Ash Upson is best known as the ghost writer for at least part of The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid—ostensibly authored by Pat Garret. The two...
A Final Gift Pat Garrett gave a grave to his friend Ash Upson.
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Mark Boardman
The Other Olinger John Wallace kept a low profile—and lived much longer than his brother.
One of the lesser-known combatants in the Lincoln County War was John Wallace Olinger, the older brother of Bob Olinger (photo). Wallace was one of...
Last Words For two notables, “Hello, Bob” proved ominous.
Two men, famous in their own times and in their own ways. United in an important way. Bob Ford, gunned down by Ed O’Kelley (photo) on June 8, 1892...
A Funeral Surprise When Charlie Ford was laid to rest, one of the attendees was unexpected.
After the assassination of Jesse James, Charley Ford went downhill fast. By May 1884—two years after the killing—he was living with his parents at...
Go Faster, Young Man! A wild ride and a famous writer made a name for a stage driver.
Hank Monk built a big reputation as a California stage driver for more than three decades. But one ride in 1859 put a special light on Monk’s work....
Great Danger Rests on the Town! God Save Us!
A doctor and pastor found little healing during the Lincoln County War. It must have seemed like a simple assignment—providing medical care...
After the OK Corral Ike Clanton stayed on the outlaw trail, until…
After the Earps had left southeast Arizona, Ike Clanton made his way northeast. He helped set up a rustling ring in Graham and Apache counties. The...
The Art of the Deal Wyatt Earp, Ike Clanton and a plan gone wrong.
Wyatt Earp approached Ike Clanton on June 2, 1881. He offered a deal: if Ike would turn over his friends who’d robbed the Benson stage six weeks...
Ben Thompson Kills a Theater Owner – Take 1 A shooting in Austin foreshadowed a later event in San Antonio.
Gunfighter Ben Thompson is well-known for killing Jack Harris, owner of San Antonio’s Vaudeville Theater in 1882—mostly because it led to Thompson’s...
Dancing on His Grave A grieving mother got a little revenge for her son’s death.
In 1883, John “King” Fisher was the acting sheriff of Uvalde County, Texas. He went after Jim and Tom Hannehan, who had held up a stagecoach. The...
A Strange Escape King Fisher stole a horse, but got away with it—thanks to the animal’s owner.
Texas gunman John “King” Fisher got into crime in an unusual way. In 1869, when he was 15, Fisher borrowed a horse from a rancher near Florence,...
An Unlucky 13 Years It took a long time to catch up with two Indian Territory killers.
James Arcine and William Parchmeal—both Cherokee—happened upon traveler Henry Feigel near Fort Gibson, Indian Territory on November 25, 1872. The...