Morgan Earp

Morgan Seth Earp (April 24, 1851 – March 18, 1882) was an American <a href="/facts/Sheriff/PnaHhzY9">sheriff</a> and <a href="/facts/Marshal/eDEwcQuz">lawman</a>. He served as <a href="/facts/Tombstone,_Arizona/7IkbTPpJ">Tombstone</a>, <a href="/facts/Arizona_Territory/S1L96rGn">Arizona</a>'s Special Policeman when he helped his brothers <a href="/facts/Virgil_Earp/0X7U7NR0">Virgil</a> and <a href="/facts/Wyatt_Earp/1QN5HGv9">Wyatt</a>, as well as <a href="/facts/Doc_Holliday/Phyphy3E">Doc Holliday</a>, confront the <a href="/facts/Outlaw/5BLdsGAP">outlaw</a> <a href="/facts/Cochise_County_Cowboys/55ACIWbE">Cochise County Cowboys</a> in the <a href="/facts/Gunfight_at_the_O.K._Corral/8dq2odhG">gunfight at the O.K. Corral</a> on October 26, 1881. All three <a href="/facts/Earp_brothers/UYvP4SQ2">Earp brothers</a> had been the target of repeated death threats made by the Cowboys who were upset by the Earps' interference in their illegal activities. The lawmen killed Cowboys <a href="/facts/Tom_McLaury/wozjC4Dz">Tom</a> and <a href="/facts/Frank_McLaury/pHPDePyy">Frank McLaury</a> and <a href="/facts/Billy_Clanton/LluoFUIN">Billy Clanton</a>. All four lawmen were charged with murder by Billy's older brother, <a href="/facts/Ike_Clanton/nzLExRol">Ike Clanton</a>, who had run from the gunfight. During a month-long preliminary hearing, Judge <a href="/facts/Wells_Spicer/sBH9usuw">Wells Spicer</a> exonerated the men, concluding they had been performing their duty.
Friends of the slain outlaws retaliated, and on December 29, Cowboys ambushed Virgil, leaving him maimed. Two and a half months later, on March 18, 1882, they ambushed Morgan, shooting him at night through the window of a door while he was playing billiards and killed him. The Cowboys suspected in both shootings were let off on technicalities or lack of evidence.: 242  Wyatt Earp felt he could not rely on the <a href="/facts/Criminal_justice_system/7dJlkbS3">criminal justice system</a> and decided to take matters into his own hands. He concluded the only way to get justice for his murdered brother was to avenge his death. Wyatt assembled a posse that included their brother <a href="/facts/Warren_Earp/H3JxEL2e">Warren Earp</a> and set out on a <a href="/facts/Earp_Vendetta_Ride/6pUUGEYL">vendetta</a> to kill those they felt were responsible.
Morgan married Louisa Alice Houston sometime in the 1870s. They lived in Montana before joining his brothers in Tombstone. Louisa was staying with his parents in California when Morgan was murdered.

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Morgan Earp