We always see on Hollywood westerns, the jails in towns like Tombstone, Dodge City are portrayed with large windows with bars to prevent escape. But did they really have large windows? What is to prevent someone from walking up and tossing a pistol in to the prisoner?
Most jails were very crude. The cliché of the jail bars, with the big window is quite unrealistic. Most jail windows had corr

October 2003
In This Issue:
Features
Western Books & Movies
More In This Issue
- National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
- What was Hiawatha’s grandmother’s grandmother’s name?
- I would like to know how male homosexuals were treated in the Old West. Were there whorehouses where men could go for male sex? And, are there any books on the subject?
- The other day I was watching the movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and they talked about an Indian tracker by the name of Lord Baltimore. Was there any such person?
- An Eye For an Eye
- Najavo Weavings
- Colt’s Percussion “Peacemaker”
- Following the Heard
- In the April 2003 True West, the Blazer’s Mill shoot-out claimed to have 13 Regulators, however the list gives only 12 names. Who was the 13th man? Also, I’m familiar with all the names on the list except for “Dirty Steve” Stephens. Can you tell me anythi
- Are there any books or articles that examine the “shootist” personality? Was Clay Allison bipolar, schizophrenic, antisocial or some combination of psychoses? Or was he just overly sensitive?
- When was the first train robbery in America?
- Vera McGinns
- Following Cherokee Tracks
- Beating Out the Pilgrims
- True West’s Best of the West 2004 Winners