On November 14, 1882, OK Corral participate Billy Claibourne argued with Leslie, when the refused to refer to him as Billy the Kid. Later that night, Buckskin Frank was in the Oriental Saloon when a drunken Billy Claiborne staggered in and continued his argument with the gunfighter Fed up, Leslie escorted him to the door and threw him out of the saloon. However, Claiborne was determined and soon returned with a Winchester. Outside the saloon, he began to brag to anyone who would listen that he would kill Leslie on sight. When word of this reached Frank, he took up the challenge, exited the saloon and the inevitable gun battle began.

In the melee, Claiborne's shots missed, but Leslie hit Billy several times. While Claiborne lay in the dusty street, Leslie walked up to him and the wounded man said, "Don't shoot me anymore I'm killed."  His friends took him to the doctor where he died six hours later. Allegedly, his last words were: "Frank Leslie killed John Ringo. I saw him do it."