Lawmen Of The Old West

Black-and-white drawings portray famous men and women of the Wild West.

This true crime history of the American Frontier separates fact from fiction with in-depth profiles of thirty-eight career criminals and infamous outlaw gangs. In the years following the American Civil War, the country’s western frontier was home to a prodigious number of myth-making cowboys, infamous gunslingers, saloon madams, and not always law-abiding lawmen. But the romantic mystique of these individuals and the time in which they lives is largely the product of novelists and filmmakers. In Outlaws of the Wild West, Terry Treadwell presents the real stories behind such legends as Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, the Dalton Brothers, and others—as well as their lesser-known but equally criminal peers. Here are the stories of William Clark Quantrill and his Confederate Army unit, Quantrill’s Raiders, who turned hit-and-run raids into a way of life; Henry Starr, the Native American career criminal who went on to play himself in the movie of his life; Ann and Josie Bassett, the sisters who defended their ranch from cattle barons with the help of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch; and many more.

Some of the law officers who served the West during the last half of the nineteenth century drifted from one side of the law to the other and sold their talents to whichever side offered the most advantage. Others used their positions as cover for their criminal activities. The lawmen in this book were serious offenders against the laws they had at one time sworn to uphold. Their skills were honed in range wars and family feuds and polished along the cattle trails, in the saloons and banks, and on the trains of the West. Some of them did good work enforcing the law when that was their job. Others had equally successful careers on the other side of the law. More than one kicked out their lives at the end of ropes strung up by citizens who were outraged by their abuse of the trust that went along with the badge they wore. These are their stories.

From our earliest history, Americans have had an uneasy affection for our outlaws, especially those from the romantic period of the Old West. Whether it is the fearlessness and freedom they represent or some other psychological need, we often overlook the misdeeds of these people in our fascination with them. This book is about their photographs. Some of the mythology is perpetuated in the captions and some new truths put forth as well. Viewing these photographs allows us to look these fellows in the eye and assess their character—something we probably wouldn’t have been allowed to do in real life and live to tell about it. Historic Photos of Outlaws of the Old West includes nearly 200 photographs, reproduced in vivid black-and-white, with captions and introductions by writer and historian Larry Johnson. Here are the most legendary outlaws and many of the less infamous characters whose lives found a place in the story of the American West.

"Learn about Belle Starr, the 'Bandit Queen' of the Wild West. Reader will discover the facts and the legends of this exciting outlaw"--Provided by publisher.

"Readers will find out about the life and death of Billy the Kid"--Provided by publisher.

The Old West was often a lawless place, where outlaws frequently reigned supreme. Many of the wild and rowdy places were initially populated by men and often attracted seedier elements of society to their many saloons, dance halls, gambling parlors and brothels. However, as thousands of pioneers pushed their way westward in search of land and better lives, they demanded law and order. Marshals and sheriffs were in high demand in some of the most lawless settlements, as well as the numerous mining camps that dotted the west. Though the vast majority of these Old West lawmen were honorable and heroic figures, ironically, many of them rode both sides of the fence and were known as outlaws as well. Old West Lawmen includes a collection of stories about 57 lawmen with over 70 vintage photographs plus articles on organizations like the Texas Rangers, U.S. Marshals, and Pinkerton Detective Agency.

37 detailed illustrations, informative captions.