Page "Ike Clanton" Paragraph 5

In November 1879, shortly after arriving in Tombstone, Wyatt Earp had a horse stolen.

More than a year later, probably sometime in December 1880, Wyatt was told the horse was being used near Charleston, and Wyatt and Holliday were forced to ride to the Clanton's ranch near Charleston to await ownership papers in order to legally recover it.

According to Wyatt's testimony later, 18 year-old Billy Clanton asked him insolently if he had any more horses to " lose ," but he gave the horse up without first being shown the ownership papers, demonstrating to Wyatt that Billy knew to whom the horse belonged.

Sheriff Johnny Behan later testified that the incident had angered Ike Clanton.

It also angered Wyatt Earp.