Dodge City's 2nd Lawman Dies, July 21, 1884

[M. R. Byrd]

Thomas Nixon: City's second peace officer to die on duty
 
By Anne Zohner Maxwell
Dodge City Daily Globe
 
EDITOR'S NOTE: In recognition of Law Enforcement Week, this is the second in a series of profiles on the four Ford County/Dodge City peace officers who were killed in the line of duty.
 
Whereas Dodge City Marshal Ed Masterson was long on respect, Assistant Marshal Thomas Nixon was long on character.
 
Nixon found his way to law enforcement after trying his hand at several other business ventures in the new frontier.
 
He was a miner in Nevada, a freighter in Kansas, sold shelled corn for horses working in railroad construction near Dodge City, ran a blacksmith and repair shop and was "interested in fast horses and fast women," according to the "Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography."
 
In the early 1870s, he became a prominent buffalo hunter in southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles. Nixon is reputed to have set a record killing of 204 buffalo from one stand, and once killed 120 buffalo in 40 minutes using two rifles.
 
Nixon was also a partner in a Dodge City saloon and ran a dance hall.
 
He was named Dodge City assistant marshal, "succeeding Mysterious Dave Mather and a feud between the two developed, among various other things reportedly over a woman," according to a passage in the "Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography.
 
On July 18, 1884, Nixon took a shot at Mather, as was reported in the July 19 edition of "The Dodge City Democrat":
 
"About 9 o'clock last night the city was thrown into considerable excitement by the report that Deputy Marshal Thomas Nixon had shot ex-Marshal Dave Mather. Investigation showed that Nixon had fired one shot from his six-shooter at Mather from the foot of the Opera House stairs.
 
"Mather's face was considerably powder burned, and the little finger of his left hand was injured by a splinter. The shooting was the result of an old feud, and as both men tell different stories about the shooting, and there were no witnesses, it is impossible to state who provoked the quarrel.
 
"Sheriff Sughrue promptly disarmed Nixon and he was taken to jail. Mather claims to have been unarmed, while Nixon claims Dave reached for his gun before he attempted to draw his own.
 
"Nixon gave bonds before Judge Cook in the sum of $800 for his appearance at the next term of court. The charge is assault with intent to kill."
 
The incident was far from over, however.
 
Three days later, Mather settled the score once and for all by shooting and killing Nixon on July 21. The "Globe Live Stock Journal" reported that while Nixon was on duty at the corner of Front Street and First Avenue, he was shot by Mather. Four shots were fired, with one passing through Nixon's chest, killing him instantly.
 
Nixon left behind a wife and two children and "was well liked by all who knew him and a vast number of friends will miss Tom from his accustomed beat on Front Street," according to the Journal.
 
Mather was later tried in court in Edwards County, after securing a change of venue, and was ultimately acquitted.
 
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[buckshot roberts]

:D Thanks, I found stuff like this enjoyable read, Ron