June 11, 2023
Guthrie, OK. Lawmen c.1890's
Only one figure can be identified among this stoic assembly: Jim Masterson, brother to the renowned Bat. With an exuberant wave of his hat above his head, he commands attention and captures the spirit of a true lawman. While badges adorn the chests of many of these lawmen, only Masterson appears to be armed —a discreet pistol secreted within the confines of his waistband.
Although not as well-known as his brother Bat Masterson, Jim's story is
worthy of retelling.
In June 1878, Masterson assumed the role of assistant marshal in Dodge City. In the summer of 1878, Masterson and Wyatt Earp were present when a cowboy named George Hoy opened fire on the Comique Variety Hall. Earp had previously had a confrontation with Hoy. Earp and Masterson returned fire, and Hoy was shot from his horse, suffering a severe arm injury. Hoy passed away a month later, and although Earp claimed to have fired the shot that killed him, it was never confirmed. It is plausible that Jim Masterson was the one who actually fired the fatal shot, but he never disputed Earp's claim and remained silent on the matter.
Over the next two years, Masterson made numerous arrests, primarily targeting intoxicated cowboys passing through Dodge City on cattle drives. In November 1879, he was promoted to Marshal following Bassett's resignation. Apart from the Hoy incident, Masterson was involved in at least one other shooting during his time with the Dodge City Marshal's Office. However, his employment was terminated on April 6, 1881, due to a change in city government and the perception that the Marshal's Office's strict approach needed to be updated and no longer beneficial.
Jim Masterson relocated to Trinidad, Colorado, where he joined the police force. During his time in Trinidad, he apprehended John Allen for the shooting death of Frank Loving, an event known as the Trinidad Gunfight. In 1885, he became an undersheriff in Colfax County, New Mexico. In 1889, Masterson actively participated in the Gray County War in Kansas. He was part of a group of lawmen who conducted a raid on the courthouse in Cimarron, resulting in a famous gunfight called the Battle of Cimarron.
Later, he moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma, and became a Deputy Sheriff of Logan County, Oklahoma. On September 1, 1893, as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshall Masterson played a role in the Battle of Ingalls, a gunfight in Ingalls, Oklahoma, against the Doolin-Dalton gang. He was credited with capturing gang member "Arkansas Tom" Jones.
He died in Guthrie of tuberculosis on March 31, 1895, aged 39.
