OLD WEST LEGENDS

Dallas Stoudenmire - Taming El Paso

A gunfighter and lawman, Stoudenmire was born in Aberfoil, Alabama on December 11, 1845, one of nine children born to Lewis and Elizabeth Stoudenmire. In 1862, he joined the Confederate Army serving in the 45th Alabama Infantry, during which he was wounded a number of times and carried two bullets with him for the rest of his life.

When the war was over he moved on to Columbus, Texas around 1867, where he was said to have killed a number of men. Though definitely dangerous, the 6’4” man was said to have been quite a gentleman around the ladies, who found his handsome face and sharp dress quite attractive. However, Dallas had an extremely bad temper, especially when intoxicated. Continuing to hone his shooting skills, he became equally accurate with both hands and always wore two guns. During these years he worked variously as a sheep farmer, a carpenter, wheelwright and merchandiser.

Dallas Stoudenmire is credited with taming the

lawless town of El Paso, Texas.

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El Paso, Texas street scene, 1888.

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 downloads HERE!

Just three more days later, on April 17th, violence would erupt again, when the wealthy Manning brothers, who were friends of Hale and Campbell, convinced a drunken Bill Johnson to assassinate Stoudenmire. However, it took little convincing on Johnson’s part as he was still suffering the humiliation he had felt at Stoudenmire’s hands less than a week past. Johnson then hid behind a large pillar of bricks with his shotgun and waited. A short time later, he heard the voices of Stoudenmire and his brother-in-law, “Doc” Cummings. As he started to take aim, the drunken fool fell down instead, accidentally firing two harmless blasts into the air. The marshal wasted no time returning fire, sending a number of bullets his way and leaving Johnson dead on the dusty street.

This, of course, further enraged the Manning brothers who would eventually take their revenge. In the meantime, Stoudenmire continued to take a hard line against the lawless city of El Paso. Between the April shooting of Johnson and the next February, Dallas killed another six men in shootouts during arrest situations. The city's violent crime rate began to drop as Stoudenmire’s legend grew.

In February, 1882 Dallas briefly returned to Columbus, Texas, where he married Isabella Sherrington. During his absence, on February 14th, James Manning killed Stoudenmire's brother-in-law and good friend, Stanley "Doc" Cummings. While Manning and Cummings were in the Coliseum Saloon, owned by Manning, the pair began to argue. The dispute escalated until gun smoke filled the room. When the air cleared, Cummings had stumbled outside the saloon door where he had fallen dead. Manning was arrested but at his trial, it was determined that he had acted in self defense.

With a jury filled with local residents, many who were friends of the Mannings, Stoudenmire was enraged. Unfortunately, the only man who had been able to control the marshal’s temper was the now dead Cummings. The angry Stoudenmire also began to drink heavily and often confronted those people that he felt were responsible for Manning’s acquittal. It became so bad, that many people avoided coming into town or visiting the saloons for fear of running into him. Though he had proved his effectiveness as a lawman, his actions began to turn the locals away from him. He was also a newcomer in a town where the Mannings had many friends.

City officials tried to control Stoudenmire, his drinking, and his actions by passing a law making it illegal for officers of the law to drink publicly and subject to a fine if caught. However, it was Stoudenmire himself who collected the fines, so the law failed and Stoudenmire continued to drink. In the meantime, his actions became more and more confrontational and bizarre. Sometimes, he was known to use the St. Clement’s Church bell for target practice as he patrolled the streets, was suspected of spending unauthorized funds, and argued constantly with city officials. His list of enemies grew, including El Paso Times editor, George Washington Carrico, who alleged the city's crime rate varied inversely with the sobriety of its marshal.

By May 27, 1882, the town had finally had enough and the council announced they were going to fire the marshal. However, when Stoudenmire confronted them, drunk, and dared them to take his guns or his job, they backed down. However, two days later a sober Stoudenmire resigned. He then began to run the Globe Restaurant, which had formerly belonged to his brother-in-law, Doc Cummings. In July, he also accepted an appointment as a U.S. Deputy Marshal. This, however, did not stop him from using his gun to settle arguments and his ongoing feud with the Manning brothers continued.

In fact, the feud ran so deep that local residents prevailed upon Stoudenmire and the Mannings to sign a “peace treaty” that was published in the El Paso Herald. But, Dallas continued to make threats every time he was drinking.

On September 18, 1882, Stoudenmire and the Manning brothers – Doc, Frank, and Jim, met again in one of Manning’s saloons to sign another “peace treaty.” However, Doc and Dallas soon began to argue about the first peace treaty and before you know it, they both had pistols in their hands. Doc fired first, shattering Stoudenmire's left arm and causing him to drop his gun. A second bullet hit Stoudenmire’s shirt pocket that was filled with papers. Though it didn’t break the skin, it knocked him backwards into the saloon doors and out on to the street. A two handed shooter, Dallas pulled his other gun and shot Doc as he came through the door, hitting him in the arm. Jim Manning followed and fired two shots, one going wild and the other hitting Stoudenmire behind his left ear, killing him instantly. Though the former marshal was very dead, an enraged Doc Manning proceeded to pistol-whip him with his own gun.

James and Doc Manning were arrested but were acquitted when the ruling was found to be self-defense.

Stoudenmire’s funeral was held at El Paso's Masonic Lodge #130 before his wife had wife had his body shipped to Columbus, Texas for burial. He is buried in the Alleyton, Texas cemetery.

The Mannings continued to live in El Paso, and soon their killing of Dallas Stoudenmire was all but forgotten.

During his life Stoudenmire was involved in more gunfights than most of his better known counterparts, such as Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Elfego Baca, Luke Short, Doc Holliday, and John Selman. He is credited with successfully taming one of the most violent town’s in the Old West.

Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, © April, 2007