May 7, 1973
Dallas Stoudenmire was marshal for the City of El Paso from April 11,1881, until May 29, 1882, and then served as deputy United States Marshal for West Texas, headquartered here, from July 13 until his death Sept. 18,1882.
That's 58 weeks in the city's employ and nine and a half as a federal man,
YET STOUDENMIRE, fast on the draw, temperamental, controversial, was credited with doing more than any other one man to curb the lawlessness that dominated El Paso in its early days.
He was hired by the City Council to clean up the town after four predecessors in less than a year had not been up to the job. The Texas Rangers had been called in to patrol the town before Stoudenmire, an imposing six feet four, arrived from Llano County.
HIS EARLIEST claim to fame was a shooting incident three days after he was hired. Two Mexican men had been found dead a few miles north of El Paso. During the inquest on El Paso street, John Hale, a rancher suspected in the slayings, took issue with the Spanish-to-English translations being given by Gus Krempkau.
Hale shot Krempkau in the chest, Stoudenmire, who was walking across the street, turned and fired at Hale, missed him killing a fruit peddler, and shot again, getting Hale between the eyes.
George Campbell, who had been fired as one of the marshals preceding Stoudenmire, pulled a pistol and shouted, "This is not my fight." Stoudenmire shot him, too.
THE INCIDENT became known as the "four men dead in five seconds" shootout and has been re-enacted locally by history buffs, A plaque near the Capri Theater, 107 S. El Paso street, marks the spot.
Stoudenmire's later career was entangled with a personal feud with three brothers, the Mannings. After a series of incidents, the crowning blow came when the marshal's brother-in-law. S. M. "Doc" Cummings, was killed in the Manning saloon Feb. 14, 1882, while Dallas was out of town getting married.
ON HIS RETURN, the marshal vowed vengeance and began drinking heavily. One evening, incensed by a sermon about his growing reputation as a boozer, he went to the Church of St. Clement, then on Mesa street, and emptied both six-shooters at the church bell. Since its ringing ordinarily meant fire, half the town leaped out of bed to see about the emergency.
This sort of thing didn't set well with the City Council who asked for Stoudenmire's resignation and, after an uncomfortable meeting at which he showed up drunk and twirling his guns, they finally got it, He then was appointed federal deputy marshal, a job that took him out of town from time to time,
ON SEPT. 17, he returned from a trip and went into the Manning saloon, either for a drink or looking for a suspected criminal. He was at that time under an uneasy truce with the brothers, who happened to be out at the time. The next morning they heard he had been looking for them, or interpreted his presence in the saloon that way, Friends of both parties tried to ward off a fight by setting up a peaceful talk at the saloon.
Stoudenmire walked in and saw two of the three brothers. He asked that the third be included in the conversation. Somehow, quick as fire, he had words with Doc Manning while Jim had left the room to go after Frank. Both drew their guns, Doc hitting Stoudenmire in the right arm and in the shirt pocket where the bullet was caught in a wad of papers.
THE MEN MOVED into the street where Stoudenmire shot Doc in the gun arm. Doc grabbed the marshal and, as they wrestled, Jim Manning shot Stoudenmire in the head, killing him.
In separate trials the Manning brothers were acquitted of murder charges. Frank and Doc both moved to Arizona where they died in 1925 and Jim moved to California where he died in 1915.
Stoudenmire had a short career as a lawman, He didn't make any money at it, either. His fellow Masons took up a collection for his burial expenses. His widow had him buried in Columbus, Tex., where they had been married only a few short months earlier. Yet, even in his death, he had made his mark on El Paso. The town was said to be headed away from its days of lawlessness, thanks to the spirit of the fearless marshal.
The exact spot of the "Dance of Death" is there in front to the El Paso St door of the Camion Real Hotel, where the Ben Dowell/Manning Saloon once stood. Ironically the 4 Dead in 5 Seconds battle took place at the intersection of El Paso and W. San Antonio Streets.
Posted by: K.L. Wilden | June 08, 2011 at 07:36 PM