Stagolee Shoots Billy Lyons
On Christmas night, 1895, in a St. Louis saloon, the notorious bad-man Stagolee (based on historical figure Lee Shelton) shot William 'Billy' Lyons after a dispute. In the folk tradition, the argument began when Billy Lyons snatched Stagolee's prized Stetson hat from his head and refused to return it. Stagolee warned him: 'I don't care what you do with me, but don't you mess with my Stetson hat.' When Billy laughed and refused, Stagolee drew his .44 pistol. Billy begged for his life, pleading that he had a wife and children, but Stagolee replied, 'I don't care about your wife and kids—you shou