Russian Bill first came to Arizona Territory during the mid-1870s, and quickly gained a reputation for being an excellent dresser.
After arriving in Arizona, Tattenbaum was quickly dubbed "Russian Bill" due to his claims, and he met and became friends with numerous cowboys and outlaws of the time, including Ike Clanton, "Curly Bill" Brocius, and Johnny Ringo.
When King left Tombstone in early 1881, around the time that the troubles started between the Cowboys and the Earps, Tattenbaum followed him.
A vigilance committee had been formed locally to battle lawlessness found both men guilty of being a "general nuisance", along with the crimes for which they had been arrested, and lynched them together that same day.
The bodies of the two men were left hanging for days, as a reminder to any who visited the town that outlaw activity would not be tolerated.