On this day in 1875, the notorious Doc Holliday was still recovering from a violent new year’s eve party. Doc and a surly bartender emptied their revolvers at one another in a Dallas saloon. Nobody was hurt. Alcohol may have been a factor. Also on this day in 1913, Josie Bassett (Bassett was a female rancher. She and her sister “Queen” Ann Bassett are known for their love affairs and associations with well known outlaws, particularly Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch) was mourning the death of her husband. On the 3rd of January she poisoned her spouse, Nig Wells, with strychnine in Lynwood, Wyoming. She was trying to sober him up after a 4 day bender by unknowingly serving him coffee in the wolf bait cup. In other news, I hope to finish chapter five of the Elizabeth Custer book today and use the rest of the week to schedule research trips to Oklahoma to learn all I can about a lawman named Sam Sixkiller. It seems like I’m running out of month very quickly. In addition to the Midwest trip planned I’ll be traveling to LA and possibly Montana. I need more January! Two newspapers reviewed the Buffalo Bill book and articles about the tome will be published in the Sacramento Bee and the Cody Enterprise next week. All indications are that the reviews are favorable. I’m pleased with the way the book turned out and hope it does well. I’m happy to send the press review copies, all you need do is ask.

In keeping with my fascination with the Old West I’m going to include some interesting items from that era that happened on this day way back when. I just might find another book out of the look back. On this day in 1869, the notorious thug and bully, Cullen Baker, was sitting beside the road in Arkansas having lunch with a pal when a posse rode up and killed them both. Baker was armed with a shotgun. Four pistols, three derringers, and six pocket knives. Also on this day in 1863, the first claim under the Homestead Act of 1862 is filed by Daniel Freeman, a few miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska. I hope to finish chapter five of the Elizabeth Custer book this week. No doubt I’ll have to put the work aside this morning to deal with the latest email threats. God does amazing things. Whatever they intended for bad He will use for good. I will continue to work on the book about my brother with the proceeds from the tome going to the Prison Fellowship Ministry. Chuck Colson is the head of the organization and a man I truly admire. Al Pierleoni with the Sacramento Bee phoned yesterday to ask about the new book The Many Loves of Buffalo Bill. Al does an article for the Bee about new books and will include the Buffalo Bill book in his column next week. I’m in Missouri most of next week doing book signings and giving lectures at schools. Hope the weather holds out back there. I’m not a big fan of driving in ice and snow. It’s 5:51 a.m.. Guess I need to get to work now.

And just like that the culprits who threatened my life and forwarded the horrible material to my site have been found out. North Carolina and Provo, Utah are two sources. Charges will certainly be pressed in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I continue to get encouraging messages like this one from truly Godly people. “Beautiful Lady, Honoré and I join your host of supporters as you deal with the evil people trying to take you down. I believe that evil people are demon possessed whose assignment is to attack God’s children.
Their attacks are provoked by their boss [satan] because your witness effects his popularity and makes his job harder. Imagine the strained look on his ugly face as he watches the standing ovation of your supporters as you walk across the stage of life holding the hand of the King of kings and Lord of lords. So rejoice and sing a song. Love, Cliff and Honoré.” It’s going to be okay now. I’ve praying for that for a long time.