Sunday, May 5, 2024
Jesse James, An expert Horseman; By G.C. Stevens
Saturday, May 4, 2024
The Luke Short, Charley Storms Shooting; By Gene Stevens
INTRODUCTION
The subject of this narrative might have died with
his boots on, for he had many chances, but he
didn't...
- Lawman Bat Masterson on Luke Short
Luke Short was Gambler and member of the Dodge City Peace commission during the famed “Saloon Wars” who moved to Leadville, Colorado, in 1879, Where he formed his reputation as a gambler and gun slinger. The famed Lawman Bat Masterson later wrote in his book “Famous Gunfighters of The Western Frontier” that Short had seriously wounded a man during a gambling dispute in Leadville. When Luke settled in Leadville Colorado and began a career of gambling, he became acquainted with wealthy socialites of higher class. And was thrown into a society of rich mine buyers, as well as mining promoters. It was the first place where he had ever seen a game of faro played, and he was fascinated.
The Gunfight with Charlie Storms
Snuffing out a Gambler
Luke Short first met Wyatt Earp, William H. Harris, and Bat Masterson in Tombstone. Harris knew Short previous to this time, and had no problem convincing his partners to engage Earp as a faro dealer at the Oriental Saloon in Tombstone Arizona. On Friday, February 25, 1881, Short was acting as a lookout for the faro game, He was seated next to the dealer at a faro table in the Oriental, when he was involved in what became a well-known gunfight that was covered by several newspapers and remembered in Masterson book "
Famous Gunfighters of the Western Frontier" His antagonist, was Charlie Storms, who was also a fairly well known gambler. Bat Masterson, who was in Tombstone during this time, described what happened in a magazine article he wrote in 1907:
Storms did not know Short, and like the bad man in Leadville, had sized him up as an insignificant-looking fellow, whom he could slap in the face without expecting a return. Both were about to pull their pistols when I jumped between them and grabbed Storms, at the same time requesting Luke not to shoot, a request I knew he would respect if it was possible without endangering his own life too much. I had no trouble in getting Storms out of the house, as he knew me to be his friend ... I was just explaining to Luke that Storms was a very decent sort of man when, lo and behold!, there he stood before us, without saying a word, he took hold of Luke's arm and pulled him off the sidewalk, where he had been standing, at the same time pulling his pistol, a Colt's cut-off, 45 calibre, single action; but like the Leadvillian, he was too slow, although he succeeded in getting his pistol out. Luke stuck the muzzle of his pistol against Storm's heart and pulled the trigger. The bullet tore the heart asunder, and as he was falling, Luke shot him again. Storms was dead when he hit the ground.
Storms' body was taken to the town undertaker, where a coroner's jury was convened in haste, and testimony was heard. The jury reached a verdict quickly stating that Storms died from three pistol wounds at the hands of Short, and that Short's actions were justifiable. Short was free to go, as no further legal action was taken.
Two Articles located on
Newspaperarchive.com
Phoenix AZ Herald
Case was discharged by Justice Wallace on grounds of self-defense
LUKE SHORTS TESTIMONY FROM THE DEADWOOD PIONEER NUGGET
March 13, 1881
The spring of 1881 found Luke Short in Tombstone Arizona, dealing faro in a house managed by Wyatt Earp.
-Bat Masterson
Luks Short testimony continued
Storms' body was taken to the undertaker, where the coroner's jury was convened and testimony was heard. The jury reached a verdict that Storms died from three pistol wounds at the hands of Short, and that Short's actions were justifiable. Short was free to go, as no further legal action was taken.
Five days after Storms died, the Leadville Democrat wrote about the shooting. It said that
Storms approached Short and "catching him by the ear", demanded an apology. According to the account, Storms grabbed Short's ear with his left hand and his right hand contained a pistol aimed at Short. Short drew his weapon and shot Storms, who returned fire, but missed. Short then put two more bullets into "the sinking soul of Storms.
On February 28, 1881, at the Oriental Hotel, gamblers Luke Short and Charlie Storms had a verbal altercation which was deescalated by Bat Masterson, who was also an acquaintance of Storms as well. Storms later returned to the scene and walked up, said nothing and pulled a gun, On Storms, a cut-off Colt .45 pistol, but Short was quicker. Short shot Storms twice before he hit the ground; the first shot fired was so close that it set fire to Storms' shirt. Short was said to have then turned to Bat Masterson and stated: "You sure pick some of the damnedest friends, Bat." Ben Sippy arrested Short, but the shooting was determined to have been made in self-defense.
Photo from the Authors Collection
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp would later say
that he helped to carry the body of Charlie
Storms back to the San Jose rooming house
where the now-deceased gambler and Lyons
had been staying, so that a post mortem could
be performed by Dr. Goodfellow.
-Peter Brand 2015
"The Killing of Charlie Storms by Luke Short"
Bat Masterson;
Bat Masterson Claimed that he was a direct witness of the shooting,
This claim is most likely correct.
Luke Short
In the Spring of 1881, Luke Short was dealing Faro at the Oriental Saloon in Tombstone Arizona which was managed by Wyatt Earp. There was an incident between Luke Short and Charlie Storms over a gambling issue and guns came into play.. Bat Masterson was present and intervened in the disagreement and initially deescalated the situation. Masterson managed to cool things down, and escorted Storms to his room. Bat Masterson was friends with both Charlie Storms and Luke short. But Storms and Short didn't know one another. Masterson walked back over to Short and was trying to explain to Short that he thought Storms was a decent guy, when as Bat stated " When... lo and behold, there he stood before us." Storms said nothing but started to pull his pistol. Unfortunately Luke Short was faster, pulled his gun, stuck the muzzle of the gun to Storms heart, and pulled the trigger.
-Bat Masterson
He probably died instantly. Bat Masterson tells us in his book that Luke was given a quick hearing in front of a Magistrate and was quickly exonerated .Bat Masterson was present in Tombstone and attended the hearing
-Famous Gunfighters of the Western Frontier.
W.B. (Bat) Masterson
Photo of Charlie Storms from the
Cantey (Myers) Collection
This unique image of Charlie Storm came in a group of personal items pertaining to Luke Short sold by his relatives. Luke Short and Charlie Storm were involved in a gun fight in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881. It may be the only known image of Storm.
A well known photo of the Dodge City Peace Commision.
Luke Short date unknown
Friday, May 3, 2024
Central States Lawman and Outlaw H.A. May News Letter
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Photo Investigation, Morgan Earp... Confirmed ; By Gene Stevens
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
The Wyatt Earp, Stuart Lake Letters; Transcribed by Gene Stevens
Wyatt Earp Aficionado and Devotee's
One U.S. Main St.
Anytown USA
Dear Wyatt Earp Aficionado,
There are in this world, men of substance, action and being, who by Gods grace are placed in their time and location to influence the world around them. Its easy to wax philosophical over such men, and to ponder over men like Wyatt Earp. Especially by the men who sometimes ponder history. They pour over texts, letters, diaries, records and old tintype photographs trying to nail down the persons or times in which the lived, contemplations grow within their minds. But behind the mask, is a desire. The desire takes on many forms of intentions, they range from the most sincere actions of the heart, to the most evil intentions of destruction. But the hind site of time, history, age and health, can temper the hardest of souls. I know this is true of Wyatt Earp, who was a man of substance, action and being. A man who wore a badge of authority, but the badge never made him who he was. He made the badge what it was supposed to be. The evidence of this can be found not in the semi fictional, but in the many documents that he left behind, which eventually came into possession of Writer and Earp historian Glenn Boyer. Direct evidence in the way of records and letters were donated to the Arizona Historic Society (AHS) from Glenn Boyers collection. The AHS has in their possession hundreds of pages of documents between Wyatt Earp, Josephine Earp, Stuart lake and Houghton Mifflin publishers. Stuart Lake and Wyatt Earp had formed a very tight, cooperative and cordial relationship as Lake had begun his journey to write Wyatt Earps biography, "Frontier Marshall". I have begun the process of purchasing copies of these letters with the intent of showing the public what is in these files, as I believe that the truth should be revealed for all of those who want to know what really happened, rather than examining it through the lens of Hollywood. My original intent was to photograph and publish each letter, however AHS has exercised copyrights over all copies and requires a $25.00 fee for each page that is placed on public display, not to mention that AHS also charges $1.50 per page printed. It is therefore cost prohibitive to display each page. I can however transcribe each page. On one hand this will be very time consuming, but on the other hand, I will indeed gain much knowledge from closely examining and transcribing each page. I will do my best to recreate the look and feel of every letter, so that the reader has a full feel for its contents, which was written by first generation typewriters and context. I look forward to this endeavor, and I hope the reader will benefit from this article.
Very Sincerely
Gene Stevens
Letter dated; July 22, 1928,from Wyatt Earp to Stuart Lake;
4002 West Seventeenth St. Los Angeles, California July 14 1928 22
Mr. Stuart N. Lake 3916 Portols Place, San Diego, California.
Dear Mr. Lake;
My work on the desert, for the season, is completed, and there is nothing now that might inter-fere with anything that I might have in mind. There-for I am wondering if it will be convenient for you to come to Los Angeles next week, preferably the latter part.
When you were here several weeks ago. I thought to come to San Diego, as I explained to you. However, such an arrangement does not seem feasible now; my health is not as rugged as I would like it, and several matter of business pending would require my presence here. I hope your coming to Los Angeles would not prove a real inconvenience to you; I regret indeed to have to make this suggestion.
I must not forget to explain that we are mov-ing next week, to 4004 West Seventeenth Street-in the same court, the bungalow that faces down the middle; so please look for us there; I shall expect you. Mrs. Earp joins me in kind regards.
Very Sincerely
Wyatt S. Earp
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 25, 1928
Mr. Wyatt S. Earp 4004 West Seventeenth St. Los Angeles.
Dear Mr. Earp:
I was sorry indeed, to learn that your health is not exactly as you would like it; also, that you are not coming to San Diego as you planned. We think this is the most delightful summer place in the country.
As matters are now, I am sure that I can come to Los Angeles to see you on Thursday, August 2. I hope to get to your house by 10:30 in the morning, but if I do not appear at about that hour, will be there about 1:30. We can then talk over the details for going through the work ahead.
It would simplify things, I think, if you might have your material more or less ready to hand when I come. I can then see what is immediately ahead in the way of necessary preparation for the actual writing I'll have to do, and so can plan more intelligently.
Will you convey my respects to Mrs. Earp. and expect me, as I said on Thursday, August 2?
Sincerely your,
Stuart N. Lake
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Jesse W. James; Guerilla Operations, The Use of Deception Part I: By Gene Stevens , Co-author Patrick Meguiar
The Use of Deception
To understand Jesse James and his unit's (gang) operations, one must first understand the duties and tactics of mounted cavalry of the time period. Tactics such as hit and run attacks, destruction of infrastructure, counter- insurgency, reconnaissance and intelligence services were used from the time of the revolutionary war until the post-civil war, and up to and including the Indian Wars. The trans-Mississippi theater of war was a very brutal affair. The border wars had begun ten years in advance of the wide spread American civil war. Armies of the day consisted of large fighting units of infantry, artillery and mounted cavalry. The horse mounted soldier (cavalry) had filled a vital role of the settlement of the west since the early days of American expansionism. Dragoons, meaning; soldiers mounted with rifles and side arms helped in the expansion into the American wilderness. But the term mounted soldier took on a new meaning in western Missouri as union militia had seized control of western Missouri early in the war, and conducted politically driven violent purges of pro-rebellion families who resided in western Missouri. The absence of sanctioned military units left a power void in the western part of the state, which was quickly filled with citizen/ guerilla soldiers fighting a bloody counter-insurgency war on their own soil. The civil war in western Missouri was truly a war between brothers and neighbors.
But for Jesse James, the war would continue to rage for at least another eight years as Jesse and his brother Frank would turn the war against the new world order that had been forced upon the post war south. The main tools of this continuing war would be based on mounted guerilla tactics, attacks on corporate commerce, propaganda and covert tactics.
Multiple Identities
As time passed, it became apparent that there was plenty of confusion about who Jesse James was and what his end game was, as his activities seemed to have no end. It has been rumored that Jesse may have used as many as seventy two different alias names;
In 1881 Governor Thomas T. Crittenden issued a proclamation for the arrest of Frank and Jesse James. By 1882 Jesse James had moved his family back to St. Joseph, Missouri. Still using his alias, James passed himself off as a cattle buyer and brought two new men, Robert and Charley Ford, into his gang to help him scout banks for future robberies.
-Missouri State Historic Society
On Christmas Eve (1881), Jesse and Zee moved their family into a small house atop a high hill overlooking St. Joseph. Living under the assumed name of Tom Howard, Jesse rented the house from a city councilman for $14 a month. He attended church, but did not work for a living.
It is obvious that James had learned the art of covert ops and espionage well while conducting guerilla operations in western Missouri, and this M.O. (Modus Operandi) had carried into the post-war years. A product of his M.O. was not only using alias names, it also included spreading information and disinformation and maintaining caches valuables and money.
After Jesse's Assassination
After his death, collectable items in the way of photos, documents and firearms were sold and passed off as belonging to Jesse James. Though not unique, the selling false historic artefacts has been ongoing for many years and many faked antiquities have found their way into the hands of unsuspecting collectors. What is unique about this particular story is that the so called artefact was apparently sold by Jesse James mother Zerelda Samuel.
Omaha Daily Bee
Thu, Apr 06, 1882
.
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
The Lawman of Dodge City KS, Courtesy of the Kansas Heritage Group
The Lawmen of Dodge City and Ford County, Kansas
Dodge City had the reputation as the toughest town and a hell on the frontier, but actually it was not that bad. From roughly 1875 until 1885, Dodge City was in the midst of a business boom thanks to the wagon road economy and the cattle industry. For a town that was the defacto capital of a wide area of southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, it needed law and order. There were many people walking the streets of Dodge City with money in their pockets. Dodge City could not afford to be as violent and reckless as its reputation It therefore hired some of the most respected and courageous lawmen to ever holster a gun.
On June 17, 1872, the first business (George M. Hoover's and John McDonald's) to locate on the site five-miles west of the Ft. Dodge military reservation opened as a bar in a tent. This was in response to the prohibition of liquor at Fort Dodge. Other businesses soon followed and the Town Company completed its formal organization as 'Buffalo City' on August 15, 1872. The name was changed to Dodge City in October as the US Post Office already had a Buffalo, KS.
Ford County was not yet organized and did not have a sheriff until June of 1873. Likewise, Dodge City was not incorporated until November 2, 1875. For the first year, there was no government or law enforcement. It was this period that much happened to help give Dodge it reputation as a very wild and dangerous place.
The first recorded killing in Dodge City was in September 1872, when an African-American man named Black Jack was shot for no reason by a gambler known as Denver. Shortly after that, Jack Reynolds was killed by a railroad track layer. In that first year, approximately fifteen men were killed in Dodge City, all being buried up on historical Boot Hill. Eventually, Boot Hill were have some 30 graves, including one female, Alice Chambers.
By early 1873, the local merchants were concerned about the violence and hired Billy Brook as a private lawman, but when he proved ineffective, a vigilance committee was formed. They managed to rid the town of some of the worst offenders, but soon they became the main source of violence. For example, on March 13, Tom Sherman, who ran a saloon, chased a man out of his dance hall and shot him. He then walked over to the man, who was writhing in pain, and said, "I'd better shoot him again, hadn't I boys?" He aimed his revolver at the man's head and pulled the trigger point blank.
The violence climaxed on June 3, 1873, when two committee members killed William Taylor, the servant of Col. Richard Dodge, commanding officer of Fort Dodge. Col. Dodge was so outraged that wired the Governor of Kansas, and got special permission to arrest the guilty. Troops entered the town the next day and arrested Bill Hicks who was later convicted. On June 5th, troops entered again and arrested five of the worst vigilantes, including Tom Sherman.
That very day a sheriff, Charlie Bassett, was appointed. This appointed also resulted in two political factions being formed: those who wanted a wide-open town with gambling, saloons and prostitution, commonly know the The Gang, and those who wanted a town of law and order. Bassett was elected November 11, 1873 and reelected on November 5, 1875. William B. 'Bat' Masterson was elected sheriff on November 9, 1877, since the state constitution would not allow Bassett to run for a third term.
The dispute between lawmen Mysterious Dave Mather and Tom Nixon is an example of just how fine the line was between good and bad in early Dodge City. Both had been assistant marshals. Mather ambushed Nixon and shot him dead, claiming self-defense. Although witnesses said Nixon never drew, Mather was acquitted.
Other early famous lawmen and the year(s) they were elected or served as Ford County Sheriff: George T. Hinkle, 1879 and 1881; P.F. Pat Sughrue, 1883 and 1885; Frederick Singer, (appointed) 1887 - 1888; Hamilton B. 'Ham' Bell, 1887 and 1889; Chalk M. Beeson, 1891 and 1893; then Ham Bell again in 1895 and 1897; Grant Hale, 1899 and 1900; J.M. Miller, 1902 and 1904; then Ham Bell yet again, 1906 and 1908. (Dates from Ford County Register of Deeds.)
Lawrence Deger, the first marshal of Dodge City, was appointed in December 1875, by P.L. Beatty, the first mayor of Dodge City. Other famous marshals and assistants included Ed Masterson, 1877-1878; Wyatt S. Earp, 1876-1879; James Masterson; and Bill Tilghman, 1884-1886.
Monday, April 22, 2024
Jesse James, A tale of Two Monuments
The Adair Iowa Train Robbery
WRECKING AND PLUNDERING A TRAIN.
In June following both the James Boys were seen in Kansas City by intimate acquaintances, and the night of June 27th was spent by both the bandits with their mother at the Samuels' residence. On the 15th of July, Bob, Jim and Cole Younger, Jesse and Frank James, Bud Singleton and two other bandits, whose names have never been learned by the authorities, left Clay county Missouri, and rode northward to a spot which had been selected by Frank James and Jim Younger, on the line of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, about five miles east of Council Bluffs.
On the evening of July 21st a formidable band of eight of the most desperate men that ever committed a crime, took position in a dense thicket beside a deep cut in the railroad. They hitched their horses out of view of passengers on the train and then, after a few minutes' work, displaced one of the rails. This[Pg 61] accomplished, they waited the coming of the express train which was due at that point at 8:30 P. M. From a knoll near the rendezvous Jesse James descried the blazing headlight of the coming train, and then made everything ready for their villainous work. A sharp curve in the track prevented the engineer from discovering anything wrong, until it was impossible to prevent the disaster which the banditti had prepared for. The screaming engine came thundering like an infuriated mammoth, which a reversal of the lever only began to check when it struck the loosened rail and plunged sideways into the bank, while the cars telescoped and piled up in terrible confusion. The engineer was instantly killed, and a dozen passengers were seriously injured, but the desperadoes did not stop to consider this terrible disaster. The moment the havoc was complete the bandits fell upon the excited passengers, whom they robbed without exception, both men and women, taking every species of jewelry and the last cent that could be discovered from the wounded as well as those who remained unhurt. The express car was entered and the messenger, groaning with pain from a broken arm, was compelled to open the safe, which was rifled of six thousand dollars and then the messenger was forced to give the robbers his watch and ten dollars which he had with him. Fortunately the desperadoes were twelve hours too soon for the train upon which the expected treasure was carried, as the[Pg 62] express that went east on the morning of the 21st, carried gold bricks, specie and currency amounting to over one hundred thousand dollars.
The Monument(s)
Located between Des Moines Iowa and Omaha Nebraska, runs a lessor known historic roadway called "White Pole Road" White Pole road is a very unique piece of road because it once the way west in the early days of the automobile. It current runs Parallele to the famed I-80, but for those who would prefer to avoid Interstate 80 will find themselves traveling along a quieter, more historic stretch of road. Unbeknownst to modern travelers, this part of Old US Highway 6 was not only the sight of a type of criminal heist heretofore unheard of in the American West in Adair Iowa.
Jesse James, An expert Horseman; By G.C. Stevens
Jack Malone was a thoroughbred horse and the sire of Jim Malone, who was bought by the famed rebel and outlaw Jesse James. Did Jesse Ja...
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The Use of Deception Who was Jesse...