When Jokes Backfire: The Cautionary Tale of Dodge City's Indian Act

Send us a text Bat Masterson wasn't just a legendary gunfighter—he may have been the greatest practical joker the American West ever produced. His favorite prank? The notorious "Indian Act," where he and his friends would dress as Native Americans, complete with war paint, to terrorize boastful newcomers in Dodge City. They'd stage mock killings in the streets before charging at their target, revealing the joke at the last moment. Their careful planning included ensuring victims' weapons were...