Prison that held the Bandit Queen

They called Missouri Levi Rittenhouse “The Bandit Queen,” and in southeast Indiana. she probably was.

Born into an outlaw family in 1840, she was involved in counterfeiting, holding and selling rustled horses, and fencing numerous stolen items.  Everybody in the region knew about it, but corrupt officials refused to arrest her.

The feds took on the case and arrested Missouri in 1869, charged with making and spreading fake money.  She spent two years in a state prison (photo).  When she got out, she changed her ways and became a devout Methodist and pillar of the community.

Related Articles

  • Belle Starr's Grave

    Belle Starr rented land to Edgar Watson in 1889, but then wanted him out.  She…

  • Sometimes an outlaw had to die before he or she gained fame. Myra Belle Shirley…

  • Myra Maybelle Shirley, was another Old West personality who might have been forgotten had she…