A Selection of Books Written by OklahombreS Members
Our OklahombreS members include many respected and published authors . Selections of these books are provided below for your review. Just click on the book cover image for any book that you may be interested in to generate a link for a site to purchase . We know you will enjoy these well researched books and remember that they make great gifts!
Black Gun, Silver Star by Art Burton
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves was widely known as one of the ” the “most feared U.S. deputy marshals in the
Indian country” during his time. That Reeves was also an African American who had spent his early life as a slave in Arkansas and Texas made his accomplishments all the more remarkable. This landmark book written by former OklahombreS President and long time member Art Burton tells Bass Reeves's complete story for the first time, sifting through fact and legend to discover the truth about one of the most outstanding peace officers in late-nineteenth-century America—and perhaps the greatest lawmen of the Wild West era.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves was widely known as one of the ” the “most feared U.S. deputy marshals in the
Indian country” during his time. That Reeves was also an African American who had spent his early life as a slave in Arkansas and Texas made his accomplishments all the more remarkable. This landmark book written by former OklahombreS President and long time member Art Burton tells Bass Reeves's complete story for the first time, sifting through fact and legend to discover the truth about one of the most outstanding peace officers in late-nineteenth-century America—and perhaps the greatest lawmen of the Wild West era.
Black, Red, and Deadly:Black and Indian Gunfighters of the Indian Territory by Art Burton
This important book was the first one written and published by one of our former Oklahombres Presidents Art Burton. In this book Art recounts the exploits of African-Americans and Native American lawmen and outlaws in what was Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Among those featured in the book are stories on Cherokee Bill, one of the meanest of the mean who was hung by the age of twenty. He also tells of Dick Glass, one of the most notorious African-American outlaws during the 1880s; Ned Christie, the most feared Indian outlaw of his time; the Rufus Buck gang, who gained instant notoriety with murder, plunder, and rape; as well as others who rode the trail of crime. Art also introduces Indian policemen known as "Lighthorsemen"; the fearless Cherokee lawman Sam Sixkiller and black men who rode for Judge Parker, the "hanging judge," such as Grant Johnson; and Bass Reeves (who would be the feature of his second book).
This important book was the first one written and published by one of our former Oklahombres Presidents Art Burton. In this book Art recounts the exploits of African-Americans and Native American lawmen and outlaws in what was Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Among those featured in the book are stories on Cherokee Bill, one of the meanest of the mean who was hung by the age of twenty. He also tells of Dick Glass, one of the most notorious African-American outlaws during the 1880s; Ned Christie, the most feared Indian outlaw of his time; the Rufus Buck gang, who gained instant notoriety with murder, plunder, and rape; as well as others who rode the trail of crime. Art also introduces Indian policemen known as "Lighthorsemen"; the fearless Cherokee lawman Sam Sixkiller and black men who rode for Judge Parker, the "hanging judge," such as Grant Johnson; and Bass Reeves (who would be the feature of his second book).
Oklahoma Renegades by Ken Butler
What began as research for a short article by the late Ken Butler quickly turned into five years of work, resulting in his first book, Oklahoma Renegades: Their Deeds and Misdeeds . Ken who passed away in 2005 was a a charter member of Oklahombres and was a regular contributor to the OklahombreS Journal. In this book, Ken covers many lesser-known outlaw and lawman characters and events from Oklahoma history that have previously not widely been written about such as Bert Casey, Moman Pruiett, Zeno Beemblossom, Sam Baker, "Hookey" Miller and others. This book is an important book to have for any researcher or person interested in this subject.
What began as research for a short article by the late Ken Butler quickly turned into five years of work, resulting in his first book, Oklahoma Renegades: Their Deeds and Misdeeds . Ken who passed away in 2005 was a a charter member of Oklahombres and was a regular contributor to the OklahombreS Journal. In this book, Ken covers many lesser-known outlaw and lawman characters and events from Oklahoma history that have previously not widely been written about such as Bert Casey, Moman Pruiett, Zeno Beemblossom, Sam Baker, "Hookey" Miller and others. This book is an important book to have for any researcher or person interested in this subject.
More Oklahoma Renegades by Ken Butler
In this follow-up to his first book, Ken Butler includes 28 more true tales of the obscure outlaw and lawmen characters and events in Oklahoma history. The exciting and well researched stories in this volume (released after Ken's passing) include such characters as "Black Faced Charley" Bryant, Ira Terrill, Bob Rogers, Wesley Barnett, George Birdwell and Bonnie and Clyde among others. Ken, a charter member of Oklahombres, spent his life researching the history of the state he loved and it shows in the writings in this book.
In this follow-up to his first book, Ken Butler includes 28 more true tales of the obscure outlaw and lawmen characters and events in Oklahoma history. The exciting and well researched stories in this volume (released after Ken's passing) include such characters as "Black Faced Charley" Bryant, Ira Terrill, Bob Rogers, Wesley Barnett, George Birdwell and Bonnie and Clyde among others. Ken, a charter member of Oklahombres, spent his life researching the history of the state he loved and it shows in the writings in this book.
Rooster: the Life and times of the Real Rooster Cogburn by Brett Cogburn
Immortalized in the classic novel and films, the real "Rooster" Cogburn was as bold, brash, and bigger-than-life as the American West itself. Now, in this page-turning account, Cogburn's great-grandson and Oklahombres member Brett Cogburn reveals the truth behind the fiction-and the man behind the myth… Six foot three, dark eyed, and a dead shot with a rifle, Franklin "Rooster" Cogburn was as hard as the rocky mountain ground his family settled. The only authority the Cogburn clan recognized was God and a gun. And though he never packed a badge, Rooster meted out his own brand of justice-taking on a posse of U.S. deputy marshals in a blazing showdown of gunfire and blood. Now a wanted man, with a $500 reward on his head, Rooster would ultimately have to defend himself before a hanging judge.
Immortalized in the classic novel and films, the real "Rooster" Cogburn was as bold, brash, and bigger-than-life as the American West itself. Now, in this page-turning account, Cogburn's great-grandson and Oklahombres member Brett Cogburn reveals the truth behind the fiction-and the man behind the myth… Six foot three, dark eyed, and a dead shot with a rifle, Franklin "Rooster" Cogburn was as hard as the rocky mountain ground his family settled. The only authority the Cogburn clan recognized was God and a gun. And though he never packed a badge, Rooster meted out his own brand of justice-taking on a posse of U.S. deputy marshals in a blazing showdown of gunfire and blood. Now a wanted man, with a $500 reward on his head, Rooster would ultimately have to defend himself before a hanging judge.
Alive If Possible...Dead If Necessary by Dee Cordry
This important book by our former Board President and original member Dee Cordry sheds light on a subject not widely written about. Crime and violence in the territorial days is well known. However, Oklahoma outlaws of the 1920's led a reign of robbery & violence that stretched beyond the borders. When the number of bank robberies in 1924 reached 52, public officials were forced to respond by creating a unique state law enforcement agency that was commonly referred to as the 'State Crime Bureau.' Oklahoma lawmen confronted outlaws who had made the transition from horse-back to automobile. The pursuit of these outlaws was a dangerous business. Law men who lost their lives in the line of duty included state operative, Luther Bishop who was brutally gunned down. This is a story that needed to be told and is well told in this book.
This important book by our former Board President and original member Dee Cordry sheds light on a subject not widely written about. Crime and violence in the territorial days is well known. However, Oklahoma outlaws of the 1920's led a reign of robbery & violence that stretched beyond the borders. When the number of bank robberies in 1924 reached 52, public officials were forced to respond by creating a unique state law enforcement agency that was commonly referred to as the 'State Crime Bureau.' Oklahoma lawmen confronted outlaws who had made the transition from horse-back to automobile. The pursuit of these outlaws was a dangerous business. Law men who lost their lives in the line of duty included state operative, Luther Bishop who was brutally gunned down. This is a story that needed to be told and is well told in this book.
Deadly Affrays: The Violent Deaths of the U.S. Marshals by Robert Ernst
This valuable reference book written by founding OklahombreS member Bob Ernst identifies the U.S. Marshals and how they met their death. Until this work the service had no comprehensive study of its members who died in the line of duty. This work is complete, covering the country from California to Alaska, to the Carolinas and Texas. The book specifically mentions the largest number of these men lost their lives in Oklahoma and the former Indian Territory. The book has many important indexes, maps and photographs. The work is a gripping theme which is universal, that good men must continue to combat evil. This book is an invaluable tool for historical research on the subject.
This valuable reference book written by founding OklahombreS member Bob Ernst identifies the U.S. Marshals and how they met their death. Until this work the service had no comprehensive study of its members who died in the line of duty. This work is complete, covering the country from California to Alaska, to the Carolinas and Texas. The book specifically mentions the largest number of these men lost their lives in Oklahoma and the former Indian Territory. The book has many important indexes, maps and photographs. The work is a gripping theme which is universal, that good men must continue to combat evil. This book is an invaluable tool for historical research on the subject.
Robbin' Banks & Killin' Cops by Robert Ernst
Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lawrence DeVol was in trouble with the police from the age of ten when he was confined in a juvenile facility. During his years of crime he committed burglaries, armed robberies and murders in eleven states throughout the Midwest. Eleven people met his guns and died violently at his hands, six of them being police officers protecting their communities and others when he was hired to murder them. During his career he escaped from three county jails, one state prison and one state hospital for the criminally insane. For the last few years of his life he was a member of one of the most notorious gangs of the ’20s and ’30s known as the Barker-Karpis gang. This book written by our long term member Robert Ernst is one you will certainly want to add to your collection.
Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lawrence DeVol was in trouble with the police from the age of ten when he was confined in a juvenile facility. During his years of crime he committed burglaries, armed robberies and murders in eleven states throughout the Midwest. Eleven people met his guns and died violently at his hands, six of them being police officers protecting their communities and others when he was hired to murder them. During his career he escaped from three county jails, one state prison and one state hospital for the criminally insane. For the last few years of his life he was a member of one of the most notorious gangs of the ’20s and ’30s known as the Barker-Karpis gang. This book written by our long term member Robert Ernst is one you will certainly want to add to your collection.
Kill Crazy Gang: The Crimes of the Lewis-Jones Gang by Jeffery King - NEW in 2013
This new book released in January of 2013 by Oklahombres member Jeffery King has been getting rave reviews. The book details the violent Lewis-Jones gang of the 1910s. One of the first gangs to use the automobile, it was the forerunner of the major bandit gangs of the 1930s. They came out of Oklahoma to rob banks and trains and steal cars. It is said they killed twenty-one lawmen and maimed a dozen more before the law finally wiped them out. Among the colorful criminals were Dale Jones, a cross-dresser, Eva Lewis, a beautiful young singer and dancer, and Mattie Howard, "the girl with the agate eyes and the smile of death," who was said to have had ten sweethearts of hers who had died. One lawman wrote, "the crimson records of the Lewis Boys gang easily over matched all the rest."
This new book released in January of 2013 by Oklahombres member Jeffery King has been getting rave reviews. The book details the violent Lewis-Jones gang of the 1910s. One of the first gangs to use the automobile, it was the forerunner of the major bandit gangs of the 1930s. They came out of Oklahoma to rob banks and trains and steal cars. It is said they killed twenty-one lawmen and maimed a dozen more before the law finally wiped them out. Among the colorful criminals were Dale Jones, a cross-dresser, Eva Lewis, a beautiful young singer and dancer, and Mattie Howard, "the girl with the agate eyes and the smile of death," who was said to have had ten sweethearts of hers who had died. One lawman wrote, "the crimson records of the Lewis Boys gang easily over matched all the rest."
The Life and Death of Pretty Boy Floyd by Jeffery King
In this biography of Oklahoma outlaw figure Charles Arthur Floyd, better known as Pretty Boy Floyd Oklahombres member Jeffery S. King addresses many of the questions still surrounding Floyd, such as whether he had contact with other notorious outlaws of the period, including Dillinger, Alvin Karpis, and Bonnie and Clyde, and whether he was executed by the FBI. He also links Floyd to the infamous Kansas City Massacre. Particularly notable are King's assessments of the effectiveness of the FBI and of J. Edgar Hoover's talent for self promotion. Floydengaged in numerous bank-robbing exploits across the Midwest until federal agents and local police shot him down near East Liverpool, Ohio, on October 22,
1934--a feat which helped build the image of the modern FBI.
In this biography of Oklahoma outlaw figure Charles Arthur Floyd, better known as Pretty Boy Floyd Oklahombres member Jeffery S. King addresses many of the questions still surrounding Floyd, such as whether he had contact with other notorious outlaws of the period, including Dillinger, Alvin Karpis, and Bonnie and Clyde, and whether he was executed by the FBI. He also links Floyd to the infamous Kansas City Massacre. Particularly notable are King's assessments of the effectiveness of the FBI and of J. Edgar Hoover's talent for self promotion. Floydengaged in numerous bank-robbing exploits across the Midwest until federal agents and local police shot him down near East Liverpool, Ohio, on October 22,
1934--a feat which helped build the image of the modern FBI.
Captain Jack & the Dalton Gang: The Life and Times of a Railroad Detective
by John J. Kinney
This book chronicles the tale of Captain John Kinney--chief detective for the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas ("Katy")
Railroad--and his confrontation with the Dalton gang on the evening of July 14, 1892 near Adair in the Indian Territory. Oklahombres member John J. Kinney, Jr., great-grandson of Captain Jack, grew up with tales of Captain Jack and the Daltons and set out to uncover the truth. Searching old journals and newspaper accounts for details of Captain Jack's
life and facts about the Daltons, he has pieced together a totally captivating story of outlaws, lawmen, and the search for ancestral roots. Captain Jack's exploits were by no means confined to that one day in July. He was also the
chief detective for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, a Texas Ranger, and a U.S. deputy marshal affiliated with "Hanging Judge" Isaac Parker's court. Kinney fleshes out all of Jack's exploits with engaging and insightful detail.
by John J. Kinney
This book chronicles the tale of Captain John Kinney--chief detective for the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas ("Katy")
Railroad--and his confrontation with the Dalton gang on the evening of July 14, 1892 near Adair in the Indian Territory. Oklahombres member John J. Kinney, Jr., great-grandson of Captain Jack, grew up with tales of Captain Jack and the Daltons and set out to uncover the truth. Searching old journals and newspaper accounts for details of Captain Jack's
life and facts about the Daltons, he has pieced together a totally captivating story of outlaws, lawmen, and the search for ancestral roots. Captain Jack's exploits were by no means confined to that one day in July. He was also the
chief detective for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, a Texas Ranger, and a U.S. deputy marshal affiliated with "Hanging Judge" Isaac Parker's court. Kinney fleshes out all of Jack's exploits with engaging and insightful detail.
The Kimes Gang by Michael Koch
Current OklahombreS President Mike Koch's first book is a fascinating story of youthful boys who began
their outlaw ways as vagrants and thieves and graduated to bank robbery and murder. The gang’s various crimes covered several southwestern states including Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. Political corruption all the way to the governor’s office in Oklahoma is well researched and discussed. The main characters are brothers Matt and George Kimes but also include brothers Roy and Clyde Brandon, Herman Barker, Elmer Inman, and the notorious safecracker Ray Terrill, among others. This book reads as a virtual who’s who of crime in the southwest during the 1920s.
Current OklahombreS President Mike Koch's first book is a fascinating story of youthful boys who began
their outlaw ways as vagrants and thieves and graduated to bank robbery and murder. The gang’s various crimes covered several southwestern states including Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. Political corruption all the way to the governor’s office in Oklahoma is well researched and discussed. The main characters are brothers Matt and George Kimes but also include brothers Roy and Clyde Brandon, Herman Barker, Elmer Inman, and the notorious safecracker Ray Terrill, among others. This book reads as a virtual who’s who of crime in the southwest during the 1920s.
A Murder in Tulsa: The Sherrill Murder Case by Michael Koch
This book by current Oklahombres President Mike Koch begins with a murder in Tulsa of a construction site guard during the summer of 1921. Police found no leads to this murder mystery. Soon the victim’s family hired two local detectives. Their efforts secured several arrests of small-time crooks. Their chief suspects were Arthur “Doc” Barker and Volney Davis. Both were apprehended, convicted and sent to prison. But they were released well before their sentences were completed through underhanded means. By the early 1930s America was in the clutches of a “Great Depression” and several infamous
criminals emerged to the fascination of the public sector who read of their crimes reported in all the big cities by local newspaper reporters. One such group of bandits was the Barker-Karpis Gang, which terrorized many states. This
book explores their rise and fall, and tells of their many murders, robberies and kidnappings.
This book by current Oklahombres President Mike Koch begins with a murder in Tulsa of a construction site guard during the summer of 1921. Police found no leads to this murder mystery. Soon the victim’s family hired two local detectives. Their efforts secured several arrests of small-time crooks. Their chief suspects were Arthur “Doc” Barker and Volney Davis. Both were apprehended, convicted and sent to prison. But they were released well before their sentences were completed through underhanded means. By the early 1930s America was in the clutches of a “Great Depression” and several infamous
criminals emerged to the fascination of the public sector who read of their crimes reported in all the big cities by local newspaper reporters. One such group of bandits was the Barker-Karpis Gang, which terrorized many states. This
book explores their rise and fall, and tells of their many murders, robberies and kidnappings.
Bud Ballew: Legendary Oklahoma Lawman by Elmer McInnes & Lauretta Ritchie McInnes
Deputy-Sheriff Bud Ballew's name was rarely missing from the issues of the local Daily Ardmorette and Ardmore Statesman newspapers in Oklahoma from 1910 to 1920. Many tempted fate and lost their lives when coming up against Ballew,
whose exploits were known throughout Oklahoma and the West. By 1920, he was receiving national and international attention for his reputation with a revolver. Bud Ballew: Legendary Oklahoma Lawman is a complete
chronicle of the life of this incredible gunman and peace officer, who met his end in a shoot-out in Wichita Falls, Texas, on May 5, 1922. His legend lives on in this action-packed book written by OklahombreS Member Elmer McInnes and wife Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes.
Deputy-Sheriff Bud Ballew's name was rarely missing from the issues of the local Daily Ardmorette and Ardmore Statesman newspapers in Oklahoma from 1910 to 1920. Many tempted fate and lost their lives when coming up against Ballew,
whose exploits were known throughout Oklahoma and the West. By 1920, he was receiving national and international attention for his reputation with a revolver. Bud Ballew: Legendary Oklahoma Lawman is a complete
chronicle of the life of this incredible gunman and peace officer, who met his end in a shoot-out in Wichita Falls, Texas, on May 5, 1922. His legend lives on in this action-packed book written by OklahombreS Member Elmer McInnes and wife Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes.
The Complete Public Enemy Almanac by William Helmer and Rick Mattix
Meticulously documented, lavishly detailed, exhaustively researched, and written with an eye for the truths that have remained largely hidden, The Complete Public Enemy Almanac" provides a reliable source of information about
the violent and lawless era of the twenties and thirties in the Unites States This book was coathored by Oklahombres member Rick Mattix ( who sadly passed away in 2o10), a recognized expert on criminal gangs of the twenties and thirties. This certainly is amongst the greatest crime reference books ever published.
Meticulously documented, lavishly detailed, exhaustively researched, and written with an eye for the truths that have remained largely hidden, The Complete Public Enemy Almanac" provides a reliable source of information about
the violent and lawless era of the twenties and thirties in the Unites States This book was coathored by Oklahombres member Rick Mattix ( who sadly passed away in 2o10), a recognized expert on criminal gangs of the twenties and thirties. This certainly is amongst the greatest crime reference books ever published.
Taming the Sooner State: The War Between Lawmen in Outlaws in Oklahoma (1875-1941) by R.D. Morgan
This excellent book by Oklahombres Board Member R.D. Morgan presents a unique collection of rare photographs, biographical sketches, and true stories offered in chronological order dealing with the epic battle between the forces of law and order and wrongdoers taking place in a geographic area encompassing the modern state of Oklahoma. This narrative, which represents nearly ten years of research, is presented in two-part form within a single volume. Part I covers the period of 1875-1919, chronicling events taken from the Indian and Oklahoma Territories to statehood and beyond, while Part II covers the period 1920-1941. Morgan has authored a total of eight books on Outlaw and Lawman History.
This excellent book by Oklahombres Board Member R.D. Morgan presents a unique collection of rare photographs, biographical sketches, and true stories offered in chronological order dealing with the epic battle between the forces of law and order and wrongdoers taking place in a geographic area encompassing the modern state of Oklahoma. This narrative, which represents nearly ten years of research, is presented in two-part form within a single volume. Part I covers the period of 1875-1919, chronicling events taken from the Indian and Oklahoma Territories to statehood and beyond, while Part II covers the period 1920-1941. Morgan has authored a total of eight books on Outlaw and Lawman History.
The Tri-State Terror: The Life and Crimes of Wilbur Underhill by R.D. Morgan
OklahombreS Board Member R.D. Morgan's fascinating book "The Tri-State Terror" tells the story of Wilbur Underhill-who was commonly called the "Tri-State Terror". For nearly a decade in the turbulent period of the 1920s and 30s, he was one of the most infamous and feared criminals in the Southwest. Convicted of one of his murders in Oklahoma he was sentenced to life and escaped, killing a cop and receiving another life term in Kansas, and then escaped again, leading ten others in a mass breakout. In the last months of his life, he rose to national notoriety as a prolific bank robber and suspect in the infamous Kansas City Massacre and became the first criminal ever shot down by agents of that fledgling agency which would soon become the FBI.
Morgan is the author of a total of eight books on Outlaws and Lawmen.
OklahombreS Board Member R.D. Morgan's fascinating book "The Tri-State Terror" tells the story of Wilbur Underhill-who was commonly called the "Tri-State Terror". For nearly a decade in the turbulent period of the 1920s and 30s, he was one of the most infamous and feared criminals in the Southwest. Convicted of one of his murders in Oklahoma he was sentenced to life and escaped, killing a cop and receiving another life term in Kansas, and then escaped again, leading ten others in a mass breakout. In the last months of his life, he rose to national notoriety as a prolific bank robber and suspect in the infamous Kansas City Massacre and became the first criminal ever shot down by agents of that fledgling agency which would soon become the FBI.
Morgan is the author of a total of eight books on Outlaws and Lawmen.
Legendary Lawman: The Story of Quick Draw Jelly Bryce by Ron Owens
Oklahombres Member Ron Owens book is a must read. Largely unknown except in a few law enforcement circles, Jelly Bryce was at the forefront of the conflict during America’s gangster era. As an Oklahoma
State Game Ranger, Oklahoma City Police Detective, and FBI Agent for over 30 years, Bryce was the man responsible for creating the FBI’s first firearms training program, developing their concealed holster and their fast-draw techniques, and personally training hundreds of their agents. Hired by the FBI without any college, he was involved in 19 shootings in the line of duty and was electronically timed at two-fifths of a second to draw and fire accurately. It was said if a criminal blinked at Jelly Bryce, he died in darkness.
Oklahombres Member Ron Owens book is a must read. Largely unknown except in a few law enforcement circles, Jelly Bryce was at the forefront of the conflict during America’s gangster era. As an Oklahoma
State Game Ranger, Oklahoma City Police Detective, and FBI Agent for over 30 years, Bryce was the man responsible for creating the FBI’s first firearms training program, developing their concealed holster and their fast-draw techniques, and personally training hundreds of their agents. Hired by the FBI without any college, he was involved in 19 shootings in the line of duty and was electronically timed at two-fifths of a second to draw and fire accurately. It was said if a criminal blinked at Jelly Bryce, he died in darkness.
The Dalton Gang Story: Lawmen to Outlaws by Nancy B. Samuelson
The name DALTON powerfully evokes the popular image of the Wild West Outlaw. The Dalton Gang made history with a bold attempt to rob two banks at once in Coffeyville, Kansas on October 5, 1892. This book published in 1992 by Oklahombres member Nancy Samuelson was an an effort to set the record straight and to tell the real story of this frontier family. Samuelson delves into the history of the entire family... not only the outlaws, making this book a must have for Dalton family genealogists. The book is illustrated with many photographs as well as reproductions of source documents, family Bible & court records, newspaper articles, etc.
The name DALTON powerfully evokes the popular image of the Wild West Outlaw. The Dalton Gang made history with a bold attempt to rob two banks at once in Coffeyville, Kansas on October 5, 1892. This book published in 1992 by Oklahombres member Nancy Samuelson was an an effort to set the record straight and to tell the real story of this frontier family. Samuelson delves into the history of the entire family... not only the outlaws, making this book a must have for Dalton family genealogists. The book is illustrated with many photographs as well as reproductions of source documents, family Bible & court records, newspaper articles, etc.
Belle Starr and Her Times: The Lierature, The Facts, and the Legends by Glenn Shirley
Who was Belle Starr? What was she that so many myths surround her? Born in Carthage, Missouri, in 1848, the daughter of a well-to-do hotel owner, she died forty-one years later, gunned down near her cabin in the Cherokee Nation in
Oklahoma. After her death she was called “a bandit queen,” “a female Jesse James,” “the Petticoat Terror of the Plains.” Fantastic legends proliferated about her. In this book the late Glenn Shirley (founding Oklahombres Member and prolific western history author) sifts through those myths and unearths the facts. In a highly readable and informative style Shirley presents a complex and intriguing portrait of Belle Starr who has become the West's best known woman outlaw figure.
Who was Belle Starr? What was she that so many myths surround her? Born in Carthage, Missouri, in 1848, the daughter of a well-to-do hotel owner, she died forty-one years later, gunned down near her cabin in the Cherokee Nation in
Oklahoma. After her death she was called “a bandit queen,” “a female Jesse James,” “the Petticoat Terror of the Plains.” Fantastic legends proliferated about her. In this book the late Glenn Shirley (founding Oklahombres Member and prolific western history author) sifts through those myths and unearths the facts. In a highly readable and informative style Shirley presents a complex and intriguing portrait of Belle Starr who has become the West's best known woman outlaw figure.
West of Hell's Fringe: Crime, Criiminals and the Federal Peace Office in Oklahoma Territory by Glenn Shirley
Founding Oklahombres member and prolific author Glenn Shirley (deceased) wrote what many consider the the definitive account of outlawry in Oklahoma Territory from the Run of ’89 to statehood in 1907 in his book West of Hell's Fringe. The book puts down myths and deflates the romanticism that made heroes out of barbarians. His account here is the story of brave men who put their lives on the line every time they rode-because most of their quarry would rather die than surrender, and many of them did die, sometimes taking a lawman or two with them. It's the story of the Doolin and Dalton gangs, of outlaws like Dynamite Dick, Arkansas Tom, and Zip Wyatt, and of their female counterparts such as Tom King (Flora Quick), Cattle Annie, and Little Breeches. Glenn Shirley's saga of the determined men who brought an orderly system of freedom and justice to one of America's last frontiers is a classic in any outlaw and lawmen history collection.
Founding Oklahombres member and prolific author Glenn Shirley (deceased) wrote what many consider the the definitive account of outlawry in Oklahoma Territory from the Run of ’89 to statehood in 1907 in his book West of Hell's Fringe. The book puts down myths and deflates the romanticism that made heroes out of barbarians. His account here is the story of brave men who put their lives on the line every time they rode-because most of their quarry would rather die than surrender, and many of them did die, sometimes taking a lawman or two with them. It's the story of the Doolin and Dalton gangs, of outlaws like Dynamite Dick, Arkansas Tom, and Zip Wyatt, and of their female counterparts such as Tom King (Flora Quick), Cattle Annie, and Little Breeches. Glenn Shirley's saga of the determined men who brought an orderly system of freedom and justice to one of America's last frontiers is a classic in any outlaw and lawmen history collection.
Daltons!: The Raid on Coffeyville, Kansas by Robert Barr Smith
In October 1892 the notorious Dalton gang concluded their days of outlawry at Coffeyville, Kansas, with a bold attempt to rob two banks at once in broad daylight. The raiders--Bob, Grat, and Emmett Dalton, Bill Powers, and Dick
Broadwell--were nothing more than common hoodlums, says Oklahombres Member and author Robert Barr
Smith. The real heroes of the day were the townspeople, who spontaneously turned out in haste and in force to dispatch the outlaws in a bloody downtown shoot-out. Smith sorts out the truth from the legends and suggests answers to some of the perplexing questions about the Coffeyville fight--including whether or not there was a sixth man who got away. In addition, Smith recounts the violent aftermath of the fight: the trial and later life of Emmett Dalton, the only outlaw to survive the raid; and the bloody ends of the Dalton gang’s successors, Bill Doolin and Bill Dalton.
In October 1892 the notorious Dalton gang concluded their days of outlawry at Coffeyville, Kansas, with a bold attempt to rob two banks at once in broad daylight. The raiders--Bob, Grat, and Emmett Dalton, Bill Powers, and Dick
Broadwell--were nothing more than common hoodlums, says Oklahombres Member and author Robert Barr
Smith. The real heroes of the day were the townspeople, who spontaneously turned out in haste and in force to dispatch the outlaws in a bloody downtown shoot-out. Smith sorts out the truth from the legends and suggests answers to some of the perplexing questions about the Coffeyville fight--including whether or not there was a sixth man who got away. In addition, Smith recounts the violent aftermath of the fight: the trial and later life of Emmett Dalton, the only outlaw to survive the raid; and the bloody ends of the Dalton gang’s successors, Bill Doolin and Bill Dalton.
Outlaw Tales of Oklahoma by Robert Barr Smith
From Muskogee to Ingalls, Tulsa to Tahlequah, the frontier towns of Oklahoma were populated by some of the toughest and most dangerous characters in the West. Ned Christie resisted arrest by holing up in his makeshift log fortress.
Henry Starr’s long bank robbing career took him all the way from the old West to the age of automobiles. And inept crook Elmer McCurdy, after a train holdup gone wrong, finally found work that suited him—as a dummy on display in a wax
museum. This book by Oklahombres member Col. Robert Barr Smith details characters from the Doolin and Dalton Gang to Belle Starr, Bud Coe to the Verdigris Kid, Through these astonishing true stories, Outlaw Tales of Oklahoma
introduces you to a state you thought you knew—and a West wilder than you’ve ever imagined.
From Muskogee to Ingalls, Tulsa to Tahlequah, the frontier towns of Oklahoma were populated by some of the toughest and most dangerous characters in the West. Ned Christie resisted arrest by holing up in his makeshift log fortress.
Henry Starr’s long bank robbing career took him all the way from the old West to the age of automobiles. And inept crook Elmer McCurdy, after a train holdup gone wrong, finally found work that suited him—as a dummy on display in a wax
museum. This book by Oklahombres member Col. Robert Barr Smith details characters from the Doolin and Dalton Gang to Belle Starr, Bud Coe to the Verdigris Kid, Through these astonishing true stories, Outlaw Tales of Oklahoma
introduces you to a state you thought you knew—and a West wilder than you’ve ever imagined.
Run Rabbit Run: The Edna Murray Story by Pam Paden Tippet - NEW in 2013
This new book by OklahombreS member Pam Paden Tippet has just been released. The book is about Pam's grandmother Edna Murray. Edna wasn't your ordinary grandmother, with nicknames such as "The Kissing Bandit" and "Rabbit." She ran with the likes of the Barker Gang, Alvin Karpis, and even harbored John Dillinger and a dying John "Red" Hamilton. She served time with Barrow Gang member Blanche Barrow, and was a three-time prison escapee earning her the nickname "Rabbit" since no pen could keep her in. A compelling story detailing the life of Edna Murray, her criminal career as a Gangster Moll in the Barker-Karpis Gang – including how it all began – how her life ended – and the impact it had on her family.
This new book by OklahombreS member Pam Paden Tippet has just been released. The book is about Pam's grandmother Edna Murray. Edna wasn't your ordinary grandmother, with nicknames such as "The Kissing Bandit" and "Rabbit." She ran with the likes of the Barker Gang, Alvin Karpis, and even harbored John Dillinger and a dying John "Red" Hamilton. She served time with Barrow Gang member Blanche Barrow, and was a three-time prison escapee earning her the nickname "Rabbit" since no pen could keep her in. A compelling story detailing the life of Edna Murray, her criminal career as a Gangster Moll in the Barker-Karpis Gang – including how it all began – how her life ended – and the impact it had on her family.
100 Oklahoma Outlaws, Gangster & Lawmen by Daniel Anderson, Laurence Yadon and Robert Barr Smith
The period between 1839 and 1939 bore witness to the sometimes atrocious exploits of renegades and regulators around
Oklahoma. The 100 profiles and biographical essays in this volume of popular history include Bonnie and Clyde, Belle Starr, Machine Gun Kelly, the James brothers, the Youngers, the Doolins, the Daltons, and numerous other well-known
and lesser-known criminals and officials. From the revelry of whiskey towns to the shootouts, massacres, and misunderstandings of wild Oklahoma, Dan Anderson and Oklahombres Board Member Laurence Yadon present interesting and little-known facts about this romanticized era. Characters include such unlikely personalities as Jim Miller,
the devout Methodist assassin; Bud Trainor, a gang operator turned deputy U.S. marshal; and Lloyd Barker, the founder of the Central Park Gang, who became an assistant manager of a snack shop and was later gunned down by his wife
The period between 1839 and 1939 bore witness to the sometimes atrocious exploits of renegades and regulators around
Oklahoma. The 100 profiles and biographical essays in this volume of popular history include Bonnie and Clyde, Belle Starr, Machine Gun Kelly, the James brothers, the Youngers, the Doolins, the Daltons, and numerous other well-known
and lesser-known criminals and officials. From the revelry of whiskey towns to the shootouts, massacres, and misunderstandings of wild Oklahoma, Dan Anderson and Oklahombres Board Member Laurence Yadon present interesting and little-known facts about this romanticized era. Characters include such unlikely personalities as Jim Miller,
the devout Methodist assassin; Bud Trainor, a gang operator turned deputy U.S. marshal; and Lloyd Barker, the founder of the Central Park Gang, who became an assistant manager of a snack shop and was later gunned down by his wife