About The Editor

 

Gene Stevens, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1959, is an American author, historian, and blogger known for his work in historical crime literature and his engaging online presence under the pseudonym G.C. Stevens. With a deep passion for uncovering the untold stories of America's past, Stevens has carved a unique niche as a writer and researcher, blending meticulous historical detail with gripping narrative storytelling. His most notable work, A Fiendish Crime, explores the true story of the first train robbery in the American West, showcasing his ability to bring forgotten events to life with vivid prose and a keen eye for historical context.
Stevens’ journey to authorship was shaped by a diverse and adventurous life. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Naval Reserves and Army National Guard, he transitioned into a career in law enforcement. Over the years,  he served as a patrol officer, juvenile officer, and D.A.R.E. instructor. His experiences in security, law enforcement and military police training—provided him with a unique perspective on crime and justice, which he channels into his writing.
As G.C. Stevens, he maintains a blog titled Central States, Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association, where he delves into topics ranging from Wild West mysteries to Civil War history. His posts reflect his extensive travels across the United States, visiting historic sites, and his dedication to genealogy, tracing his family’s roots back to Ireland and England. Stevens’ love for history extends beyond the page—he spent over three decades as a living historian, reenacting periods from the Revolutionary War to World War II.

In addition to A Fiendish Crime, Stevens has authored other works, including Red Flag of Defiance, about the Black Hawk War, and the semi-fictional Ten Eycke Chronicles: Return to Tombstone. Now residing in Des Moines, Iowa, where he runs a private investigative company, Stevens continues to explore the intersections of history, crime, and human experience. Married in Tombstone, Arizona, in 2017, he lives with his wife and remains an avid researcher, traveler, and storyteller, committed to preserving the past for modern readers.

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Gene Stevens Wild West Anthology

The author associated with the "Wild West Anthology" is Gene Stevens, a historian, author, and former law enforcement officer. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1959, originally named Eugene Curtis Stawinski, and was raised in Chicago after his mother passed away when he was six years old. Stevens served in the United States Navy from 1978 to 1982, completing basic training at Great Lakes Naval Base and serving aboard the USS Wichita AOR-1, where he participated in operations during the Iran Hostage Crisis and assisted in rescuing Vietnamese refugees. He later served in the US Naval Reserves, the Illinois National Guard, and various law enforcement agencies, including the Fox River Grove and Spring Grove Police Departments in Illinois, where he held roles such as Patrol Officer, Juvenile Officer, and D.A.R.E. Officer.

Stevens is a genealogist who traced his family's roots back to Ireland and England, and he is a descendant of the Curtis family who settled in Illinois in the 1830s. He is a living historian who has reenacted historical periods from the Revolutionary War to World War II. He has written numerous articles on Western history and self-published several books, including Red Flag of Defiance, which details the first battle of the Black Hawk War, The Battle for Apple River Fort, and A Fiendish Crime, the true story of the first train robbery in the West. He is also the author of the semi-fictional Ten Eycke Chronicles: Return to Tombstone. His work often focuses on the American West, with topics including the history of the Santa Fe Trail, Old West ranching, and the lives of figures like Wyatt Earp and Jesse James. He and his wife were married in Tombstone, Arizona, in 2017.

Stevens is the founder of the Central States Lawman and Outlaws Historic Association and maintains a blog where he shares his research and historical narratives. He has been recognized with several military and civilian awards, including the Navy Battle E, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the National Defense Medal. He currently owns a private investigative company in the Des Moines, Iowa, region. While he is known for his historical non-fiction, the "Wild West Anthology" likely refers to his body of work featured in his blog and publications, which explore the history and legends of the American frontier

John Wayne Birthday Bulletin. May 23th, 24th & 25th

 

Save the date for the 10th Anniversary of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset Iowa.

For more details visit the John Wayne Birthplace Museum web page

Now Available: Dusty Trails of the Old West Anthology

Now available from

Amazon

Barnes and Noble 

Dusty Trails Books;

Dusty Trails of the Old West Anthology.

 Stories of the wild west

Kindle

Hardcover 

Paperback

 

Jesses James Wins 3 to 1 by G.C. Stevens

     Note the card on the right, this is known as the "guerilla photo" and is widely recognized as  a confirmed photo Jesse James.

All photos taken by the Author 

*Location: I-35 SB, on the Iowa/ Missouri Border. 

With the weather getting better, from sub zero temps to 55 degrees here in central Iowa. I decided to take a short road trip into Missouri. Just off I-35 on the Missouri Iowa border is a great visitor center with an on duty receptionist. This visitor center is packed wall to wall with travel tourist booklets and brochures. I took a few minutes looked around for stuff on historical sites and civil war battle fields.  Missouri played an important part in the war. As did other historical events.  But I found that once you entered Missouri,  you were in Jesse James Territory. After looking the visitor center room, I found that most historic sites but one brochure.  And Jesse James had three, each for different sites. Jesse's Birthplace, the Jesse James Bank Museum  and the his home in St. JO Where he was killed.

Jesse James : Kin folk by G.C. Stevens

                             The following information was provided by Patrick Meguiar. 

                                       William Martin 

                     Was a Confederate, and he helped (Cousin) Jesse James with 

                                       training his horses He was a 2nd cousin 

                              of Robert Sallee James who was Jesse's father. 

                                 

 

Jesse James and The Great Train Robbery ebook. By G.C. Stevens

      A revised and edited ebook now available on Lulu.com

              -  Jesse James and the Great Train Robbery-

                                                   By

                                           G.C. Stevens

                                  Edited by Holly Michaels

$7.75

 Jesse James and the Great Train Robbery

The Dragoon Trail Epitaph

 Greetings Lawman and Outlaws. I've given our news letter a new title.  "The Dragoon Trail Epitaph." Please feel free to share this page.

Dusty Trails of the Old West Anthology; By G.C. Stevens

 

INFORMATION COMING SOON 

Dusty Trails Anthology

Cattle Annie and Little Britches, Lady Outlaws of Oklahoma. By G.C. Stevens

 

Cattle Annie and Little Britches

Photo from A pictorial history of the Wild West Crown Publishers 1955

Once upon a time in the rugged landscapes of the Oklahoma Territory, where the law was as wild as the land itself, there roamed two notorious outlaws known far and wide as Cattle Annie and Little Britches. Cattle Annie, whose real name was Anna McDoulet, was a fiery young girl with a sharp wit and an even sharper tongue. Born in Oklahoma, she grew up hearing tales of the notorious Bill Doolin and his Wild Bunch, which fueled her dreams of adventure. She was barely in her teens when she decided to join the outlaws, drawn by the thrill of the outlaw life and the freedom it promised. Little Britches, or Jennie Stevenson, was Annie's partner in crime. Younger but equally daring, Jennie was known for her diminutive size and her penchant for wearing oversized britches, hence the nickname. She was an orphan who found kinship with Annie; together, they became an inseparable duo, notorious for their escapades in rustling cattle and running messages for the outlaws.

The two girls met in a small, dusty town where the wind whipped through the streets, carrying whispers of lawlessness and freedom. They bonded over their shared love for the outlaw life, quickly becoming known for their audacity. They would disguise themselves as boys, sneaking into cattle pens to cut out the best steers, which they'd then guide to waiting outlaws who would take the cattle across state lines.

Annie and Jennie weren't just horse thieves or cattle rustlers; they were also lookouts and informants, gathering intelligence on lawmen movements. Their youthful appearances often led people to underestimate them, which they used to their advantage, slipping through the cracks of society where no one expected trouble from children. But their luck couldn't last forever. As the law began catching up with the Wild Bunch, the heat also turned on Annie and Jennie. Marshal Bill Tilghman, known for his relentless pursuit of Doolin's gang, eventually set his sights on these young outlaws. Their capture was as much a matter of legend as their deeds; Tilghman, with his cunning, managed to corner them in a barn, where they were finally arrested.

They would later be featured in a film created by Lawman Bill Tilghman, in his film creation, "The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws" made in 1915.

  The passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws. found on youtube

Despite their crimes, there was a certain charm to these young girls, a kind of Robin Hood spirit in the wild west. Their story captured the imagination of many, blending the lines between villainy and the romanticized life of an outlaw. They were sentenced to reform school rather than prison, a testament to their youth and perhaps a nod to the wild spirit of the times. After their release, the stories of Cattle Annie and Little Britches diverged. Annie married, took up a quiet life away from her past, though the tales of her youth lingered in local lore. Jennie, however, faded into history, her later life less documented, but the legend of Little Britches lived on in the tales of the Old West.

Their story, a blend of history and myth, serves as a reminder of a time when the lines between law and lawlessness were as blurred as the horizon over the Oklahoma plains, where two young girls could become legends in their own right.

Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaw; The Story of Lawman Bill Tilghman BY G.C. Stevens

 

        Lawman Bill Tilghman  from the Authors Collection. 

The Legacy of Bill Tilghman: A True Lawman of the American West.  

In the annals of American frontier history, few figures loom as large as Bill Tilghman, a name synonymous with the Wild West's transition from lawlessness to civilization. Known for his roles as a lawman, deputy U.S. Marshal, and even a film director, Tilghman's life story is a fascinating blend of action, justice, and the inevitable march of progress.

Early Life and the Call to Law Enforcement

Born on July 4, 1854, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Tilghman's early years were shaped by the very environment of the frontier. His idolization of legendary lawman Wild Bill Hickok set the stage for his own career in law enforcement. By the age of 24, Tilghman had already become a full-time lawman, first serving as a deputy sheriff in Dodge City, Kansas, a notorious hotspot for outlaws and gamblers. His time in Dodge City was marked by his reputation for being both fearless and fair, traits that would define his career. Tilghman's most notable period came when he joined forces with fellow lawmen.

The Three Guardsmen 

Tilghman joined Heck Thomas and Chris Madsen, forming what became known as the "Three Guardsmen." Operating out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, under the stern eye of Judge Isaac Parker, known as "The Hanging Judge," they were tasked with bringing order to the lawless Indian Territory. Their mission was monumental: to capture or kill some of the era's most dangerous outlaws, including members of the Doolin gang. Tilghman's contribution was pivotal in tracking down and capturing several notorious members, significantly reducing crime in the area.

After the territories became more settled, Tilghman did not rest on his laurels. He continued his law enforcement career in various capacities, eventually becoming the Sheriff of Lincoln County in Oklahoma. However, his life took an unexpected turn when he ventured into silent films, directing and starring in "The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws" in 1915, which was a dramatized account of his own experiences. This film not only served as an entertainment piece but also as a historical document of the time.

Tilghman's 1915 film

A Tragic End

Tilghman's life ended abruptly and tragically on November 1, 1924, at the age of 70. While serving as City Marshal in Cromwell, Oklahoma, he was shot by a corrupt law enforcement officer named Wiley Lynn, who was later acquitted of the crime. The incident underscored the dangers lawmen faced, even in a supposedly "tamed" frontier. 

According to another source, Tilghman was shot on Halloween night, 1924, and died in the early morning of November 1st, 1924, Cromwell Town Marshal and legendary Old West lawman Bill Tilghman was shot outside of a cafe called "Ma Murphy's", by the corrupt prohibition agent Wiley Lynn. Tilghman died in the early morning hours of the first of November.   Tilghman had been brought in to help bring the town under control. One month later the town of Cromwell was torched, with every brothel, bar, flop house and pool hall burned to the ground, allegedly by friends of Tilghman. There was no investigation into the massive fire, and Cromwell never recovered its former wild status, or size. According to a video produced by the videographer / Vlogger Jerry Skinner, Lawman from around the state, converged on Cromwell and burned the town down.

Legacy and Influence

Bill Tilghman's legacy is multifaceted. He was not just a lawman but also a symbol of the Old West's evolution into the modern United States. His stories, whether through his own films or the countless books and movies inspired by his life, keep the spirit of the West alive. Historians and enthusiasts alike remember Tilghman for his bravery, his dedication to justice, and his role in shaping the narrative of the American West.

Tilghman's life was more than just the pursuit of outlaws; it was about the pursuit of order, peace, and the establishment of law in places where chaos reigned. His contributions to law enforcement in the Oklahoma Territory paved the way for Oklahoma's statehood in 1907, marking the end of an era and the beginning of another.

In reflecting on Tilghman's life, one can't help but appreciate the complexity of a man who lived through one of the most transformative periods in American history, embodying the transition from the lawless frontier to a structured society. His story, filled with action, bravery, and a commitment to justice, remains a captivating chapter in the epic saga of the American West.

References

Marshal Bill Tilghman: The Truth behind the Movie (Jerry Skinner Documentary) - YouTube

Cromwell, Oklahoma - Wikipedia

Bill Tilghman – Long Term Lawman – Legends of America