Nov. 11, 1880, ushered in the beginning of one of the most severe winters on record in Kansas and across the entire Great Plains. In “The Long Winter,” Laura Ingalls Wilder, who was living in South Dakota, described the gloomy days that were yet to come that oppressive winter of 1880-81.

The year of 1880 had been an unusually peaceful season in the “Cowboy Capital” at Dodge City, but with the cold of winter came a change in the relative calm in Dodge City. Headlines in the Nov. 20, 1880, Dodge City Times announced,“MURDER IN DODGE CITY.” The writer noted, “It has been some time since a murder has been committed in Dodge City, but the shooting Tuesday night offers no parallel to any of the crimes committed here.”

The trouble had begun two months earlier when Callie Moore had traveled from the home ranch to Dodge for a shopping trip.

Callie had once been “one of the girls” at Ham Bell’s Varieties Dance Hall and Theatre. Any cowboy would tell you that The Varieties, south of the railroad tracks, was an almost perfect cowboy resort. Fast women, fast card games, plenty to drink and a nearby stable was all that was needed to fill any self-respecting cowboy’s card. Callie might have continued the fast life if Ham Bell had not hired Henry Heck to manage the Varieties Theatre.

The spark must have been nearly instant. Callie Moore was described as Heck’s constant companion, “Nearly ever since Mr. Heck has resided in this county…” The two quit the sporting community to live on Ham Bell’s Mulberry Creek Ranch 12 miles south of Dodge in late 1879. All seemed to go well until that fateful shopping trip to Dodge in September. Callie evidently could not resist visiting her old haunts and renewing old acquaintances. Her visit may have been routinely conventional, had her call been limited to former associates, but there was a cowboy in the works.

John “Concho” Gill was a handsome young Texan, nearly 6 feet tall, with fair complexion and hazel eyes. Out of work, he had taken up with the gambling crowd. He was considered a quiet man, not known for trouble.

Callie’s meeting with Concho Gill proved to be overwhelming for poor Callie, who had spent the past several weeks in the boring isolation of the ranch. According to the Nov. 23, 1880, Ford County Globe, Gill was, “…too dazzling to be resisted when compared with kitchen drudgery and the society of her more homely lover.”

Henry Heck didn’t stand a chance.

Callie returned to Henry and the ranch only long enough to collect her things. She was soon with Concho Gill, keeping house in Dodge City. In his misery, Callie’s former lover, Henry Heck, tried to erase the memory of sweet Callie by drowning himself in the bottle. But her memory cruelly haunted his tormented soul.

Henry traveled to Dodge City to win sweet Callie back. He easily found her, but she would not be swayed. His only alternative was an ultimatum that Callie return to him at the ranch within three days.

The evening of Nov. 16, 1880, marked the end of the three days. Callie was to meet Henry at a predetermined place, but she did not arrive alone. Sallie Frazier stayed close by Callie’s side as Callie tearfully told Henry that she was not leaving Dodge City or Concho Gill. Henry erupted in anger, warning Callie that Concho Gill would be dead before morning.

Callie left and Henry continued to drink. Each shot of whiskey increased his torment and pushed him to find release. By midnight he was full of all the liquid courage he needed. Henry stepped out into the frigidly cold night with a fearless determination to retrieve Callie or kill his rival.

Staggering as he reached Concho Gill’s rented room, Henry began beating on the door and demanding for it to be opened. Knowing the trouble that awaited just beyond the door, Concho Gill rose from his bed with gun in hand and yanked open the door. Two shots rang out before Concho slammed the door and returned to his bed. One bullet hit Henry in the chest, driving him back into the darkness. Hearing the shots, Deputy Marshal Neil Brown arrived at Concho Gill’s room within minutes. Concho was arrested and escorted to jail.

Meanwhile, Henry Heck stumbled into a saloon over a half an hour later. He asked for a drink and told the bartender that Concho Gill had shot him. Henry stepped outside for a moment, then stepped back into the saloon. Suddenly he dropped dead to the floor.

During the weeks that led up to the trial, Callie was reported to be “still true to her imprisoned lover.” Concho Gill was sentenced to 15 years in Lansing. No one knows what happened to Callie after the sentencing.

Ten and one-half years later, Aug. 19, 1891, John “Concho” Gill was released from the Kansas Penitentiary, no doubt a wiser man following his encounter with another man’s fancy on The Way West.

“The Cowboy” Jim Gray can be reached at 220 21st Rd., Geneseo, KS 67444, (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@kans.com.