Davis Tutt
Encyclopedia
Davis Tutt was an Old West gambler and former soldier
, best remembered as being killed during the Wild Bill Hickok-Davis Tutt shootout
of 1865, which launched the previously unknown Wild Bill Hickok
to fame as a gunfighter.
Tutt was born in Yellville, Arkansas
, a member of a politically powerful and influential family of Marion County, Arkansas. When he was a boy, his family became involved in the Tutt-Everett War
, during which several of his family members were killed over the course of several years. Joining the Confederate Army in 1862, Tutt served during the American Civil War
, and afterward ventured west, via Springfield, Missouri
. It was while in Springfield that Tutt and Bill Hickok first met. The two became friends, and often gambled together, with Tutt often loaning Hickok money.
Tutt had previously loaned Hickok money, which historian
s have debated as to the amount, but it is safe to say that it was at least $25, as Hickok had stated that figure himself. It is generally agreed that the falling out between Hickok and Tutt was due to Hickok never repaying that debt, and Tutt embarrassing him by taking a watch owned by Hickok as collateral. Hickok allowed Tutt to take the watch, but warned him to never wear it in public. Hickok apparently looked on this as humiliating, whereas Tutt looked on not wearing the watch as humiliating, as it would show that he feared Hickok, which he did not. Although history has all but forgotten Tutt, while Hickok went on to be an Old West legend, Hickok at that time was an unknown, and this was his first true gunfight. The gunfight which followed, occurring on the square in Springfield, and which has since become one of the better known gunfights of the Old West, has been copied many times since by Hollywood
as a model of what many think of a gunfight being.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, best remembered as being killed during the Wild Bill Hickok-Davis Tutt shootout
Wild Bill Hickok-Davis Tutt shootout
The Wild Bill Hickok–Davis Tutt shootout was a gunfight that occurred on July 21, 1865 in the town square of Springfield, Missouri between Wild Bill Hickok, and a local cowboy named Davis Tutt...
of 1865, which launched the previously unknown Wild Bill Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok , better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized.Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach...
to fame as a gunfighter.
Tutt was born in Yellville, Arkansas
Yellville, Arkansas
Yellville is a city in Marion County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,312 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Marion County.-History:...
, a member of a politically powerful and influential family of Marion County, Arkansas. When he was a boy, his family became involved in the Tutt-Everett War
Tutt-Everett War
The Tutt-Everett War, also called the Marion County War or the Tutt, King, Everett War was a politically motivated feud that took place in Marion County, Arkansas, during the politically charged era preceding the American Civil War....
, during which several of his family members were killed over the course of several years. Joining the Confederate Army in 1862, Tutt served during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and afterward ventured west, via Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. It was while in Springfield that Tutt and Bill Hickok first met. The two became friends, and often gambled together, with Tutt often loaning Hickok money.
Tutt had previously loaned Hickok money, which historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
s have debated as to the amount, but it is safe to say that it was at least $25, as Hickok had stated that figure himself. It is generally agreed that the falling out between Hickok and Tutt was due to Hickok never repaying that debt, and Tutt embarrassing him by taking a watch owned by Hickok as collateral. Hickok allowed Tutt to take the watch, but warned him to never wear it in public. Hickok apparently looked on this as humiliating, whereas Tutt looked on not wearing the watch as humiliating, as it would show that he feared Hickok, which he did not. Although history has all but forgotten Tutt, while Hickok went on to be an Old West legend, Hickok at that time was an unknown, and this was his first true gunfight. The gunfight which followed, occurring on the square in Springfield, and which has since become one of the better known gunfights of the Old West, has been copied many times since by Hollywood
Film industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
as a model of what many think of a gunfight being.