George Campbell (Ex-Town Marshal for El Paso, TX)
Encyclopedia
George Campbell was a one time town Marshal
for El Paso, Texas
, having served from mid-1880 until April 1881, when he was replaced by a new town Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire
. He was the last person killed by Stoudenmire in what would later be dubbed Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight
on April 14, 1881.
riding into El Paso looking for two young vaqueros
who had been killed. The mercenaries, paid by a wealthy Mexican ranch owner, were looking for two missing farm hands, Sanchez and Juarez, and 30 of stolen cattle. Ben Schuster, the mayor of El Paso, had made an exception for the Mexicans, enabling them to enter the city limits with their guns.
A constable
named Gus Krempkau
, at the request of the Mexican posse, accompanied the Mexicans to the ranch of Johnny Hale
, a local ranch owner and known cattle rustler, whose ranch was some 13 miles northwest of El Paso in the Upper Valley. The bodies of the two Mexicans were found in the bosque
near Hale's ranch and the corpses were transported back to El Paso. http://www.elpasotimes.com/125/ci_3767809 The court in El Paso held an inquest into the deaths of the men when they returned to El Paso, and Krempkau, being fluent in Spanish, was required to act as an interpreter to the Mexicans.
determined that the American
cattle rustlers, among them Hale, feared the deceased were acting as scouts and would alert the larger Mexican group to their location. It was determined that two American cattle rustlers ambushed the 2 Mexicans during the night of April 13 or in the early morning of 14th.
A large crowd gathered in El Paso, including John Hale and his friend, former town Marshal George Campbell. There was animosity among Americans about the Mexicans being heavily armed within the city limit, but at the same time tensions were high among the Mexicans, who wanted justice for their two young men who had been killed. Constable Krempkau was fluent in Spanish
and was inquired to interpret for the judge
. An inquest was held in court. The court was adjourned and the crowd dispersed. The Mexicans, bringing the two bodies, quietly rode back to Mexico.
At this moment, Marshal
Dallas Stoudenmire
, who had only started the job of town Marshal on April 11, but who had a considerable gunman reputation, and who was eating dinner at the "Globe Restaurant" across the street, ran out onto the street and pulled out his pistols. While running, Stoudenmire fired once, but the shot went wild and hit an innocent Mexican bystander who tried to run from the erupting incident. When John Hale peeked out from behind the pillar, Stoudenmire fired again, hitting Hale between his eyes, killing him instantly.
When Campbell saw Hale go down, he exited from cover with his pistol drawn yelling that it wasn't his fight. Constable Krempkau, still conscious and thinking Campbell had shot him, quickly fired his pistol at Campbell before losing consciousness. The first bullet fired by Krempkau struck Campbell's gun and broke Campbell's right wrist, the second hit him in the foot. Campbell screamed and scooped his gun with his left hand, Stoudenmire whirled and rapidly fired. Campbell dropped his gun, grabbed his stomach and toppled to the floor. Both Campbell and Constable Krempkau died shortly thereafter.
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
for El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, having served from mid-1880 until April 1881, when he was replaced by a new town Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire
Dallas Stoudenmire
Dallas Stoudenmire was an American Old West gunman and lawman, who gained fame for a brief gunfight that was later dubbed the "Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight". Although lesser known than many others from the Old West called gunfighters, his name is becoming more prominent...
. He was the last person killed by Stoudenmire in what would later be dubbed Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight
Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight
The Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight was a famous gun fight that occurred on April 14, 1881 on El Paso Street, El Paso, Texas. Witnesses generally agreed that the incident lasted no more than five seconds after the first gunshot, though a few would insist it was at least ten seconds...
on April 14, 1881.
The gunfight
The events leading up to the gunfight seem to have started with around 75 MexicansMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
riding into El Paso looking for two young vaqueros
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
who had been killed. The mercenaries, paid by a wealthy Mexican ranch owner, were looking for two missing farm hands, Sanchez and Juarez, and 30 of stolen cattle. Ben Schuster, the mayor of El Paso, had made an exception for the Mexicans, enabling them to enter the city limits with their guns.
A constable
Texas Constable
The Texas constable is enshrined in the Texas Constitution of 1876 , which provides for the election of a constable in each precinct of a county, and counties may have between one and eight precincts each depending on their population. The term of office for Texas constables is four years...
named Gus Krempkau
Gus Krempkau
Gustav Krempkau was an El Paso County Constable in the late 19th century in El Paso, Texas, during the climax of the "Wild West" era. He died in the Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight, which was overshadowed by the events of a few months later at the O.K. Corral...
, at the request of the Mexican posse, accompanied the Mexicans to the ranch of Johnny Hale
Johnny Hale
Johnny Hale , aka John Hale, was a Texas rancher and cattle rustler.Hale was responsible for igniting the bloodiest gunfight in El Paso, Texas which is known as the Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight. This resulted in the death of El Paso Constable Gus Krempkau...
, a local ranch owner and known cattle rustler, whose ranch was some 13 miles northwest of El Paso in the Upper Valley. The bodies of the two Mexicans were found in the bosque
Bosque
Bosque is the name for areas of gallery forest found along the riparian flood plains of stream and river banks in the southwestern United States...
near Hale's ranch and the corpses were transported back to El Paso. http://www.elpasotimes.com/125/ci_3767809 The court in El Paso held an inquest into the deaths of the men when they returned to El Paso, and Krempkau, being fluent in Spanish, was required to act as an interpreter to the Mexicans.
Verdict of the Inquest
The verdict was that the two Mexicans, Sanchez and Juarez, were in that vicinity of Hale's ranch in an attempt to locate 30 stolen Mexican cattle. The courtCourt
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
determined that the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cattle rustlers, among them Hale, feared the deceased were acting as scouts and would alert the larger Mexican group to their location. It was determined that two American cattle rustlers ambushed the 2 Mexicans during the night of April 13 or in the early morning of 14th.
A large crowd gathered in El Paso, including John Hale and his friend, former town Marshal George Campbell. There was animosity among Americans about the Mexicans being heavily armed within the city limit, but at the same time tensions were high among the Mexicans, who wanted justice for their two young men who had been killed. Constable Krempkau was fluent in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and was inquired to interpret for the judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. An inquest was held in court. The court was adjourned and the crowd dispersed. The Mexicans, bringing the two bodies, quietly rode back to Mexico.
Shooting begins
Constable Krempkau went to a saloon next door to retrieve his rifle and pistol. A confrontation erupted with ex-City Marshal George Campbell over comments allegedly made by Campbell about Krempkau’s interpretations and his friendship with the Mexicans. John Hale, who was allegedly unarmed, was heavily intoxicated and upset with Constable Krempkau’s involvement in the investigation. Hale pulled one of Campbell's two pistols and yelled, "George, I've got you covered!". He shot Krempkau, who then reeled backward. Slumping against a saloon door, Krempkau pulled out his own pistol.At this moment, Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
Dallas Stoudenmire
Dallas Stoudenmire
Dallas Stoudenmire was an American Old West gunman and lawman, who gained fame for a brief gunfight that was later dubbed the "Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight". Although lesser known than many others from the Old West called gunfighters, his name is becoming more prominent...
, who had only started the job of town Marshal on April 11, but who had a considerable gunman reputation, and who was eating dinner at the "Globe Restaurant" across the street, ran out onto the street and pulled out his pistols. While running, Stoudenmire fired once, but the shot went wild and hit an innocent Mexican bystander who tried to run from the erupting incident. When John Hale peeked out from behind the pillar, Stoudenmire fired again, hitting Hale between his eyes, killing him instantly.
When Campbell saw Hale go down, he exited from cover with his pistol drawn yelling that it wasn't his fight. Constable Krempkau, still conscious and thinking Campbell had shot him, quickly fired his pistol at Campbell before losing consciousness. The first bullet fired by Krempkau struck Campbell's gun and broke Campbell's right wrist, the second hit him in the foot. Campbell screamed and scooped his gun with his left hand, Stoudenmire whirled and rapidly fired. Campbell dropped his gun, grabbed his stomach and toppled to the floor. Both Campbell and Constable Krempkau died shortly thereafter.
External links
- El Paso local community history project site
- http://www.elpasotexas.gov/police/history_stoudenmire.asp
- http://www.epcc.edu/nwlibrary/borderlands/20_stoudenmire.htm
- http://www.darkcanyon.net/gunmen_of_el_paso.htm
- http://mmt.osu-okmulgee.edu/~jaustin/web/destination/index.html