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Orion Davidson | all galleries >> Landscapes >> Arizona >> Tombstone, Arizona USA >> The Bird Cage Theater > DSC00491w.jpg
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08-FEB-2003 Steve Davidson

DSC00491w.jpg

Tombstone, Arizona USA

"Sadie Jo" became the common law wife of Wyatt Earp after her previous boyfriend, Sheriff John Behan, was murdered on the streets of Tombstone. Wyatt and Sadie (Josephine) were together about 47 years. Wyatt's previous wife, Mattie, that he had moved to Tombstone with was later forced into prostitution in Prescott, Arizona USA and committed suicide after Wyatt left her.

Sony DSC-F717
1/8s f/2.3 at 22.5mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Steve Davidson16-Dec-2010 13:30
The sad truth is this picture wasn't taken by Camillus Fly in 1881 and it is not of Wyatt Earp's wife of 50 years. It first turned up in 1914 when it was taken and copyrighted by the ABC Novelty Company in Brooklyn, NY and used in a variety of publications of a risque nature. The false association of this picture with Josephine Earp came later.

The part about Josephine being Sheriff John Behan's girlfriend before she met Wyatt Earp is true. Behan had met her in Prescott and brought her to Tombstone with him from there.
Derek Bews26-Jul-2010 22:23
A very famous picture!
Mr Fly would never have believed it was still
being viewed - worldwide - 130 years later!
Voted!