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Hard to Tell the Difference Between the Outlaws and the Lawmen!
Leon Claire Metz, author of The Shooters – A Gallery of Notorious Gunmen from the American West, has compiled an impressive list of famous, and infamous, American lawmen and outlaws. Each of the twenty-nine characters covered in this entertaining book, is a well known name to aficionados of Western literature and lore.
From Billy the Kid to Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, Metz explores the facts and fables surrounding these well known personalities. Time has done much to embellish the reputations of these characters, but even then many of these men fairly earned all the fame they have enjoyed.
Interesting to note, Metz points out in numerous instances that there was a fine line indeed between the western outlaw and the lawman. More than a few of these individuals went from law enforcement to outlawing, and back again. A good example of this is Wyatt Earp who was nearly immortalized by Kurt Russell’s portrayal in the film Tombstone, which overlooked Earp’s more nefarious dealings before arriving in that city which made him the legend (and some would say undeserved legend) he is today.
From train robberies, bank hold ups and cattle rustling, the characters featured in The Shooters have proven themselves to be notorious, sociopathic and fascinating, contributing to the overall allure of the wild and wooly American West. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the Mysterious Dave Mather, the notorious Daltons and the psychopathic John Wesley Hardin are just a few of the many individuals that Metz covers in the book.
Pat Garrett (the man who shot Billy the Kid, although there now seems to be some controversy surrounding this event) along with Long Haired Jim Courtwright and Dallas Stoudenmire are just a few of the controversial sheriffs that Metz profiles. The famous Texas Rangers, deadly but not nearly as effective as most people would believe, may have an undeserved reputation according to the author.
Western enclaves of crime and violence are also covered. Las Vegas (New Mexico) El Paso and Tombstone, Wichita, and Dodge City are just three of the western towns with blemished, but irresistible, reputations.
It’s interesting how many of these famous characters lived well into the 1900’s. Most people think of the west and its outlaws as “long ago,” but in fact some of these characters died well within the lifetimes of many now living Americans. Only recently a newspaper article discussed the fact that Butch Cassidy was not shot in South America as so many believe, but died in the 1937 in the United States.
The fact that the West, and the history of the West, holds a fascination for many people can easily be testified to by the growing popularity of True West Magazine and the Western Historical Society
From Billy the Kid to Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, Metz explores the facts and fables surrounding these well known personalities. Time has done much to embellish the reputations of these characters, but even then many of these men fairly earned all the fame they have enjoyed.
Interesting to note, Metz points out in numerous instances that there was a fine line indeed between the western outlaw and the lawman. More than a few of these individuals went from law enforcement to outlawing, and back again. A good example of this is Wyatt Earp who was nearly immortalized by Kurt Russell’s portrayal in the film Tombstone, which overlooked Earp’s more nefarious dealings before arriving in that city which made him the legend (and some would say undeserved legend) he is today.
From train robberies, bank hold ups and cattle rustling, the characters featured in The Shooters have proven themselves to be notorious, sociopathic and fascinating, contributing to the overall allure of the wild and wooly American West. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the Mysterious Dave Mather, the notorious Daltons and the psychopathic John Wesley Hardin are just a few of the many individuals that Metz covers in the book.
Pat Garrett (the man who shot Billy the Kid, although there now seems to be some controversy surrounding this event) along with Long Haired Jim Courtwright and Dallas Stoudenmire are just a few of the controversial sheriffs that Metz profiles. The famous Texas Rangers, deadly but not nearly as effective as most people would believe, may have an undeserved reputation according to the author.
Western enclaves of crime and violence are also covered. Las Vegas (New Mexico) El Paso and Tombstone, Wichita, and Dodge City are just three of the western towns with blemished, but irresistible, reputations.
It’s interesting how many of these famous characters lived well into the 1900’s. Most people think of the west and its outlaws as “long ago,” but in fact some of these characters died well within the lifetimes of many now living Americans. Only recently a newspaper article discussed the fact that Butch Cassidy was not shot in South America as so many believe, but died in the 1937 in the United States.
The fact that the West, and the history of the West, holds a fascination for many people can easily be testified to by the growing popularity of True West Magazine and the Western Historical Society
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Comment by Steve Sanders on May 4, 2009 at 3:17pm -
I posted this under the "Outlaw or Lawman" site but meant for it to go here. I guess it fits either topic: It helps first to get a "feel" for the personalities or nature of lawmen like the Earps and cowboys like Johnny Ringo and Curly Bill. I think it was Allen Barra towards the end of "Inventing Wyatt Earp" who offers an interesting metaphor. He suggested (not in a negative way) that if we view the citizens of Tombstone as a herd of sheep, the Earps could be seen as the sheepdogs protecting the herd from predators while keeping the herd in line. Barra suggested that while the herd respects and appreciates the sheepdog for its protection, it is still leery and somewhat fearful of the sheepdog, just not as much and in a different way than the predators. I think that offers a good "feel" of the situation. Also, in order to get a sense of cowboys like Ringo and Curly Bill were like, think about what feelings come up for you when you think about or encounter a group of bikers. I think that's the same "gut check" folks in Tombstone got when having to deal with cowboys. Earlier in my criminal justice career there was a group of narcotics deputies in my county who did a good job of dealing with criminals (cowboys), but they themselves were a scary bunch you didnt want to cross. LOL They actually went to a Beach Boys concert together (off duty) and ended up in a major brawl with the group's security folks. A very thin blue line indeed.
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Comment by Becky Coffield on May 4, 2009 at 7:43pm -
What an interesting point of view. You're right though about police/criminal fine line. A relative of mine once worked for the police dept. and said that most cops would be a criminal if they weren't a cop. Not sure I believe that, but... I worked for Portland Police once in the records division. I HATED it. VERY negative job. I can't deal with toxic people or atmospheres. Also, I don't deal at all well with the hierarchy of who's Lieutenant, Sargeant, etc. Who cares? Obviously they do and I don't.
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