The Many Sides of Burt Alvord

Lawman, outlaw, gambler and more.

Burt Alvord wasn’t exactly a household name among Arizona’s notorious outlaws. They also said he wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer. It was claimed by some his IQ was a little bit less than his hat size. His major interests were poker, pool, guns, and practical jokes. On the other hand, he worked for a time as a deputy for Cochise County Sheriff John Slaughter, who declared him fearless. But Alvord turned to crime around 1900, pulling off a number of jobs. He was captured at least twice but escaped both times.