MYSTERY SOLVED... maybe

After tons of research and the starting of this blog, which is about my tenth I think, I discovered that I might actually have ANOTHER amazing "look-like." An image of the controversial sheriff in Ft. Griffin, John Larn. But hold your applause...

My brother actually bought this weathered and ugly relic at a Western memorabilia auction we attended several years ago, where several nice period images were sold, and foolishly left it in my custody... ;) ******* I'm putting my brand on them and using them here... and he can fight me about it later. Interestingly, this image was touted as possibly one of Pat Garrett, and the humble Texas Ranger style badge on the man's chest helped anyone to suspend their disbelief. Garrett had led a small group of rangers in the Texas Panhandle, about the time that the Hidetowns were rising out of the buffalo dung. He had been commissioned by area cattlemen, and the Rangers, to rout out the many cattle rustlers who were pirating Texas ranches. This was the beginning of his war with "Billy the Kid" and his associates. But after considerable research, I decided that the image was not Pat Garrett, and unfortunately I had no idea who he was. Then just recently I became familar with Larn, and I'll be danged if this image almost passes my "Quintangulation" process, and could very well be him...

Well, almost. Unfortunately, his nose and his chin are too short, making the over-all length of the face way out of doppelganger range.

BUT THEN! Five years later, the tintype below came up for sale on Ebay. Almost instantly I saw a resemblance... not only to John Larn, but also his number one henchman and deputy, John Selman. Yes, the same John Selman who later assassinated John Wesley Hardin in El Paso. But here he is much younger, the big, notorious gunman who helped Sheriff Larn rack up victims and ride roughshod over Ft Griffin for months, while decent folks hid from them both. Larn was later shot to death by an angry mob while awaiting trial for his misdeeds. Selman went on to capitalize on his reputation and served as a constable in El Paso, Texas. Both faces score an astounding 95% according to my Q-5 process. Thus each lends credence to the other.

Below you can compare and decide for yourself.