John Henry (Old John, Uncle John)
Selman, outlaw cum awman, was born
in Madison County, Arkansas, on
November 16, 1839, the son of
Jeremiah Selman, an Englishman. In
1858 the Selmans moved to Grayson
County, Texas, where Jeremiah died,
and on December 15, 1861, John
joined the Twenty-second Texas
Cavalry as a private. He deserted
from Fort Washita, Choctaw Nation
(Indian Territory), in April 1863
and joined his family at Fort Davis,
a Stephens County settlement at the
fort on the Clear Fork of the
Brazos. On August 17, 1865, John
married Edna DeGraffenreid. They had
four children. In the mid-1870s the
Selmans moved to Fort Griffin,
Texas, where John became a deputy
for Shackelford County sheriff John
M. Larn. The two controlled the
vigilantes, rustled cattle, and at
times terrorized the county, until
the vigilantes locked Larn in his
own jail and shot him to death.
After Selman's wife died in 1879, he
fled to Lincoln County, New Mexico,
and organized the "Selman Scouts," a
band of desperados accused of murder
and rape during the late 1870s. In
1880 strong law enforcement drove
Selman to Fort Davis in Jeff Davis
County, Texas, where the Texas
Rangers captured him; they took him
to Shackelford County for trial. He
escaped, however, and fled to
Chihuahua, where he lived until
1888, when Texas charges were
dropped. That year Selman moved to
El Paso, where he married Romula
Granadine on August 23, 1893. He
lived mostly as a gambler and city
constable. On April 5, 1894, he
killed former Texas Ranger Baz
(Bass) Outlaw during a wild brawl in
Tillie Howard's brothel.
Selman
killed the famous gunman John Wesley
Hardin on August 19, 1895, by
putting three bullets in him as he
rolled dice in the Acme Saloon.
Selman went on trial for murder, but
because of a hung jury he was
released on bond. After leaving the
Wigwam Saloon late one night, he met
United States deputy marshal George
Scarborough, and the two fought.
Scarborough shot Selman four times,
and he died on the operating table
on April 6, 1896. Scarborough was
acquitted of murder.
Selman was
buried in El Paso's Concordia
Cemetery in the Catholic section,
but his grave was unmarked, and all
attempts to locate it have been
unsuccessful.
SELMAN,
JOHN."
The Handbook of Texas Online.
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Born
November 16,
1839
near Mitchell, Indiana
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1858
The family moved to Grayson
County, Texas
age
18-19
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December
15,
1861
Joined the 22nd Texas Cavalry as
a private
age
22
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April
1863
Joined family at Ft. Davis
age
23
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August
17,
1865
Married Edna DeGraffenreid
age
25
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Mid-1870's
Moved to Fort Griffin, Texas and
became deputy sheriff. He and
Sheriff John M. Larn controlled
the vigilantes, rustled cattle,
and at time terrorized the county
until Larn was shot by
vigilantes.
age
30's
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1879
When Selman's wife died, he fled
to Lincoln County, New Mexico and
organized the "Selman Scouts"
age
39-40
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1880
He was captured in Fort Davis,
Texas. He fled to Chihuahua.
age
40-41
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1888
Texas charges against Selman were
dropped and he moved to El Paso,
Texas.
age
48-49
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August
23,
1893
He married Romula Granadine.
age
53
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April
5,
1894
He killed former Texas Ranger,
Baz (Bass) Outlaw, during a wild
brawl in Tillie Howard's
brothel.
age
54
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August
19,
1895
He killed John Wesley Hardin in
the Acme Saloon.
age
55
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April
6,
1896
After a fight with U.S. deputy
marshal, George Scarborough,
having been shot four times, he
died on the operating table.
age
56
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Buy
The Book
Fugitives
From
Justice
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