In the strangest moment of the affair, Ike Clanton lurched forward and grabbed one of Wyatt Earps arms. : It also angered Earp. Phin arrived in June and Ike in August 1882. You don't even know him. Wyatt claimed that Ike was present when Stilwell was killed at the Tucson train station, but that he ran to escape when he saw the Vendetta posse. When the dust settled on the most infamous gunfight in the West, three men lay dying in the streets of Tombstone, including 19-year-old Billy Clanton. Frank Stillwell A few days later Wyatt gathered a larger posse and set out on a vendetta, determined to mete out justice that had evaded him. Born March 17, 1951 in Springfield MA. Johnny Ringo Curly Bill Brocious Robert John Burke Frank McLaury Dana Delany Josephine Marcus Sam Elliott Virgil Earp Stephen Lang Ike Clanton Terry O'Quinn Mayor John Clum . The Toughest Gun in Tombstone. director of photography (as Charles B. Lang Jr.) Film Editing by Warren Low . I'm sure of it, I hate him. : He didnt stop at legal activities, however; just about every source agrees that he and his sons rustled and bought rustled stock, participating in the free and easy raiding conducted both by Arizona bands and by Mexican bands criss-crossing the Mexican border, wrote Paula Marks in And Die in the West: The Story of the O.K. The Clantons repeatedly threatened the Earps because they interfered with the Cowboys' illegal activities. The feud escalated, and on October 26, 1881, it finally exploded into violence in a gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone. Later in the afternoon, Ike met up with his brother Billy, Tom and Frank McLaury, and Billy Claiborne, an outlaw and friend of the cowboys. He's drunk. Wyatt saw Clanton had no gun and shoved him aside as he coolly told him, The fight has commenced. : These and other inconsistencies in Clanton's testimony lacked credibility. director of photography Film Editing by Casting By Lora Kennedy Production Design by Again, accounts of the night vary depending on the source, but Wyatt claimed Ike didnt let the argument go, seeing it as an affront to his ego. [22] He concluded that only way to deal with Morgan's murderers was to kill them.[25]. That's how Joseph Isaac "Ike" Clanton managed to get through at least part of the O.K. [16]:190[17] :49 The city statute was not specific about how far a recently arrived visitor might "with good faith, and within reasonable time" travel into town while carrying a firearm. Doc Holliday A posse including Virgil, Wyatt and Morgan, Johnny Behan, Bob Paul, Bat Masterson and Wells Fargo agent Marshall Williams tracked the outlaws trail toward a small ranch outside Benson, where they found Luther King, who admitted that he, Jim Crane, Harry Head and Billy Leonard were responsible for the hold-up. The Clantons and their ranch hands and associates were known as the "Cowboys", and they had a reputation for reckless behavior. In missing the messenger and killing the driver the robbers had defeated their own plans.. Role: Ike Clanton, second in command of the Cowboys Also known for: Also worked with Elliott in "Gettysburg" (1993) and appeared in "Gods and Generals" (2003) and "Avatar" (2009). (uncredited) Casting By Paul Nathan . [37] Clanton was played by William Tannen in the episode "After the OK Corral" of the syndicated western anthology series, Death Valley Days. So he threw himself at Wyatts mercy, affirming that fight was actually not his racket. Ike Clanton was a character played by Stephen Lang in the 1993 film 'Tombstone' directed by George P. Cosmatos. : Curly Bill : He was still steaming about his confrontation with Doc, and informed Wyatt that he was about to go and get his guns from wherever he had checked them earlier in the day. Deputy U.S. In the days before the gunfight, Clanton had enlisted the help of fellow Cowboy Billy Claiborne, who was reputed to be good with a gun. The indictments included charges of cattle-rustling and murder for the death of Isaac Ellinger. After three days, he spent the night of May 31, 1887 at Jim "Peg Leg" Wilson's Ranch on Eagle Creek, south of Springerville. Which is where Ike and his crew got into trouble with the Earps and Doc Holliday or the other way around, depending on who you asked. They also raised cattle and hauled cargo to surrounding communities, doing just about anything needed to survive in the harsh desert environment. Stephen Lang is an American theatre actor who has become famous for his roles in the movies. Yes, but there's just something about him. Johnny Ringo By 1881 he was working on his father's ranch at Lewis Springs, about 12 miles west of . Then, with James Earp and his wife Bessie, the group headed to Tombstone in December of that year. One talented actor that was supposed to have a huge role in Tombstone was Robert Mitchum, who is best known for his role in thriller Cape Fear. : [to Ringo] But business took precedence, and some of the riffraff actually contributed to commerce in their own unruly way.. After the gunfight in Tombstone, during which the McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton were killed, Ike Clanton filed murder charges against the Earps and Doc Holliday. | Curly Bill ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN November 20, 1995 TOMBSTONE, Ariz. (AP) _ Terry ``Ike Clanton denies he's trying to revise history concerning his distant relatives, the pivotal characters in Wyatt Earp's celebrated 1881 gunfight at the OK Corral. [4], At about dawn on October 26, the card game broke up and Behan and Virgil Earp went home to bed. As Wyatt recounted in the San Francisco Examiner in 1896: The moment the first shots were fired and Philpott fell, the horses plunged ahead so viciously that nothing could have stopped them. The outlaw Cowboys in Cochise County were not organized, and their acts of violence, rustling or robbery were usually committed by independent groups of Cowboys. Unsurprisingly, the poll results for the precinct were largely in favor of Shibell, who was aligned with ranchers of the area. Ike Clanton : Listen, Mr. Kansas Law Dog. The next morning Clanton rode up and Brighton recognized him. Corral and were still armed, and Virgil decided they had to disarm them. DeForest Kelley (Dr. Leonard McCoy) also played Clanton in an episode of the CBS television series You Are There prior to Star Trek.[38][39]. : After the meal, Ike, Renfro, and Ellinger went into a cabin on the Clanton ranch when for unknown reasons Renfro shot and killed Ellinger. Wyatt Earp It says United States Marshal! In late 1882, Ike and his brother Phin moved their operations north of Springerville, in Apache County, far from their troubles in Tombstone. Johnny Ringo He is of Hungarian Jewish-German Jewish (father) and Irish-German Catholic (mother) descent. [17]:4, Virgil Earp was told by several citizens that the McLaurys and the Clantons had gathered on Fremont Street and were armed. Reply . Related read: The Wives of Wyatt Earp, from Aurilla Sutherland to Sadie Marcus. [26], By 1885, the Clanton gang included Lee Renfro, G.W. The Earps were also in that camp, and though they too were in town to improve their financial lots, they didnt wanna do it on the cowboys terms. Wyatt, please, I Wyatt Earp Maybe poker's just not your game Ike. : It also didnt take long for Old Man Clanton to grasp the fruitful economics of borderland cattle rustling. Morgan Earp soon joined the fracas, and Virgil eventually separated the men to cool things down. When Virgil Earp learned that Wyatt was talking to the Cowboys at Spangenberg's gun shop he picked up a 10-gauge or 12-gauge, short, double-barreled shotgun[20]:185 from the Wells Fargo office around the corner on Allen Street. Spicer wrote, "the great fact, most prominent in the matter, to wit, that Isaac Clanton was not injured at all, and could have been killed first and easiest."[24]. Related read: Is Tombstone a True Story? He is best known for being a member of group of outlaw Cowboys that had ongoing conflicts with lawmen Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp. Clanton testified that Earp had threatened to kill his confederates because he feared they would reveal his part in the robbery. Corral.Ike, the braggart leader of the outlaws, fled at the first sound of gunfire with Billy Claibourne hot on his heels.His brother William "Billy" Clanton was killed in the shootout along with Frank and Tom McLowry. Tombstone City Marshal Virgil Earp intervened and threatened to arrest both Holliday and Clanton if they did not stop arguing, and Holliday went home. Johnny Ringo ["In wine is truth" meaning: "When I'm drinking, I speak my mind"]. Several days after his release, he filed first-degree murder charges against Virgil, Wyatt, Morgan and Doc, and a hearing under judge Wells Spicer began on Monday, October 31. In his ruling, he noted that Clanton had the night before, while unarmed, publicly declared that the Earp brothers and Holliday had insulted him, and that when he was armed he intended to shoot them or fight them on sight. Credat Judaeus apella, non ego. Now I really hate him. No. He thought catching the March 15, 1881 robbers of the Benson Stage (in which the driver and a passenger were killed) would help him win the sheriff's office. Wyatt spoke of his brothers Virgil and Morgan as the "marshals" while he acted as "deputy.". Tombstone has become one of the most popular Westerns of the modern era. By 1878 Ike was running a small "lunch counter" at the Tombstone Mill site (now Millville on the San Pedro Rivernot in modern Tombstone). [32] Lyle Bettger portrayed Clanton as a brutal thug in John Sturges' film Gunfight at the O.K. He took Holliday's walking-stick in return. Thanks to movies like Tombstone, and books like The Last Gunfight and Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hell, Ike Clantons self-aggrandizing reputation is pretty well set in stone. The Clantons sojourn in California didnt last much longer, and by 1873 they were camped out on the Gila River in Arizona, in the dry desert region they passed through nearly a decade before. ["Do what you do" meaning: "Do what you do best"]. Lack of evidence or falsified alibis in nearly every instance helped them avoid jail time, but in November 1886, a well-known rancher from New Mexico was killed by cowboy Lee Renfro on the Clanton ranch. I heard of you. I know! He said the Benson stage robbery was concocted by the Earps and Holliday to cover up money they had "piped off" to pay bribes. Miles Quaritch from the fantasy Avatar, Ike Clanton in the western Tombstone and Harry Black in the drama Last Exit to Brooklyn. [citation needed] From 1959 to 1960, the actor John Milford portrayed Clanton in eight episodes of the ABC/Desilu television series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Mr. Wilson, at whose ranch the shooting occurred, notified the nearest neighbors and four men came over and identified the deceased and assisted in giving him as decent a burial as circumstances would admit. Stephen Lang as Ike Clanton in Tombstone Stephen Lang was cast as Ike Clanton in Tombstone, one of Western genre movies' most celebrated films. Doc Holliday Wyatt Earp He left his younger brother to die alone in a gunfight, and later, allowed a ruthless murderer to escape his property instead of facing the letter of the law. Shut up, Ike. According to Wyatt's testimony later, 18-year-old Billy Clanton asked him insolently if he had any more horses to "lose," but he gave the horse up without first being shown the ownership papers, demonstrating to Wyatt that Billy Clanton knew to whom the horse belonged. [41] Christopher Fulford played him in 2007 in the BBC drama-documentary Gunfight at the O.K. In pace requiescat. And those are the threats Ike allegedly made the night of the 25th, and into the next morning. Why Ike, whatever do you mean? Ikes storied career in the west included threatening land owners, smuggling rustled cattle, stuffing ballots, potential assassination attempts, aiding known murderers, and running from a historic gunfight he himself brought to fruition. Lyle Bettger played him as a brutal thug in 'Gunfight at the O.K. More at IMDbPro Contact info [citation needed] Stephen Lang played Clanton in the movie Tombstone (1993), which draws heavily on the Billy Breakenridge book Helldorado: Bringing the Law to the Mesquite. But some things dont change, and in the following years the Clantons faced multiple charges, from stealing cattle to outright robbery. Clanton also said Holliday had confessed to him about killing the stage driver. : Doc Holliday At about 1:00 pm, Virgil and Morgan Earp surprised Clanton on 4th Street where Virgil pistol whipped him from behind. He's mine, understand? A reporter who corresponded with Brighton in late June 1887 relayed Brighton's story about the arrest and shooting: The next morning, while they were at breakfast, Ike Clanton came riding up to the front door. Marshal Wyatt Earp led a federal posse that escorted Virgil Earp to the railroad, bound for his parents home in Colton, California. Both Brighton and Miller ordered him to halt but instead of doing so, when about twenty yards distant where the trail took a turn to the left, he threw his rifle over his left arm attempting to fire; at this instance Detective Brighton fired, the ball entering under the left arm and passing directly through the heart and out under the right arm. [27], Ellinger's older brother William Ellinger was one of the biggest cattlemen in the West with ranches in several states and territories. Though Ike Clanton's hat was found at the scene where the ambushers waited, a number of associates stood up for him, saying that he had been in Contention that night, and the case was dismissed for lack of evidence. Clanton's notoriety is based largely on his conflict with Wyatt Earp and Wyatt's friend Doc Holliday. Clanton turned his horse to run and drew his rifle from his scabbard. They then walked a block north to an empty lot next to C. S. Fly's boarding house where Doc Holliday lived. The story of Wyatt Earp has been told many times over the years, from history books teaching us about the O.K. [placing a shotgun to McMaster's head] Listen, Mr. Kansas Law Dog. Clanton died before he hit the dirt.[27][28]. The story's shown through his eyes. Wyatt Earp Houses, shanties and jacals are going up rapidly, and several families are now on the ground, the Weekly Republican reported. Age quod agis. In November 1879, shortly after arriving in Tombstone, Earp had a horse stolen. : In the 1946 classic 'My Darling Clementine', Clanton was portrayed by Grant Withers. I told him I would keep them in the stable after this and give him no chance to steal them.. Corral where witnesses overheard them threatening to kill the Earps. By 1880, the Earps were more than familiar with the cowboys antics. Robert Mitchum Left On First Day Of Filming Despite landing the role of Old Man Clanton, Mitchum's time on set came to an end on the first day of filming. In fact, throughout his life, Ike Clanton routinely came around with that BS and on more than one occasion got called out for it. But Ikes time in court included more threats, and a heated argument with Wyatt, who claimed he would be justified in shooting you down any place I would meet you thanks to Ikes many threats to the Earp clan. Wyatt Earp Both Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton were each armed with a revolver and a rifle, as was the custom for riders in the country outside Tombstone. Eventually, Ike paid his $25 fine, had his weapons checked into the Grand Hotel by Virgil, and wandered away to nurse his wounds. He was well known for talking too much. : On Saturday, March 18, 1882, Morgan Earp was killed by a shot through a door window facing a dark alley while playing billiards at Hatch's Saloon in Tombstone. The practically all male cast features lean, rugged Robert Ryan as Earp's chief real-life nemesis Ike Clanton and in his second motion picture lanky Jon Voight of "Midnight Cowboy" fame. His favorite American West topics include Arizona history, the Apache and Yavapai Wars, and the Transcontinental Railroad. Morgan and Virgil were also shot, Doc Holliday was grazed by a bullet, and Wyatt came away unharmed. Based on the real life tales of Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and Doc Watson, "Tombstone" is a Western film on DVD, starring Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp. Corral. Infamous Arizona cattle rustler and cause of the Gunfight at the O.K. director of photography Film Editing by Harvey Rosenstock Roberto Silvi Next time it wont be your horse well get, Billy Clanton called after Wyatt in highly colored allusion; itll be you.'. Ballot-stuffing was about as cool back then as it is now, so Paul sued for election fraud and eventually won the office, which he took over in April 1881. All right then, I guess you can just get back on your horse and ride back down there to your new friends. Corral during a trial scene in Muskogee Little Theatre's production . Tombstone saloons, soiled doves and card dealers also didnt mind letting the cowboys do their thing. Clanton said Wyatt shoved his revolver in his belly, telling him, "You son-of-a-bitch, you can have a fight!". By late October, Ikes grumblings had reached a breaking point. Another fun fact, Ike Clanton in tombstone is played by Stephen Lang, the antagonist militant leader in James Cameron's Avatar. : He said that Doc Holliday, Virgil Earp, Wyatt Earp, and Morgan Earp had all confided in him that they had actually been involved in the stage robbery. Ike reeled in his saddle and fell on the right side of his horse, his rifle falling on the left. Others, totally over the cowboys threats, believed the Earps acted in good faith to protect the town and its citizens from further bloodshed. : [gives a Cheshire cat smile] "OLD MAN" CLANTON . If Ike wasnt involved, he likely played an indirect role in the attempt, and if he was one of the would-be assassins, it further strengthened his gutless reputation. Doc Holliday Evidently Mr. Ringo's an educated man. Whats not up for debate, however, is the fact that Ike Clanton, who had been buffaloed and disarmed hours earlier, did not have a weapon. Eventus stultorum magister. Clanton also denied ever threatening the Earps. He is married to Kristina Watson, a costume designer and teacher, with whom he has four children. Ike Clantons allegiances had always been to the ranchers and rustlers of the region, but it was now clear that he and his partners would do whatever was necessary to keep things business as usual for local cattle rustling rings. King would later escape from Tombstones jail, and despite unfounded rumors that the Earps and Doc Holliday were also involved in the holdup, Wells Fargo issued $1,200 rewards each for Crane, Head and Leonard. "[11][12]:6668[13] Clanton said in his testimony afterwards that he remembered neither meeting Boyle nor making any such statements that day. Corral . In March 1882, Morgan was shot and killed in Campbell & Hatch Saloon and Billiard Parlor, and the Earp Vendetta Ride was officially on. According to The Last Gunfight, over the course of his drunken bender, Ike made these alleged threats to the Earps and Doc Holliday: The bar scene in Tombstone was no stranger to Ikes drunken threats, but on the morning of October 26, he was spotted armed, drunk and rambling by Ned Boyle, a barkeep at the Oriental. Look, darling, Johnny Ringo. Corral in the boomtown of Tombstone, Arizona Territory but was unarmed and ran from the gunfight, in which his 19-year-old brother Billy was killed. Wyatt Earp