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John Wesley Hardin

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Outlaw

The Resume

    (May 26, 1853-August 19, 1895)
    Born in Bonham, Texas
    Wild West outlaw
    Claimed to have killed 44 men
    Shot to death while playing cards in an El Paso saloon

Why he might be annoying:

    He started killing at age 15 when he shot one of his uncle's former slaves, followed by the three soldiers sent to arrest him.
    When he was 41, he married a teenager.
    He was caught by the law when his gun got tangled in his suspenders as he tried to draw it from a shoulder holster.
    Despite his many crimes, he was convicted only once, serving 17 years for second-degree murder for the killing of deputy Charles Webb.
    He killed with little provocation.
    He complained, 'They tell lots of lies about me. They say I killed six or seven men for snoring. Well, it ain't true. I only killed one man for snoring.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    His brother Joe and seven cousins were lynched by Texas Rangers.
    He earned a law degree in prison.
    Although he was shot in the back of the head, his killer claimed self-defense and escaped with a hung jury.
    He inspired the Johnny Cash song 'Hardin Wouldn't Run' and his name, at least, inspired Bob Dylan's 'John Wesley Harding.'
    His killing a man for snoring too loud was famously mentioned in ads for Time-Life Books' 'Old West' series.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 90.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 18 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 34 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 19 Votes: 73.68% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 22 Votes: 68.18% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 28 Votes: 60.71% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 63 Votes: 69.84% Annoying