The REAL “Deadman’s Hand”

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005

Newspaper, The Commonwealth, Topeka, March 2, 1877; Front page report, “Hanged,” Yankton, March 1, “At 10:15 this A.M. John McAll was executed by the U.S. Marshall for the murder of John B. Hickok ....” The killing of Hickok is legendary in Western folklore. Hickok was playing poker when Jack McCall, a barfly and odd-job man slipped into the saloon, walked to within three feet of Hickok and shot him in the back of the head with a .45 he pulled from his coat pocket. The bullet passed through Wild Bill's skull and exited his right cheek before lodging in the wrist of another poker player. As Hickok fell away from the table, he spilled his hand -- pairs of black aces and eights -- known forever after as the "deadman's hand."

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