Stilwell is prominently featured in the 1993 film Tombstone, in which he was played by Tomas Arana.

Frank Stilwell was then portrayed by John Dennis Johnston in the 1994 film Wyatt Earp.