old west gunfighter who became a lawyer

Who was the greatest gunfighter in the Old West?

Wild Bill may hold the title of the deadliest gunslinger in the whole West. He carried his two Colt 1851 Navy revolvers with ivory grips and nickel plating, which can be seen on display at the Adams Museum in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Who was the most famous lawman in the Old West?

Noted lawman Wyatt Earp is most likely the most storied figure of the Old West. He was also a skilled gunslinger who was greatly feared by the outlaws of the time.

Who were two famous lawmen of the Wild West?

Here are 10 of the most famous and notorious of these outlaws of the Wild West.Jesse James. Jesse James. ... Billy the Kid. Billy The Kid. ... Butch Cassidy. Butch Cassidy. ... Harry Alonzo Longabaugh. Harry Alonzo Longabaugh (b. ... John Wesley Hardin. ... Belle Starr. ... Bill Doolin. ... Sam Bass.More items...

Who was the most wanted man in the Wild West?

Robert LeRoy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy, closed out the last decade of the 1800s being a wanted man. With his accomplice Harry Alonzo Longabaugh (aka the Sundance Kid), the two robbed trains, banks and led a posse of criminals called the Wild Bunch.

Who was the most feared lawman is the West?

Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves was arguably the greatest lawman and gunfighter of the West, a man who served as a marshal for 32 years in the most dangerous district in the country, captured 3,000 felons, (once bringing in 17 men at one time), and shot 14 men in the line of duty, all without ever being shot himself.

Who enforced the law in the Wild West?

Sheriff Johnny Behan (at far right with three of his constituents in Tombstone, Arizona Territory) sided with the Cowboy outlaws against the Earp lawmen. [dropcap]T[/dropcap]housands of men enforced the law on the Western frontier as constables, sheriffs, policemen, marshals and detectives.

Who was the best gunfighter ever?

1. John Wesley Hardin. In a relatively short life, famed outlaw and gunslinger John Wesley Hardin established himself as easily the most bloodthirsty figure of the Old West, and is credited with the deaths of no less than 42 people.

Who was the most famous person in the Wild West?

The 10 Most Iconic Wild West FiguresDavy Crockett. ... Annie Oakley. ... Buffalo Bill. ... Jesse James. ... If there is one man who can take the title of “Most Notorious Outlaw” away from Jesse James, it would be Butch Cassidy. ... Geronimo. ... Wild Bill Hickok. ... Wyatt Earp.More items...•

Who was the baddest cowboy in the West?

The Baddest Country OutlawsBilly the Kid (1859 – 1881) ... Sam Bass (1851 – 1878) ... Felipe Espinosa (1836 – 1863) ... Belle Starr (1848 – 1889) ... Hoodoo Brown (1856 – ?) ... Doc Holiday (1851 – 1887) ... Jim Miller (1866 – 1909) ... Bonnie and Clyde (1910, 1909 – 1934)More items...•

Who was the most feared outlaw?

John Wesley HardinCause of deathGunshot woundOther names"Little Arkansas" "Wesley Clements" "J. H. Swain"Occupationgambling/card sharp, cowboy, cattle rustler, lawyerKnown forvery young outlaw and prolific gunfighter5 more rows

Who was the last cowboy outlaw?

They just don't make bad men like Henry Starr anymore. He was the last of his kind, a true cowboy bandit. A prince of the Wild West crime dynasty ruled by outlaw queen Belle Starr, Henry grew up in a time when bank robbers galloped into town with bandanas covering their faces and six-shooters blazing.

Who is the most legendary cowboy?

Most Famous Cowboys of All TimeDoc Scurlock (1849-1929)Cliven Bundy (b. 1946)Ty Murray (b. 1969)John Wesley Hardin (1853-1895)Ben Johnson (1918-1996)Will Rogers (1879-1935)Annie Oakley (1860-1926)Billy the Kid (1859-1881)More items...•

What was the Old West gunfighter?

Old West gunfighters refer to people (mostly men!) who were quite handy using their firearms during the nineteenth century when settling the American West. They were not necessarily outlaws, although many were. Some were law officers, or at least were at some point in their life. Some were known for being lawmen, ...

Who was the cowboy in the Tombstone?

William "Curly Bill" Brocius - One of The Cow-boys in 1880s Cochise County who regularly tangled with the Earps and other Tombstone lawmen. Johnny Ringo - Troubled since his teens, involved in Texas land war before coming to the Tombstone area. Read More>. Billy Claiborne - Known as a miner, drover and cattleman.

How many lawmen did Hardin kill?

He escaped during transport, killing four lawmen in the process. Hardin hooked up with cousins to escape Texas. Then still got involved in gunfights & a few more killings. After that still more involvement with old west gunfighters. Even including shooting a man (although unintentionally) for snoring!

Who was the assistant to Doolin?

That's when he chose Wyatt Earp as Assistant. He interacted with quite a few old west gunfighters during his lawman days. William "Tulsa Jack" Blake - A cowboy in Kansas & Oklahoma, eventually joining up with Doolin's Wild Bunch gang. They specialized in bank and train robberies in Western Oklahoma.

Who is Martha Jane?

Martha Jane "Calamity Jane" Cannary - Born in Missouri, oldest of six children. Her parents died when she was a teen. She took charge of her younger siblings. She earned money dishwashing, cooking, waitressing, nursing. She worked as a dance-hall girl & driving ox teams. When necessary she worked as a prostitute at Three-Mile Hog Ranch in Fort Laramie, Wyoming. She claimed she scouted for Fort Russell. She was around the military fort when Native American campaign conflicts were ongoing. She also claimed a post commander christened her "Calamity Jane" when she saved him from falling off a horse. However she got it, it was hers by mid-1876. That's when she joined Charlie Utter's wagon train to Deadwood, meeting Wild Bill Hickok. She had two daughters. It's unverified that one was fathered by Hickok. A heavy drinker through her life, but also was known for helping people.

Where did Billy the Kid live?

William H. "Billy the Kid" (nee: Henry McCarty) Bonney - A hard young life, orphaned at 13, while living in New Mexico. He was arrested stealing food at 16. Continued robbing. He fled arrest in New Mexico by going to Arizona, where he committed his first murder. Back in NM, he joined with the Regulators in the Lincoln County War. Where he gained infamy. He once said he killed 21. More reliable estimates total nine.

2. John Wesley Hardin murdered his first man at age 15

By Hardin’s account, his first major act of violence occurred when he stabbed one classmate nearly to death in a fight that involved a girl.

4. John Wesley Hardin killed MANY people

Wes Hardin never formally joined a gang, though at different points in his notorious career he certainly had associates.

5. John Wesley Hardin was finally caught by his suspenders

After Webb’s murder, Pinkertons and Texas Rangers had been fast on Hardin’s trail.

8. John Wesley Hardin was killed in the way that he had lived

Hardin then moved about the state. He first married a 15-year-old girl in a marriage that fell apart within weeks. He then ended up in El Paso, where he hung his lawyer’s shingle.

What did men carry in the Old West?

For a period of time in the Old West, from around 1850 to 1890, the western frontier had little in the way of government law or police. Men carried guns to protect themselves. There were outlaws who stole from people and lawmen who tried to stop them. Today we call these men gunfighters or gunslingers.

What was Billy the killer known for?

Billy was known as a killer. He participated in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico where he was accused of killing a number of men. In 1878, the governor of New Mexico offered safety for Billy if he would surrender. However, the District Attorney turned on Billy once they had him in custody.

What town did Wyatt Earp live in?

However, he himself was shot dead while playing dice in a saloon in 1895. Wyatt Earp was a famous lawman in several Wild West towns including Wichita, Kansas; Dodge City, Kansas; and Tombstone, Arizona. He earned the reputation as one of the toughest and deadliest gunslingers of the Old West.

What was Wild Bill Hickok's poker hand called?

Wild Bill Hickok was holding a poker hand with a pair of aces and a pair of eights when he was killed. This hand has since been known as a "dead man's hand". Outlaw and murderer John Wesley Hardin was the son of a preacher and named after church leader John Wesley. Jesse James' nickname was "Dingus".

How many people did John Wesley Hardin kill?

He then shot and killed two soldiers who chased after him. Over the next several years, Hardin killed at least thirty people. He was a notorious outlaw wanted throughout the west.

What county was Wild Bill in?

In 1869, Wild Bill was hired as the sheriff of Ellis County in Kansas. He continued to build a reputation as a gunslinger when he killed two men in gunfights within his first month on the job. He had to move on after killing some U.S. soldiers in a gunfight. In 1871, Wild Bill became Marshal of Abilene, Kansas.

Who was Wyatt Earp's brother?

Earp was most famous for his showdown with an outlaw gang in Tombstone. In this famous shootout, Wyatt Earp, together with his brothers Virgil and Morgan as well as famous gunslinger "Doc" Holliday, took on the McLaury and Clanton brothers. During the fight, both the McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton were killed.

Who was the first outlaw to kill a man?

James Gibson "Gip" Hardin. Mary Elizabeth Dixson. John Wesley Hardin (May 26, 1853 – August 19, 1895) was an American Old West outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk icon. Hardin often got into trouble with the law from an early age. He killed his first man at the age of 15, claiming he did so in self-defense .

Who is John Wesley Hardin?

This ferrotype photograph is a mirror image of John Wesley Hardin. John Wesley Hardin (May 26, 1853 – August 19, 1895) was an American Old West outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk icon. Hardin often got into trouble with the law from an early age.

How old was Hardin when he was beaten by Smalley?

He claims he was left alone with Smalley, who began to taunt and beat the then 17-year-old prisoner with the butt of a pistol. Hardin says he feigned crying and huddled against his pony's flank.

What was the name of the cattle drive that Hardin fought?

In the summer of 1871, while driving cattle on the Chisholm Trail to Abilene, Kansas, Hardin is reputed to have fought Mexican vaqueros and cattle rustlers. Towards the end of the drive, a Mexican herd crowded in behind Hardin's and there was some trouble keeping the two herds apart.

How much did John Wesley Hardin's bullets sell for?

The bullet that killed Hardin sold for $80,000.

Where did Hardin go in 1871?

Hardin fled Abilene to the Cottonwood Trail. On July 4, 1871, a Texas trail boss named William Cohron was killed on the Cottonwood Trail (40 miles (64 km) south of Abilene) by an unnamed Mexican, who "fled south" and was subsequently killed by two cowboys in a Sumner County, Kansas, restaurant on July 20.

Where was John Hardin arrested?

In January 1871, Hardin was arrested for the murder of Waco, Texas, city marshal Laban John Hoffman; however, he denied committing this crime. Following his arrest, he was held temporarily in a log jail in the town of Marshall, awaiting transfer to Waco for trial.

Who were the men who played gunfighters in the Old West?

Just a few of these men included Tom Horn , Burton Alford , J.J. Webb, and Henry Newton Brown.

Who produced the Old West Lawmen?

Old West Lawmen, produced by Legends of America, music by Scott Buckley.

What did the lawmen and outlaws have in common?

What the lawmen and the outlaws had in common, besides their gun handling skills, was their willingness to risk their lives to enforce the law or to commit a crime. There were various types of lawmen in the Old West. He might have been a U.S. Marshal, appointed by the Attorney General; a Sheriff elected to office by the county residents, ...

What was the gunfighter era?

The gunfighter era was an outgrowth of the Civil War. With many men without opportunities for jobs, their homes and lands in ruins, family members killed or missing, and few skills, with the exception of gun handling, they headed westward in search of new lives. And then, the question of what to do once they got there.

Why did honest people move to the West?

However, honest people were also moving to the west and over time, they determined to rid their towns and areas of the lawlessness. This often led them to employ men who were known to be expert in the use of firearms.

Who killed Billy the Kid?

Billy the Kid, charged with more than 21 murders in a brief lifetime of crime, is finally brought to justice by Sheriff Pat Garrett, who trails The Kid for more than six months before killing him with a single shot at Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

Who killed Jesse James?

And, just a year later, in 1882, another notorious outlaw, Jesse James, who was a veteran of Quantrill’s Raiders during the Civil War, was shot in the back by Robert Ford, a kinsman who hoped to collect the $5,000 reward. James’ death ended the career of an outlaw gang that terrorized the Wild West for more than a decade.

Who were the greatest gunfighters of the Old West?

Here are the ten greatest gunfighters of the old west. John Wesley Hardin. Otherwise known as Little Arkansas, John Wesley ...

Who was the most high profile gunfighter in the Old West?

At one point he was captured, but escaped from jail just days later by killing the guards, and rode off into the sunset. Pat Garrett. Pat Garrett was among a handful of lawmen who are considered some of the greatest gunfighters of the old west.

What was Ike Clanton's most famous gunfight?

Ike Clanton is more well known. He was even there at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which might be the most famous shootout of the period in history. He was associated with “the cowboys” – which was a gang of outlaws, although it does sound more like a male stripper service. He ran away from the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral as he was unarmed, but he did engage in numerous gunfights. He feuded with the lawman Wyatt Earp, and his gunfighter friend Doc Holliday. With all his notoriety, Ike Clanton met his end as a result of stealing cattle. Authorities pursued him because of it and killed him in a gunfight.

What was John Wesley Hardin known for?

Otherwise known as Little Arkansas, John Wesley Hardin became something of a folk hero during his time as an outlaw. He would always have two pistols strapped to his chest, which might be why his quick-draw was so feared. He went on the run at the age of 15 after shooting several dead. His time as an outlaw only ended ten years later when he was arrested. It wasn’t the first time he was captured by authorities though. A while before, he was sent to jail. But someone smuggled him a gun, which he used to kill a guard and escape. After being captured a final time, he served his time, and came out of prison a peaceful man. But he was soon shot dead by a former outlaw, turned police officer in 1896.

Who was Pat Garrett?

Pat Garrett was among a handful of lawmen who are considered some of the greatest gunfighters of the old west. He was the Sheriff of two different counties for a reason. He was really good at killing outlaws. He famously pursued Billy the Kid. In 1880, Billy the Kid arrived at a small town.

Who was the man who was executed by hanging?

This was just 3 years after he received 2 thousand dollars for assassinating a different lawman. Harvey Logan. Harvey Logan was closely associated with the Wild Bunch gang, who were the most notorious gang of outlaws of their time.

Who is Jim Miller?

There is a UFC fighter called Jim Miller so try not to get confused here. Jim Miller was an old west outlaw, who killed 12 people during gunfights. But he killed more outside of gunfights. He was a paid assassin, who regularly killed whoever he was told to. In 1909 he made the mistake of assassinating a US marshal. He was arrested for this. But an angry mob stormed the prison, captured him, and executed him by hanging. This was just 3 years after he received 2 thousand dollars for assassinating a different lawman.

Who was the most feared gunfighter in the Old West?

John Wesley Hardin. John Wesley Hardin was truly one of the most feared gunfighters of the Old West, killing dozens of men during his reign of terror. Hardin was born in Bonham, Texas in 1853. His father was a Methodist preacher, and the Hardin family traveled frequently throughout Texas before settling in southeast Texas in 1859.

What was the Old West?

Just mentioning the words “The Old West” conjures up images of gunslingers, outlaws, and lawmen battling for territory and honor on dusty streets in towns throughout the American frontier. Men headed west during the 1800s in search of riches and fame . Many of them lived short, violent lives and ended up on the wrong side of a revolver. This list is by no means a comprehensive one, but is just a taste of some of the deadliest gunslingers who roamed the Wild West, leaving a trail of bloodshed and bodies behind them.

What was the name of the group that Brocius was a member of?

He had a short temper and was the type of outlaw most men go out of their way to avoid. Brocius was a member of an outlaw group known as the Cochise County Cowboys.

How old was John Wesley Hardin when he killed the man?

He was on the loose once again when he killed one of the men charged with returning him to face trial in Waco. John Wesley Hardin was still only 17-years-old at this point. Following the advice of his cousins, Hardin ventured to Kansas to find work driving cattle.

How old was Hardin when he killed a classmate?

When he was only 14-years-old , Hardin stabbed and nearly killed a classmate over a minor disagreement.

How old was Jim Miller when he killed his brother?

Miller’s troubled life did not improve as he aged. In 1884, at the age of 23, Miller shot and killed his brother-in-law as he lay sleeping on his porch. He was arrested, tried, and sentenced to life in prison, but this was overturned on a small technicality. Jim Miller was once again free to roam the Lone Star State.

Why is Jim Miller called Killer?

Jim Miller didn’t earn the nickname “Killer” because of his gentle nature. He was given the moniker because he excelled at one thing and one thing only; murder. Interestingly, Miller was married to a cousin of another infamous Old West outlaw; John Wesley Hardin. Miller was born in Arkansas in 1861, but his family moved to Texas when he was still an infant. When Miller was only 8-years-old, his grandparents were found murdered. The young boy was arrested, but was not prosecuted for the killings.

What were the gunmen of the Old West called?

One thing the Old West didn’t lack was men who were ready for a gunfight. Men such as these were called gunmen, pistoleers, and shootists ; the term gunslinger is only a Hollywood creation.

What was the name of the bounty hunter who was hired by Pinkerton Detective Agency?

In the 1880s, Horn was popular as a tracker and a bounty hunter; he was hired by the Pinkerton Detective Agency but was forced to resign after he was associated with the murders of 17 men. In 1901, Horn got involved in a feud between the Miller and Nickell families in Iron Mountain, Wyoming.

Why was Thomas Horn arrested?

Because of a dubious identification by two of the Nickell children, and Horn’ s drunken boasts about the murder of young Willie, he was arrested and convicted of murder. Thomas Horn was hanged the day before his 43rd birthday in 1903 and buried in Columbia Cemetery, Boulder, Colorado.

What did King Fisher do in 1870?

He was in trouble from the age of 16 for stealing horses and was in and out of prison. In 1870, he joined a group of outlaws raiding ranches in Mexico. After an argument with the other gang members, Fisher killed three of them, took over as the leader, and killed seven Mexican bandits. King Fisher (1854 – 1884).

Where was John Wesley Hardin born?

John Wesley Hardin was born in 1853, in Texas, to James Gibson “Gip” Hardin and Mary Elizabeth Dixson. Hardin Senior was a Methodist minister who settled his family in Trinity County, Texas , in 1859. He started a school for local children, including his own.

Who was the first person to kill a slave?

When the Civil War broke out, John Wesley attempted to run away to join the Confederate Army. John Wesley Hardin. Hardin killed for the first time in November of 1868 at the age of 15 years, when he shot a former slave who allegedly attacked him with a stick.

Who killed David Tutt?

James B. Hickok, in the 1860s, during his pre-gunfighter days. In 1865, Hickok and David Tutt had several disagreements, culminating in a shootout in which Hickok killed Tutt with a single bullet from 75 yards away. Hickock was acquitted of all charges, having claimed self-defense.

Who was the gunfighter who killed 16 people?

6. John King Fisher (16 kills) 1854–March 11, 1884. One the lesser-known but more violent pistoleros of the Old West, gunfighter and one-time lawman John King Fisher was in and out of prison from the age of sixteen.

Who was the most cold blooded killer in the Old West?

1. Thomas “Tom” Horn, Jr. (37 to 50 kills) November 21, 1860–November 20, 1903. Respected lawman and Pinkerton detective Thomas Horn was in actuality one of the most cold-blooded killers of the Old West. After making a name for himself as a scout and tracker in the late 1880s, Tom was hired as a tracker, bounty hunter, ...

What did the gunslingers represent?

They have come to represent not just the period during which the Wild West was “won,” they represent the pioneering spirit that was needed to tame a land fraught with countless inherent dangers. The gunslingers of the American Wild West have become as famous as any figures in American history. In fact, names like Jessie James , Wyatt Earp, ...

How many people did John Wesley Hardin kill?

In his relatively short life, John Wesley Hardin is credited with killing of no fewer than 42 people. 4.

What are the names of the gunslingers?

The gunslingers of the Old West have become as famous as any figures in American history. In fact, names like Jessie James, Wyatt Earp, and Billy the Kid are more easily recognizable that the names of many U.S. Presidents. They have come to represent not just the period during which the Wild West was “won,” they represent the pioneering spirit that was needed to tame a land fraught with countless inherent dangers.

How many people did Dallas kill in the gunfight?

Only three days after signing on, Dallas was involved in one of the West’s most legendary gunfights, the infamous “ Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight ,” in which he shot four men dead–demonstrating his extraordinary prowess with a six-shooter.

How many men did Billy the Kid kill?

After three months on the lam, he was killed in 1881 by the equally famous, Sheriff Pat Garrett. All told, Billy the Kid is said to have killed a total of 21 men, one for each year of his life, though this number is often regarded as exaggerated.

Overview

This is a list of Old West gunfighters, referring to outlaws or lawmen, of the American frontier who gained fame or notoriety during the American Wild West or Old West. Some listed were never gunfighters. The term gunslinger is a modern, 20th-century invention, often used in cinema or other media to refer to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun. A gunfighter may or may not be an outlaw or a lawman. An outlaw had usu…

Outlaws

Lawmen

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Early Life

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Fugitive from Justice

Trial and Imprisonment

After Prison

Death

Reburial Controversy

Known Contacts with The Law

Confirmed Shootings

Unconfirmed Claims

Legacy