Hero or Villain? John Wesley Hardin, aka "Young Seven Up," "Little Arkansas," "Wes Clemmons" and "J. H. Swain," was a notorious outlaw and gunfighter who killed his first man at age 15 in 1868 and, according to himself, went on to kill over 40 more by the time he was sent to prison at age 25. He served 16 years of a 25 year sentence before being pardoned. While in prison he studied law and after his release managed to pass the Bar exam and took up the occupation of attorney. During the Reconstruction Era in Texas, just after the Civil War, many folks considered him a hero for standing up to the Federal Army of occupation and the State Police, many of whom were former slaves. His first victim was a black man and he went on to kill many more. Others say he was a cold-blooded murderer who killed more for personal reasons and minor disagreements than any other cause. He supposedly shot and killed a man for simply snoring too loud. He always had a reason to justify his killing. He once said, "I never killed a man who didn't need killin '" This book contains the story of his life and escapades in his own words. Read it and judge for yourself. Originally published in 1896. This book is part of the Historical Collection of Badgley Publishing Company. This book is not an OCR'd or photocopied reproduction. It has been completely recreated from the text of the original book. Original photos and illustrations have been enhanced and other photos and illustrations have been added. The contents from the original book have not been altered except for minor spelling and grammatical errors and only then, when not in conflict with the author's original intent or portrayal. Footnotes and addendums have been made to either enhance the author's subject matter or correct the author's mistaken historical facts. Beware of other publisher's books bearing this title. Amazon has elected to include their reviews on every book of the same or similar title. Badgley Publishing Company produces only quality recreated books, not OCR'd or Photocopied reproductions with missing pages and garbled text. Low rated reviews on this book's Amazon page are reviews applying to other publisher's works.

John Wesley Hardin was the only Wild West outlaw to write his autobiography. This new 2018 edition of his prison-penned memoirs includes an introduction and footnotes by author and translator Damian Stevenson ('On the Shortness of Life') which help shed light on this most enigmatic of Old West legends.

John Wesley Hardin was the only Wild West outlaw to write his autobiography. This new 2018 edition of his prison-penned memoirs includes an introduction and footnotes by author and translator Damian Stevenson ('On the Shortness of Life') which help shed light on this most enigmatic of Old West legends.

Gambler, gunslinger, folk hero to some, cold-blooded murderer to others, John Wesley Hardin or Wes Hardin as he was known, was one of America's first celebrity outlaws. During the late 1860s and early 1870s the teenage Texan waged a one-man war of revenge for the South, relishing opportunities to unleash his 45 Colts at any hint of enmity, while simultaneously herding cattle, running racehorses, managing saloons, winning big at monte, seven up and practically any game of chance he could get in on. His eventual capture and trial was big news.

Gambler, gunslinger, folk hero to some, cold-blooded murderer to others, John Wesley Hardin or Wes Hardin as he was known, was one of America's first celebrity outlaws. During the late 1860s and early 1870s the teenage Texan waged a one-man war of revenge for the South, relishing opportunities to unleash his 45 Colts at any hint of enmity, while simultaneously herding cattle, running racehorses, managing saloons, winning big at monte, seven up and practically any game of chance he could get in on. His eventual capture and trial was big news.

Considered by many to be one of the deadliest men in the west, claiming to have killed 42 men, John Wesley Hardin was also one of the most controversial men in the West. "The Letters of John Wesley Hardin," helps to reveal the man behind the myth, These personal writings of Hardin and his family, provide a detailed account of his capture, imprisonment, his family relationships, his religious beliefs, his transformation from criminal to lawyer and his pardon by Texas Governor James Hogg. A total of 281 personal letters from the legendary John Wesley Hardin, and from his wife, family, and closest friends, organized and transcribed by the authors from the special collections at the Albert B. Alkek Library at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. Special permission was granted to use these letters in the book. The letters begin September 8, 1876, to his wife, Jane, and end July 28, 1895, with a letter to Hardin from his friend J.D. Hargis. The letters are all reproduced as written, with misspellings and the language of the day. The text opens with a brief biography of Hardin, who began his killing spree at the age of fifteen. Most of the letters were written from the Huntsville penitentiary, where Hardin spent more than fifteen years. He was shot to death in El Paso in a gun battle with Constable John Selman.

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.

Hardin was born in 1853 in Bonham, Texas, the son of a Methodist preacher. His first brush with the law came at the age of fifteen when he killed a Negro during an altercation typical of the strife-torn Reconstruction era. In the ten years between his first killing in 1868 and his final capture and imprisonment, he killed more than a score of men in personal combat and became the "most wanted" fugitive of his time.