Jim Leavy

He is featured in the book Deadly Dozen, written by author Robert K. DeArment as one of the twelve most underrated gunmen of the 19th century West.

By the spring of 1871, Leavy arrived in Pioche, Nevada near the remote eastern border of the state and went to work as a miner.

Casey and his three friends offered their services to William H. Raymond and John Ely, whose claim had been squatted on and stolen at the point of a gun by hired men loyal to Tom and Ed Newland.

Casey and friends offered to drive off the armed squatters in exchange for a thirty-day lease on the mine.

Before Gossen died the next day, he divided his $25,000 stake between his friends, except for $5,000, which he set aside as a reward for anyone who killed Casey.

[9][8] His partners thought it too risky to take on the assignment to kill Casey themselves, but made sure he didn't leave town.

He traveled to Virginia City, Nevada; to Cheyenne, Wyoming; Deadwood, South Dakota; Leadville, Colorado; and to Tombstone and Tucson, Arizona Territory over the next 10 years,[2] working as a gambler and gunman.

[citation needed] On the night of March 9, 1877 at Shingle & Locke's Saloon in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Leavy heard Charlie Harrison make a disparaging remark about another Irishman and took offense.

[11] While in Tucson, Arizona, on June 5, 1882, Leavy had an argument with a faro dealer named John Murphy.

[2][13] William Moyer was dealing at John Murphy's Faro table in the Fashion Saloon when Leavy arrived drunk.

Leavy repeatedly made threats against Moyer and Murphy, promising to "waltz on their layout and shoot their checks from the table."

[11] Leavy borrowed $50 from a Matt Reading, owner of the El Dorado Saloon, to buy a pistol and hire a wagon and team.

[11] All three men immediately surrendered and were placed in the jail and in the custody of Pima County Sheriff Robert Havlin “Bob” Paul.

[citation needed] Murphy lived his life as a gambler in southern Arizona and is buried in Tucson.

Moyer, however, worked at periods as a hired gun and was involved in the Johnnie Mine fight in Nevada in 1895.

[2][9] Earp praised Leavy for his practical approach in a gunfight, leaving out fast draw theatrics and opting for calm accuracy instead.

[citation needed] Jim Leavy is included in a list of twelve most underrated and less-popular gunfighters in history, in the book Deadly Dozen by author Robert K.