Clay Culhane

Clay’s Biography

Clay Culhane is an ex-gunfighter turned lawyer in his late twenties. He is tall, lanky and athletic, an expert gunman and rider who also enjoys a good fistfight.  Clay is well-versed in legal procedure, statutory law and tries to look the part of the lawyer. However, he also wears his trusty colt peacemaker for emergencies. Clay’s prized black saddle and saddlebags are extremely important to him as a symbol of his profession and personal redemption.   Clay is passionate about helping people, but this wasn’t always the case. He was a self-serving gunfighter with a significant reputation, and in Texas, his gun skills are legendary and he is much feared as a strong arm. This is one of the reasons he left for the New Mexico border, to escape his past. The lawless town would also give him plenty of clients since Latigo is a haven for outlaws. Trying to leave behind his former profession has been a struggle for Clay. He is often misjudged as a gunman not a lawyer. In fact, he often resorts to using the quick draw to help out a case, which only makes matters worse!

Since hanging out his shingle in the wild border town, Clay often has run-ins with the cranky, prejudicial Marshal Gibson 'Gib' Scott. Their relationship is uneasy because Gib believes Clay has not changed and the lawyer face is just a front. Clay tries to follow Gib’s rules as he respects the law as well, and wants to be the Marshal's friend. But somehow, his clients always seem to end up in a scrap where Clay’s fighting abilities either with the gun or the fist come in handy. Trouble seems to find the young lawyer in spite of his good intentions. Despite his belief, every once in awhile, Gib will call on Clay as a deputy or in a posse. Clay really likes the short-tempered lawman and respects the lawman's fast gun. Clay believes in maintaining laws so they have a lot in common. Clay truly believes a person is innocent until proved guilty; whereas Gib is much more pessimistic.

Their relationship is further burdened by the fact that Clay and Gib are both competing for the affections of Miss Nora Travers. Ever since Clay first saw her, he was enthralled by her beauty (another reason to hang around Latigo) and so he decided to take up residence in her hotel just to keep an eye on her. He admires her toughness and business savvy. Sometimes her independence frustrates him while at other times he welcomes it. Although Clay is in love with Nora, the prospect of marriage scares him and he has trouble verbalizing his feelings.   Clay came late to the law, as a teenager he learned gunfighting from aging gunslinger Gurney Rhoads. Gurney helped Clay build his reputation as a deadly gunfighter as they traveled around the south “troubleshooting.” With the advent of the war, Clay left Gurney behind to fight in a Confederate cavalry unit.  Clay developed a love for horses and currently rides a spirited dapple grey stallion name Curly. After the war he returned to his hometown of Marathon Texas.   Three years before arriving in Latigo, Clay and his two brothers worked for Senator McQueen’s ranch in Marathon. They were ranch hands who used their gun abilities to defend the land baron. Brothers Ben and Dan were both killed in a feud and a wounded Clay barely escaped alive. He was nursed back to health by Mercer McKinney the hanging judge of the Indian territory. Judge McKinney was a father figure to him and Clay spent a year with the Judge learning the law.  Judge McKinney passed down his personal copy of Blackstone and his treasured black saddlebags to the newly appointed lawyer.  Clay later dyed his saddle black to match the black saddlebags. The black saddle and saddlebags always remind him of his mentor Judge McKinney and the higher calling of the law.

For more information about actor Peter Breck check out his official website  http://www.peterbreck.ca/index.htm