In his autobiography, Pistol Pete: Veteran of the Old West, Frank Eaton spins a bigger-than-life tale of his life as a Deputy United States Marshal,...
Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton
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Deputy
The Road to Redemption
Jack Watson put on a badge and went straight. Jack Watson was a hardcase. The Texan had spent time as a Ranger in his native state—but he also had a...
Heck Thomas
Henry Andrew (Heck) Thomas was one of the Old West's most effective lawmen, rounding dozens of notorious desperados. His resume was most impressive,...
Feed the Dog An unusual explanation for being heavily armed.
Robert Widenman was a New Mexico deputy US marshal—and an associate of Billy the Kid and the Regulators during the Lincoln County War. He was...
A New Leaf A Billy the Kid pal who went straight…
Billy Wilson rode with Billy the Kid—was arrested with him by Pat Garrett at Stinking Springs in December 1880. He later went straight, in Texas,...
The Town Tamer James Dodson kept a lid on Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona—unlike so many other Old West towns—was pretty peaceful during the frontier period. Much of the credit goes to James Dodson, who...
Losing Control Lawman Frank Canton fell off the wagon—literally.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Frank Canton had some moments of embarrassment. That included July 9, 1896, when he was transporting three prisoners to jail in...
Was He…or Wasn’t He? Popular culture’s portrayal of Breakenridge is likely unfair.
History is not always kind to people. Take Billy Breakenridge, a Cochise County deputy under John Behan during Tombstone’s troubled times. Movies...
Ask the Marshall
Did Sam Bass ever work as a deputy U.S. marshal before becoming an outlaw?
A Bad Boss
Commodore Perry Owens—as sheriff of Apache County, Arizona Territory—had a reputation as a deadly man. But he was also known as a bad boss. Less...