The Three Guardsmen

Chris Madsen is famed as one of the Three Guardsmen, the deputy U.S. marshals (with Bill Tilghman and Heck Thomas) of the Oklahoma Territory.  His reputation exceeds his reality.

Originally from Denmark, Madsen was deported from there after a long criminal career (he later made up stories about being a military hero).  When he got to the U.S., he joined the army—and spent five months in prison for stealing government grain.

In 1893, he had to resign his marshal’s commission for filing false reports.  At least he lived a long life, dying at 92 in 1944.