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What is the fifth card in the "Deadman's Hand?"

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16 November 2008, 23:42
Naphtali
What is the fifth card in the "Deadman's Hand?"
This has bugged me for decades. Wild Bill Hickock was murdered while playing poker. His hand was two pair, aces and eights, the identity of which is known. What was the fifth card?

In motion pictures depicting the event, the card's identification has been picked out of the ether of the screenwriter's imagination.

I have attempted to locate Deadwood newspaper accounts that included the information. Apparently, the fifth card was not noticed. I attempted to locate accounts of the shooting by people who were there -- Bupkes!

Anyone have facts rather than guesses?


It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it. Sam Levinson
17 November 2008, 03:02
Oday450
quote:
Originally posted by Naphtali:
This has bugged me for decades. Wild Bill Hickock was murdered while playing poker. His hand was two pair, aces and eights, the identity of which is known. What was the fifth card?

In motion pictures depicting the event, the card's identification has been picked out of the ether of the screenwriter's imagination.

I have attempted to locate Deadwood newspaper accounts that included the information. Apparently, the fifth card was not noticed. I attempted to locate accounts of the shooting by people who were there -- Bupkes!

Anyone have facts rather than guesses?


If you search the 'net you will find several claims that the "kicker" was the Queen of diamonds, the 10 of diamonds, the 2 of spades, etc.

Hickok's biographer, Joseph Rosa, says no contemporary citation for his hand has ever been found, the "accepted version is that the cards were the ace of spades, the ace of clubs, two black eights (clubs and spades), and either the jack of diamonds or the queen of diamonds as the "kicker".


"Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult."
17 November 2008, 20:23
Wink
Deadwood's saloon N° 10 sells their logo wear with the kicker as the 10 of diamonds.


_________________________________

AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim.
17 November 2008, 22:04
Naphtali
Are there primary sources for any of the identified fifth cards? "Common wisdom" and "accepted sources" -- are these attributed to anything, such as Deadwood newspaper account, written the following day, or interviews with people in the saloon, or recollections of Deadwood residents of the era?

As I read Rosa's statement, the fifth card identity was picked out of the ether and has become folklore.


It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it. Sam Levinson
17 November 2008, 22:19
Oday450
Rosa says no.


"Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult."