Earp is concerned that older Marshal Fred White is too careless in his interactions with the Cowboys and others in his job. He warns White that he can't always talk someone into doing what he wants but White feels comfortable with his actions. Curly Bill Brocius is celebrating his birthday with friends at a saloon. The Clanton gang arrives in town to help him celebrate. Earp has his deputies on top of the situation while White asks Sheriff Behan to help control the bunch but Behan refuses. As the deputies including Earp arrest drunks shooting guns on Allen Street, White confronts the drunk Brocius for his pistol. Brocius willing to comply pulls his pistol to hand it to White barrel first. As White grabs and yanks it, the gun fires mortally wounding White. Earp seeing the incident pistol whips Brocius and arrests him. White gives a written statement it was his fault before he dies but the citizens who like White want to lynch Brocius. Earp plants dynamite in the street to stop them plus he is forced to take an unusual position in the trial of Brocius.
—Anonymous