Norman Buck, Texas Lawyer Killed in Lordsburg by Otter Johnson
Buck arrived in Lordsburg less than two years before his death, having come from Texas where he had briefly practiced law after graduating [1][2]. On Saturday evening, June 16, 1888, a confrontation erupted in front of Johnson’s store after Buck had helped a drunken Professor Philpin avoid Johnson’s interference in Philpin’s marriage [6][7]. Buck struck at Johnson two or three times with a piece of 2x4 scantling [3][4]. Johnson then pulled a six-shooter, and as Buck ran, Johnson took deliberate aim and fired, the bullet entering the base of Buck’s brain and lodging above his left eye [3][4]. Johnson was arrested and the coroner’s jury returned a verdict of “unjustifiable homicide” [5].
Sources
- At 11 o’clock on Sunday last the startling… (1888)At 11 o’clock on Sunday last the startling information was flashed to this city by wire that on the evening previous Norman Buck had been shot and instantly killed by Otter John- son, in Lordsburg, the home o…
- Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1888-06-22 (1888)t of a store in a mining- camp in this county mentions the following articles kept for sale: “Dry goods, fresh beef, clothing, boots and shoes, caps and fuse, post- age stamps, charcoal and giant powder.” “U…
- day night and the matter was dropped until the… (1888)day night and the matter was dropped until the two men met in front of Johnson’s store Satur- day night, when Johnson brought the subject up. One word brought on another until Buck secured a piece of 2x4 scan…
- Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1888-06-22 (1888)sobered up, and after the family breach was somewhat healed, both husband wife naturally turned on Johnson for his interference in matters that did not concern him. Mrs. Philpin wanted her husband to go and…
- Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1888-06-22 (1888)or three times. Johnson then pulled his six-shooter, when Buck started to run. Eye witnesses state that Johnson then took deliberate aim and fired, the ball entering the head at the base of the brain on t…
- Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1888-06-22 (1888)pretty freely, he had not a few enemies in this section of the county. His death, however, was a great surprise to his many friends here, who mani- fested great anxiety to obtain the full particu- lars, whic…
- Through Mr… (1888)Through Mr. Buck’s counsel and assist- ance, the tipsy husband was persuaded to take a train for his destination. Mr. Buck remarked, however, that he would buy the whip and go along and see that Mrs. Philpin g…