Dead Man's Hand - Wild Bill Hickok

James Butler Hickok, 'Wild Bill', was a folk hero of the American Old West. Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach driver, then became a lawman in the frontier territories of Kansas and Nebraska. He fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War and was a gambler after.

Hickok had a premonition Deadwood would be his last camp, and said so to friend Charlie Utter. Hickok held black aces and eights when he was murdered - the Dead Man's Hand.

Between his law-enforcement duties and gambling, Hickok was involved in several shootouts. He was shot and killed on August 2, 1876 while playing poker in the Number Ten Saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. Hickok usually sat with his back to the wall. The only seat put his back to a door.

McCall's grave was moved in 1881 and his body was found to still have the noose around his neck.

Former buffalo hunter John McCall walked in unnoticed. He walked to within a few feet of Wild Bill and then drew a pistol and shouted, “Take that!” before firing. The bullet hit Hickok in the back of the head, killing him instantly. McCall was acquitted at his first trial but was hanged March 1, 1877 after a second.