Who was the man that killed no fewer than 42 people as a gunfighter and was the son of a Methodist preacher?

DourOrc207, why CREDIT someone for killing 42 people.

Player atticus, it's history. 'Those who do not learn history, are doomed to repeat it.

The most ruthless killer was "Deacon" Jim Miller. He attended Church regularly which is why he was called Deacon but he was a cold blooded killer and wore steel plates under his clothes to deflect bullets. the finally arrested him and a lynch mob drug him from the jail and lynched him in a barn.

Player atticus, it's just a factoid of history. Credited is just terminology. what would you say?

This guy was so vicious, Hollywood hasn't tried to romanticize him and is staying clear of his savagery. Billy the Kid, Jesse James, et al, pale by comparison so they are fair game to be portrayed by people like Paul Newman and Tyrone Power.

Actually they referred to themselves as Shootists and not gunfighters. Just as the name cowboy used to be an offensive term and it was two words cow boy referring to someone working with cattle. Now we use it generically referring to any man in the west and of course the female equivalent cowgirl.

There is actually a historical marker that says he didn't consider himself an outlaw. An era in an area, much like today, where human life is not valued as it should be.

WaldoLydeker, His story has Quinton Tarantino written all over it .

I read where he killed a man just for snoring!

WaldoLydeker, Rock Hudson acted as Wes Harding in a film

Angel, wasn't it those who do not learn FROM history are doomed to repeat it? I could be wrong.

Arohanui, isn’t some of the rest of that song “ John Wesley Hardin was a friend to the poor, he travelled with a gun in every hand”?

Player atticus, agreed. These people should lament in obscurity

captainpokeymunky568, are you all there ??

He also got a law degree while in prison.