New Evidence Shakes Up 1865 Wild Bill Hickok-Davis Tutt Shootout

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New evidence uncovered by local history staff at the Springfield-Greene County Library District is shaking up the traditional account of the 1865 Wild Bill Hickok-Davis Tutt shootout in downtown Springfield, Missouri. Researchers have found documents suggesting Hickok and Tutt were likely closer than the 75 yards apart as previously believed, and that Tutt may have been under financial pressure the day of the shootout.

Why it matters

The Hickok-Tutt shootout is one of the most famous gunfights in the American Old West, and this new evidence could significantly alter our understanding of the events and motivations behind the clash between the two men. The findings could also shed light on the broader social and economic conditions in Springfield at the time.

The details

By pairing 1865 court records with period advertisements, researchers now believe Hickok stood in the southwest corner of Park Central Square, not the southeast corner as previously marked. They also suggest the men were likely closer than 75 yards apart. Additionally, the researchers found documents indicating Tutt was in court on the morning of the shootout, facing financial pressure, which may have motivated him to try to collect a debt from Hickok.

• The shootout occurred in 1865 in downtown Springfield, Missouri.
• Researchers recently uncovered the new evidence at the Springfield-Greene County Library District.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The library staff says they are continuing to reconstruct the events of the shootout based on the new evidence, and no longer believe the traditional southeast corner placement is accurate.