In the dusty‚ rugged history of the Wild West on the American frontier‚ there are dozens of larger-than-life names that have legends attached to them. A lot of these infamous figures were outlaws‚ but not all of them. One‚ Wild Bill Hickok‚ was a lawman and no less deadly for it.  Known for daring gunfights‚ gambling‚ and a strong sense of justice‚ Wild Bill Hickok helped bring some of the roughest areas in the Wild West under control.  Wild Bill did everything from serving in the Civil War to killing a bear with nothing but a knife. Here‚ we will step into the Wild West to unravel the life of Wild Bill‚ and who could have possibly killed such a legend.  James Butler Hickok C.1860s Early Life and Adventures Before the War James Butler Hickok was born May 27‚ 1837‚ in Homer‚ Illinois (now Troy Grove‚ Illinois). His parents‚ William Alonzo Hickok and Polly Butler‚ were farmers. Beneath that identity‚ though‚ was a second life. Wild Bill’s parents were also abolitionists‚ and their home was used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was before the Civil War‚ and smuggling slaves was a death sentence if caught.  When Wild Bill was just 15‚ his father died. Some sources claim that he was killed because of his work on the Underground Railroad. Regardless of how he perished‚ he left behind a wife and six children. Following a fight with another young man‚ Wild Bill Hickok left his hometown and ended up in Kansas. By this time‚ Bill had already proved himself to be a talented marksman‚ earning him a place in General James Lane’s Free State State Army of Jayhawkers‚ an antislavery movement. From there‚ he would end up acting as a bodyguard for the army’s leader.  The Legend of Wild Bill Hickok  After his time with the Jayhawkers‚ Wild Bill would spend some time as a constable in Monticello Township‚ Kansas‚ before joining the freight portion of the Pony Express.  While working this job‚ Wild Bill added the first story to his legend. In 1860‚ he encountered a bear blocking the road and fired a shot that failed to kill the bear. A struggle ensued‚ which ended up with Bill slitting the bear’s throat. His hand-to-hand fight with the bear severely injured him. He had to spend some time recovering before moving on to his next adventure.  The McCanles Shooting The following year‚ 1861‚ the Civil War was in full swing when Wild Bill would have his next confrontation. He was at the Rock Creek Station with station manager Horace Wellman‚ an old friend. Then‚ David McCanles arrived to try and retrieve a debt from Wellman.  A shootout commenced‚ with Hickok fighting alongside his friend and ultimately coming out on top. The McCanles shootout would be embellished greatly upon retellings. It got to the point that the story being repeated was that Hickok fought McCanles and his men off single-handedly‚ further adding to his lore.  An illustration to the article Wild Bill by George Ward Nichols of one of Wild Bill’s many fights (Harper’s New Monthly Magazine‚ February‚ 1867). The Civil War  Fighting for the Union‚ Wild Bill Hickok worked as a teamster and eventually a wagon master before being discharged. It was during his time with the Union Army that he would earn his nickname‚ Wild Bill Hickok.  In 1862‚ he once again joined James Lane’s fighting brigade to continue participating in the fight against the Confederacy. Wild Bill Hickok: Sharpshooter‚ Gunslinger‚ and Sheriff Once the war was finished‚ Wild Bill wasn’t ready to settle down. He continued moving throughout the country‚ building his legend as a gunslinger and sharpshooter until his name was legendary.  He occasionally had run-ins with the law. He was arrested for the murder of fellow gunfighter David Tutt‚ but he was quickly acquitted of the crime and released.  Finally‚ in 1869‚ Wild Bill took a position as a lawman‚ becoming the sheriff of Hays City‚ Kansas.  After that‚ in 1871‚ he would take a job as the marshal of Abilene‚ Texas‚ a town known for its cattle drives and being a hangout for several outlaws. Abilene was rough and needed a skilled‚ unshakeable gunman to bring it under control. Wild Bill Hickok was the right man for the job‚ and he had no problem killing to get his point across. For a time‚ the town was safer than it had been before‚ but like most jobs that Wild Bill took‚ this one didn’t last for long.  Wild Bill Hickok threatens the friend of Davis Tutt after defeating Tutt in a duel‚ in an illustration from Harper’s New Monthly Magazine‚ February 1867. Accidental Killing of Deputy Marshal Mike Williams  While working as the marshal of Abilene‚ Wild Bill ruled with an iron fist. Any shootings within city limits were quickly taken care of by Bill‚ even if they led to shootouts with the marshal‚ which he always won. One such incident would end up being the end of Wild Bill’s career as a marshal. On October 5‚ 1871‚ Wild Bill would come upon a brawl outside of Bull’s Head Saloon‚ owned by a man named Phil Coe. During the fight‚ Coe fired his gun‚ which caused Hickok to call for his arrest.  Coe turned his weapon on Hikcok‚ but Wild Bill was faster. Bill quickly dispatched Phil Coe but heard someone approaching him from behind. Thinking he was being ambushed‚ Wild Bill whipped around and fired again‚ but it wasn’t an enemy approaching him. Instead‚ it was his deputy marshal‚ Mike Williams.  Wild Bill had killed the innocent man. As a consequence‚ he was relieved of his position and left town.  Later Life and the Death of Wild Bill Hickok After the accidental killing of his deputy marshal‚ Wild Bill Hickok gathered a small group of cowboys and native Americans to put on a show. Wild Bill and the group traveled to Niagara Falls where they aimed to put on an outdoor show titled The Daring Buffalo Chase of the Plains. It was‚ unsurprisingly‚ an utter failure.  Along with the group of men he had gathered‚ Wild Bill incorporated six buffalo‚ a monkey‚ and a bear into the show. Very few people were interested in an outdoor show‚ and the final nail in the coffin was when the buffalo broke free. Wild Bill had become frustrated that the animals wouldn’t act and fired a shot into the air‚ which spooked them. The buffalo broke out and chased audience members. The show was closed not long after.  Wild Bill Hickok‚ unknown date. Why Did Wild Bill Hickok Get Shot? Wild Bill Hickok had been a gambler most of his adult life‚  and he would be playing poker at the end of it.  On August 2‚ 1876‚ Wild Bill was in the midst of a poker game when a man named Jack McCall entered. Bill had his back to the door‚ and McCall called out‚ “Damn you‚ take that!” before firing off a shot. It hit Bill in the back of the head at point-blank range‚ killing him instantly.  The altercation occurred because McCall had lost to Bill in a poker match the day before. At the time of his death‚ Wild Bill Hickok was holding four cards–two black aces and two black eights. From that day forward‚ those cards would come to be known as the dead man’s hand.  How Old Was Wild Bill Hickok When He Died? Sadly‚ Wild Bill Hickok was only 39 when he was shot and killed. Despite his young age‚ he had been suffering from vision problems for a few years‚ maybe leading to his slow reaction time when McCall entered the saloon.  Either way‚ Wild Bill Hickok went down in history as one of the most precise and deadly sharpshooters to ever live‚ and in his 39 years‚ had enough excitement for dozens of lives.  References  “Wild Bill Hickok”-Joseph J. Di Certo  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wild-Bill-Hickok  “Wild Bill Hickok‚ Buffalo Bill Cody and the Grand Buffalo Hunt at Niagara Falls‚”-Joseph G Rosa‚ https://history.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NH2005BuffaloHunt.pdfThe post Legendary Figure of the Wild West: Wild Bill Hickok first appeared on History Defined.

It was around 10 am when Marianne Bachmeier entered the courtroom of the Lübeck District Court‚ Room 157. She wore a long‚ heavy coat and her head was held high. At the front of the room‚ the man who was accused of murdering her daughter sat‚ his back turned to her. He was unaware that he was taking his last few breaths.  Marianne’s hand was in her coat pocket‚ holding on to something–a Beretta 70. But to Marianne‚ it wasn’t just a gun…it was revenge.  In 1981‚ in Germany‚ the view on violence had changed drastically since World War II. Some celebrated vigilante justice like the type Marianne carried out‚ while others were shocked by the mother’s behavior.  Here‚ we will look deeper into Marianne’s revenge against her daughter’s killer. Marianne Bachmeier court room photo.  The Early Life of Marianne Bachmeier Born on July 3‚ 1950‚ Marianne had it tough from the get-go. Her parents had been forced to flee from East Prussia during World War II. As a child‚ she lived in Sarstedt‚ West Germany‚ and the tension in her home grew year after year.  Marianne’s father was previously a member of the Waffen-SS–the combat portion of the Nazi’s SS unit. After the war‚ he took up drinking and was often rough and angry with his wife and daughter. Her mother soon divorced the ex-Nazi and remarried‚ but Marianne’s stepfather wasn’t much better for the young girl. A short time later her mother and stepfather kicked her out of the house‚ and Marianne was forced to support herself despite still being a teenager.  How Many Children Did Marianne Bachmeier Have? Marianne Bachmeier would have three children in her lifetime–one at 16 whom she gave up for adoption‚ another at 18 whom she also gave up for adoption‚ and Anna Bachmeier at the age of 22. Life after being kicked out of her mother’s house was turbulent for Marianne. By the age of 16‚ she was pregnant with her first child. Two years later‚ at 18‚ she would have her second. Without the means to raise these children‚ Marianne gave them up for adoption‚ hoping that her children would have a better life.  Anna Bachmeier  When Marianne was 22‚ she found herself working at a pub called Tipasa. She quickly became romantically involved with the manager‚ and was pregnant once more. On November 14‚ 1972‚ Marianne gave birth for the third time. She brought into the world little Anna Bachmeier‚ and unlike her first two children‚ Anna would stay with Marianne.  That isn’t to say that it was an easy decision. Reports from Marianne’s friends tell a sad story of a young mother torn between what was best for her daughter–putting her up for adoption like her first two children‚ or raising her all on her own. Marianne went with the latter‚ but having a newborn didn’t fit into her life at all. She would resort to taking baby Anna to work with her‚ even letting the infant sleep at the pub while she partied after hours.  Despite all of this‚ Anna was said to be a bright girl with only a few bad habits. Anna was loved by her mother‚ and for a time‚ that was enough.  Marianne with a young Anna on her lap The Murder of Anna Bachmeier  Anna was only 7 the day she decided to skip school. That morning‚ she had gotten into an argument with Marianne and decided to rebel by going to see a neighbor instead of attending class.  This neighbor‚ Klaus Grabowski‚ had been visited by Anna before. She liked to play with his cats and was no doubt hoping to do the same that day–May 5‚ 1980. Instead‚ something horrifying would unfold. Klaus Grabowski would abduct Anna‚ holding her hostage for hours while he sexually assaulted her before finally murdering the young girl via strangulation. He tied Anna up‚ placed her body in a box‚ and left it on the shore of the local canal. Almost immediately‚ Klaus’s fiance turned him in to the police. He was quickly arrested‚ telling police a bizarre story. Klaus Grabowski claimed that Anna Bachmeier had tried to blackmail him for money‚ saying that she would tell her mother Marianne that Klaus had molested her if he didn’t pay. This strange accusation enraged the grieving Marianne and set into motion the events that would make her Germany’s “Revenge Mother”. Marianne Bachmeier’s Revenge  On the third day of Klaus Grabowski’s trial‚ over a year after the murder of Anna‚ Marianne walked into the courtroom. She raised the Beretta 70 she had hidden in her coat pocket‚ and fired the gun seven times. Six of the bullets hit Grabowski in the back. He was likely dead before he hit the ground.  Marianne was furious with the horrible accusations Klaus had leveled against her daughter‚ and she wasn’t the only one. It came to light that Klaus had previously been charged with the crime of sexually assaulting two other girls in the past‚ and had requested to be chemically castrated.  Regretting his decision–the castration‚ not the assault–Klaus tried to reverse it with hormonal treatment. The behavior changes that come with hormonal imbalance were the reason the defense claimed for Klaus’s murder of Anna. The public was angry that a man who had assaulted young girls before was able to reverse his castration in the first place. After killing Klaus‚ Marianne surrendered to the police peacefully. Her job was finished.  Marianne Bachmeier’s Sentencing  Marianne Bachmeier had killed her daughter’s murderer‚ and her fate was in the hands of the court. The charge would be either murder or manslaughter.  At first‚ the public was vehemently on Marianne’s side‚ but when it was revealed that she had given up two other children for adoption and that her father was a former Nazi‚ opinions started to shift. Still‚ many people believed that Marianne’s actions were justified. The prosecution eventually dropped the murder charge‚ and Marianne was convicted of manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm. Her sentence was initially six years‚ but she would only serve three before being released.  Marianna being escorted away from the press After Release Once she was free‚ Marianne married and moved with her new husband to Nigeria‚ where he would teach. The marriage would last five years. Once they were divorced‚ Marianne moved once more–this time to Sicily.  In Sicily‚ she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She returned to her home country of Germany before succumbing to the disease at just 46 years of age.  Fittingly‚ Germany’s Revenge Mother would be buried next to her daughter Anna‚ whom she sought justice for all those years before. References  “A woman who walked into a courtroom and fired…”-Sandra Hill https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/03/02/A-woman-who-walked-into-a-courtroom-and-fired/4256415429200/ “Did Marianne Bachmeier go to jail? Her crime detailed” https://www.okaybliss.com/marianne-bachmeier-life/The post Marianne Bachmeier: The Mother Who Murdered a Murderer first appeared on History Defined.

John Dillinger was born in Indianapolis‚ Indiana in 1903‚ the younger of two children. His father was a strict man and kept a short leash on his children‚ beating them as punishment for any bad behavior they had. This was unfortunate for Dillinger‚ as his mother died when he was only four. His sister took on the responsibility of showing him compassion while his father treated them harshly. As Dillinger grew he began to exhibit deviant behaviors‚ getting in trouble for fights and petty theft‚ which was unacceptable to his father. Believing that the city was responsible for corrupting his son‚ Dillinger’s father moved the family to the smaller town of Mooresville‚ Indiana. The move did nothing to deter Dillinger’s criminality‚ however. In 1922‚ he was arrested for auto theft. His arrest ruined the last of his relationship with his father and forced Dillinger to reevaluate his life. John Dillinger’s 1924 mugshot from the Indiana State Penitentiary. A New Leaf As a result‚ Dillinger turned to the military and enlisted in the US Navy. This turn towards a more upstanding lifestyle did not last long‚ however‚ as he deserted only a few months later while his ship‚ the USS Utah‚ was docked in Boston. He then returned to Mooresville‚ where he got married and continued his attempt at leading a straight-and-narrow life. This attempt did not last long. Dillinger and his friend Ed Singleton robbed a gas station shortly after his return. A local minister recognized the pair as they left the gas station. They were apprehended by police shortly after. While Dillinger originally was going to plead not guilty‚ Dillinger’s father spoke with the prosecutor and convinced Dillinger to plead guilty. Both Dillingers were expecting a lenient sentence due to the elder’s discussion with the prosecutor. However‚ the judge sentenced Dillinger to 10-20 years in prison for charges of assault‚ battery with intent to rob‚ and conspiracy to commit a felony. Both men were shocked‚ and Dillinger’s father attempted to lessen the sentence to no avail. A Long Criminal History The long prison sentence changed Dillinger and made him a harsher man. While in prison he befriended multiple bank robbers and the group developed plans for heists they would conduct once they were all out. Dillinger’s father‚ likely wracked with guilt for convincing his son to plead guilty‚ organized a petition to let Dillinger out early which garnered nearly 200 signatures. After serving 8.5 years of his sentence‚ Dillinger was let out on parole. Now a hardened criminal who was released at the height of the Great Depression‚ Dillinger immediately returned to crime as a way to make money fast.  Only a month after his release‚ Dillinger robbed his first bank outside of Dayton‚ Ohio. Then in August robbed a bank in Bluffton‚ Ohio‚ near Lima‚ where police detained him shortly after. Police found what seemed like a plan for a prison escape‚ which Dillinger refused to give them details about. The plan was for his friends in Indiana State Prison‚ whom he had snuck guns to so they could escape the prison. His six friends‚ who would be known as the “First Dillinger Gang‚” escaped prison four days after Dillinger’s capture and immediately made their way to Lima. Posing as Indiana State Troopers who were there to extradite Dillinger‚ they attempted to rescue their comrade. When the sheriff asked for credentials‚ the gang shot him dead and escaped with Dillinger‚ beginning an infamous career.  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Wanted Poster of John Dillinger. 1934 National Criminals The group spent the next year robbing over 12 banks across the country. Their violence‚ tight gang‚ and spread-out targets caused the newly founded Indiana State Police to seek the assistance of the Bureau of Investigation‚ the precursor to the FBI. Captain Matt Leach of the Indiana State Police received postcards and taunting letters from Dillinger‚ who remained one step ahead. J. Edgar Hoover‚ head of the BOI‚ used the chance to expand the techniques and tools of the BOI. The gang continued to avoid capture‚ however‚ as they jaunted through Florida and made their way to Tucson‚ Arizona. The gang was arrested here‚ and Dillinger was transported back to Indiana where he quickly escaped the jail he was held in using a wooden gun he had carved in his cell.  The many faces of John Dillinger Dillinger’s Death After nearly a year on the run again‚ committing more heists with other gangs across the country and getting plastic surgery to avoid detection‚ Dillinger was finally caught in Chicago in 1934. A Romanian immigrant who worked as a sex worker named Ana CumpănaÈ™ struck a deal with the FBI to prevent her deportation. Dillinger regularly met with one of her coworkers and went to the movies. CumpănaÈ™ promised to help them catch Dillinger in return for not deporting her‚ a deal which the FBI later reneged. She wore an orange dress so that the federal agents could identify Dillinger beside her despite his plastic surgery‚ which gained her the nickname “the lady in red.” As Dillinger exited the theater he could tell something was wrong. He reached into his pocket to grab a gun and fled to a nearby alley‚ where federal agents shot and killed him.  Dillinger existed alongside other criminal legends such as Baby Face Nelson and Bonnie and Clyde‚ the latter of whom died just two months before. He represented a new face of crime in the United States‚ one that was more organized and efficient. This inspired the federal government to respond in kind and step up its enforcement efforts. J. Edgar Hoover saw Dillinger‚ his gang‚ and his peers‚ and believed in a new form of law enforcement that could more easily catch high-profile criminals. This led to creating an early most wanted list. Dillinger’s death demonstrated the success of this new form of federal law enforcement.  References FBI. “John Dillinger.” FBI.gov. https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/john-dillinger.  Indiana State Police. “The Pursuit of Public Enemy #1.” Indiana State Police‚ 2024. https://www.in.gov/isp/about-isp/history/the-pursuit-of-public-enemy-1/. The post First Public Enemy #1: John Dillinger and the FBI first appeared on History Defined.

Photo: Alamy Gov. Kristi Noem‚ R-S.D.‚ made a special appearance in Washington‚ D.C.‚ at this year’s CPAC‚ where she delivered a speech touting South Dakota as a model for success… The post Gov. Kristi Noem soars at CPAC‚ touts South Dakota as a model for the nation first appeared on Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN).

FULL SPEECH: Governor Kristi Noem Addresses CPAC in DC 2024 – 2/23/24

FULL SPEECH: Rep. Jim Jordan Addresses CPAC 2024 in DC – 2/23/24

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