William Whitley – Co-Leader of the Brack Cornett Gang
The annals of the American West are filled with tales of daring outlaws, desperate times, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Among these figures, William Whitley emerges as a complex and controversial character, a man whose life was cut short in a hail of gunfire at the young age of 24. Often associated with both the "Bill Whitley Gang" and the "Brack Cornett Gang," Whitley’s story is a blend of familial loyalty, alleged violence, and a brief but impactful foray into the world of train and bank robbery in the late 19th century.
Born on September 7, 1864, in Itawamba County, Mississippi, William Henry Whitley was the youngest of his parents’ children. His father, William Taylor Whitley, and his mother, Elizabeth Henry Whitley, raised their family amidst the tumultuous aftermath of the Civil War. While William was too young to participate in the conflict, his older brothers answered the call to arms, serving as Confederate soldiers. Growing up in the war’s shadow, the young Whitley was exposed to the pervasive lawlessness and societal upheaval that gripped the South during Reconstruction. This environment undoubtedly shaped his perspective and contributed to the choices he would later make.
According to some accounts, a pivotal moment in William Whitley’s life occurred in 1884 when his older brother was killed by a lawman. Fueled by grief and a thirst for revenge, Whitley is said to have embarked on a path of violence, allegedly taking the lives of eight men. While some of his descendants maintain that these claims are exaggerated and that he was, in reality, a good man, popular legend paints a different picture. He is believed to have participated in eight bank robberies and one train robbery, cementing his place in the folklore of the Wild West.
Somewhere along his life, William Whitley married Lucinda "Cord" Cox, a woman from Lampasas, Texas. This union, however, brought complications for Lucinda’s family. Some of her relatives were arrested for harboring a known criminal, while others were charged with being his accomplices. The couple had two daughters: Minnie Margaret Whitley, born in November 1884, and Temperance Alice Whitley, born in March 1886. As law enforcement pressure mounted, Whitley made the decision to flee to England, leaving his wife and children in the care of her brother, who relocated them to Coryell County, Texas.
Upon his return to the United States, William Whitley aligned himself with Brack Cornett, forging a partnership that would lead to a series of daring heists. Together, they assembled a gang of outlaws and actively began targeting trains and banks throughout the region. Their exploits quickly gained notoriety, drawing the attention of law enforcement agencies determined to bring them to justice.
In September 1888, the Whitley-Cornett Gang set their sights on a Southern Pacific train traveling out of Harwood, Texas. Their plan was to intercept the train and relieve it of its valuable cargo. However, their scheme was foiled when U.S. Marshal John Rankin somehow got wind of their intentions. The marshal, along with Deputy U.S. Marshal Duval West and several Texas Rangers, concealed themselves on board the train, awaiting the gang’s arrival.
As expected, just three miles outside of Harwood, the outlaws stopped the train. But the lawmen were ready. They quickly emerged from their hiding places, engaging the gang in a fierce gunfight. Outnumbered and outgunned, the would-be robbers were forced to retreat, abandoning their plans and fleeing into the surrounding countryside. Despite being pursued, they managed to evade capture, at least for the time being.
The failed train robbery only intensified the pursuit of the Whitley-Cornett Gang. Numerous posses scoured the countryside, determined to bring them to justice. Finally, on September 25, 1888, U.S. Deputy Marshals cornered the gang in Floresville, Texas. The confrontation led to a violent shootout. In the ensuing chaos, William Whitley was killed. One other gang member was captured. William Whitley was just 24 years old.
Brack Cornett managed to escape the Floresville gunfight and fled westward to Arizona, hoping to find refuge in the remote territory. However, Texas Ranger Alfred Allee was relentless in his pursuit. Allee doggedly tracked Cornett across state lines, eventually catching up with him in Frio, Arizona. Another gunfight erupted, and when the smoke cleared, Cornett lay dead. With the demise of both Whitley and Cornett, their infamous gang was effectively dismantled, bringing an end to their brief but impactful reign of terror.
The legacy of William Whitley and the Brack Cornett Gang is a complex one, filled with conflicting accounts and differing perspectives. While some view him as a ruthless outlaw who terrorized the Texas countryside, others see him as a product of his time, a victim of circumstance who was driven to violence by personal tragedy and the harsh realities of the post-Civil War South. Regardless of one’s interpretation, Whitley’s story remains a compelling chapter in the history of the American West, a testament to the enduring allure of outlaws and the enduring struggle between law and lawlessness on the frontier.
The story of William Whitley serves as a reminder of the complexities and contradictions that defined the Old West. It’s a tale of violence and loss, but also one of loyalty, family, and the choices that shape a man’s destiny. Whether he was a cold-blooded killer or a misunderstood victim, William Whitley’s name will forever be etched in the annals of Western folklore.