The story of John William "Johnny" Hale, a male ranch owner, is forever tied to a violent and chaotic chapter of Old West history in El Paso, Texas. His life ended abruptly on April 14, 1881, in a notorious shootout that became known as the "Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight." The incident, which unfolded on El Paso Street, was the culmination of rising tensions over stolen cattle and murder.
The trouble began when approximately 30 head of cattle were stolen from a ranch in Mexico and driven across the border. Two young Mexican vaqueros, Sanchez and Juarique, were sent to track the stolen livestock. Their search led them into Texas, but they never returned. In response, a posse of about 75 heavily armed men from Mexico rode into El Paso, seeking the missing men and their cattle. With the permission of Mayor Solomon Schutz, the group was allowed to enter the city armed.
El Paso County Constable Gus Krempkau, who was fluent in Spanish, assisted the posse.
Their investigation led them to Johnny Hale's ranch, located about 13 miles northwest of the city. Near the ranch, they made a grim discovery: the bodies of the two missing vaqueros, Sanchez and Juarique. The bodies were brought back to El Paso, where an inquest was held to determine the cause of death. Constable Krempkau served as the court's interpreter during the proceedings. The court concluded that the vaqueros had been killed by American cattle rustlers who feared the men would discover the stolen herd. Two men associated with Hale, identified as Pervey and Fredericks, were formally accused of the murders.
On the day of the gunfight, tensions in El Paso were palpable. Following the inquest, Constable Krempkau went to Keating's Saloon. Inside, he was confronted by John Hale, who was heavily intoxicated and angry about Krempkau's involvement in the investigation, and George Campbell, a friend of Hale's and an ex-City Marshal. Although unarmed himself, Hale grabbed one of Campbell's pistols, shouted, "George, I've got you covered!" and shot Krempkau. The wounded constable staggered back against the saloon door.
The sound of the gunshot reached the newly appointed Town Marshal, Dallas Stoudenmire, who was having a meal at the Globe Restaurant across the street. Stoudenmire, who had only been marshal for three days, ran out into the street with his twin .44 caliber revolvers drawn. His first shot went wild, tragically killing an innocent bystander named Ochoa who was running for cover. Hale, having realized the gravity of his actions, had ducked behind a thick adobe pillar. When he peeked out, Stoudenmire fired again, striking him between the eyes and killing him instantly.
The chaos escalated as Campbell exited the saloon, gun in hand, proclaiming, "Gentlemen, this is not my fight!" The mortally wounded Krempkau, however, managed to fire at Campbell, hitting his wrist and toe. Simultaneously, Stoudenmire turned and fired three shots into Campbell's stomach. Campbell fell into the street, shouting, "You big son of a bitch! You murdered me!" He and Constable Krempkau both died within minutes. The entire bloody affair was over in a matter of seconds, leaving four men dead: John Hale, Constable Gus Krempkau, George Campbell, and the bystander, Ochoa.
The gunfight made Dallas Stoudenmire a legend but also earned him powerful enemies, particularly friends of Hale and Campbell like the Manning brothers. Just three days later, an assassination attempt on Stoudenmire was orchestrated, though it failed. The violent events of April 14, 1881, left a permanent mark on the history of El Paso, a stark reminder of the brutal and swift justice that often prevailed in the American West.
