Drop Your Guns

Lawmen attempted to disarm outlaw Sam Bass, not realizing who he was.

On July 19, 1878, the Sam Bass gang was in Round Rock, Texas to rob the local bank. A number of lawmen were in town after hearing reports of the impending holdup. Bass (photo, upper left) and a compatriot were in a shop, buying tobacco, when two of the lawmen entered. They told Bass that they needed to give up their guns (which were banned in town)—but they had no idea who they were talking to. Bass opened fire. He would eventually be mortally wounded and die the two days later.