Decker

It has always bothered me.

I always thought maybe it was for marrying Pet?
I know back then it was illegal to marry outside your race.
Really not sure tho

Also, it was never explained that "Tom Cullen" on the wanted picture was actually Decker.

He obviously had done something to p*$$ off the O'Banion brothers. I was watching this on DVR yesterday and actually paused it for the brief glimpse of the newspaper showing the likeness of "Tom Cullen", or Decker, but there is nothing in the headline to indicate what crime he supposedly committed. I think the dateline was 1910 (pretty sure the movie opens several years after that, 1913 at the earliest). I could have gone up and tried to read the newspaper article (even on the couch I could make out the words in the second paragraph "If you witnessed anything...") but my back was hurting too bad to stand up and go crouch over the TV. I would suggest another poster trying this and then getting back to us with the results, if they are able to decipher it.

The main problem I have with this entire scene is that when the Ludlows and Decker see the sheriff and the O'Banions riding up, Decker throws his axe into the stump and walks away; the three ride right up to the corral in less time than it would have taken Decker to walk to the back of the house (he does not run, more like saunters away). Surely the three on horseback saw him? Why didn't they ask Ludlow "well then who is that guy that just walked away as we rode up?"

I was discussing this with some friends after viewing the film again last night. The best we could come up with is that Decker was clearly very skilled with a rifle as evidenced by his long distance killing of the police officer. It's reasonable to think whatever he was wanted for is in relation to his skill with a weapon. Perhaps he was involved in the Indian Wars along with Colonel Ludlow and they came to be friends through their shared beliefs. He also might've been operating under the alias Tom Cullen in the past, or if that was his name, he's since changed it to Decker.

Either way, screw the government.

Cheers

I watched the movie again recently and was also bothered by this. I wouldn't be surprised if Decker and Pet came to Ludlow at some point and asked to stay on. It's a relatively isolated property and Ludlow could make a living while supporting his family.

Given his skill with a rifle perhaps he was on the run from some violent crime and thought maybe no one would find him while working for the Ludlow family.

The sheriff does say that Cullen's offense is of "a private nature". Which leads me to think that he has done something against the O'Banion brothers.