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David "Mysterious Dave" Mather

David MatherA gambler who went by the nickname "Mysterious Dave," Mather served as the deputy sheriff of Dodge from 1883 to 1884. While serving in this capacity, he also became co-owner of the Opera House saloon on Front Street. A newly elected city government in 1884 replaced Mather with Thomas Nixon, a rival saloon operator. The feud that had been brewing for several months came to a head when Nixon took some shots at Mather. Mather ended the rivalry by shooting and killing his competitor. He was heard to say after the incident, "I ought to have killed him six months ago."

Entry: Mather, David "Mysterious Dave"

Author: Kansas Historical Society

Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.

Date Created: February 2011

Date Modified: June 2011

The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.