John Joshua Webb – Lawman Turned Outlaw
The annals of the American West are filled with figures whose lives straddled the line between law and lawlessness. John Joshua Webb, known as J.J. to his contemporaries, embodies this duality perfectly. His life was a tapestry woven with threads of frontier justice, entrepreneurial spirit, and ultimately, a descent into outlawry. This narrative explores the life of John Joshua Webb, a man who traversed the rugged landscapes of the American West, leaving an indelible mark on the towns and territories he encountered.
Born on February 14, 1847, in Keokuk County, Iowa, J.J. Webb was the seventh of twelve children born to William Webb, Jr. and Innocent Blue Brown Webb. His early life mirrored that of many frontier families, characterized by hard work and a constant striving for opportunity. The family’s westward migration in 1862, first to Nebraska and then to Osage City, Kansas, foreshadowed Webb’s later life of constant movement and adaptation.
In 1871, Webb embarked on his own westward journey, a common path for young men seeking adventure and fortune. He initially found employment as a buffalo hunter in Colorado, a profession that demanded skill, courage, and a deep understanding of the natural world. The vast plains, teeming with buffalo, provided both sustenance and economic opportunity, though the relentless hunting would eventually decimate the buffalo population.
Following his time as a buffalo hunter, Webb transitioned into surveying in Colorado. This occupation required a different set of skills: precision, knowledge of mathematics, and an ability to navigate and map unfamiliar terrain. Surveying played a crucial role in the westward expansion, laying the groundwork for railroads, settlements, and the development of natural resources.
From Colorado, Webb continued his westward drift, traversing a circuitous route through Deadwood, South Dakota, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and finally, Dodge City, Kansas. Each of these towns represented a different facet of the frontier experience. Deadwood, a gold rush town, was known for its lawlessness and rough-and-tumble atmosphere. Cheyenne, a railroad hub, was a center of commerce and trade. Dodge City, the "Queen of the Cowtowns," was a major cattle market and a magnet for cowboys, gamblers, and lawmen alike.
It was in Dodge City that John Joshua Webb initially established a reputation as a lawman and a respected member of the community. The 1875 census of Ford County listed him as a 28-year-old teamster, suggesting that he initially supported himself through transportation and logistics. However, he soon transitioned into law enforcement, serving as a business owner and a peace officer. His skills and reputation earned him a leadership role in Ford County’s mercenary force, hired by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in their fierce battle against the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad for control of the right-of-way through the strategic Royal Gorge in Colorado. This conflict, known as the Royal Gorge War, highlighted the intense competition and often ruthless tactics employed by the railroad companies as they raced to expand their networks across the West.
Newspaper articles from the Dodge City era paint a picture of Webb as a respected and reliable citizen. He was frequently deputized to join posses in pursuit of criminals. One notable instance occurred in September 1877, when he rode alongside Ford County Sheriff Charlie Bassett and Under-sheriff Bat Masterson in pursuit of the notorious Sam Bass gang. The Bass gang had recently robbed the Union Pacific Railroad of a staggering $60,000 at Big Springs, Nebraska. The posse believed the gang would pass through southwest Kansas on their way south to Texas. Though the search proved unsuccessful at that time, it demonstrates Webb’s commitment to law enforcement and his willingness to confront dangerous criminals. The Sam Bass gang would continue their escapades until Bass met his end during a bank robbery attempt in Round Rock, Texas, nearly a year later.
In January 1878, Bat Masterson, now the Ford County Sheriff, further solidified Webb’s position within the law enforcement community by deputizing him along with Kinch Riley and Dave "Prairie Dog" Morrow. Their mission was to track down six outlaws who had robbed a westbound train at Kinsley, Kansas. The posse quickly apprehended two of the gang members, Edgar West and "Dirty Dave" Rudabaugh. During the arrest, Rudabaugh attempted to draw his gun, but Webb swiftly intervened, forcing him to surrender. The remaining four accomplices were apprehended later, largely due to Rudabaugh’s willingness to inform on his cohorts in exchange for leniency. While his accomplices were imprisoned, Rudabaugh was soon released, a decision that would later have significant consequences for Webb.
The autumn of 1878 brought a wave of anxiety to southwest Kansas as news spread that Cheyenne Chief Dull Knife and his band had fled their reservation in Oklahoma, seeking to return to their ancestral home in the Black Hills. Exaggerated reports of Cheyenne violence and theft fueled fear among the settlers. With most of the soldiers stationed at nearby Fort Dodge deployed to contain the Cheyenne, the citizens of Dodge City, feeling vulnerable, appealed to the governor for arms and ammunition.
Lieutenant Colonel William Henry Lewis, the Fort Dodge Commander, recognized the need to assess the situation and selected J.J. Webb, A.J. Anthony, Bill Tilghman, Robert Wright, and other experienced plainsmen to scout the area. These men quickly confirmed the presence of approximately 200 Cheyenne warriors in the region. The rumors of Cheyenne depredations continued to escalate, with sensational headlines warning of widespread danger. However, Dull Knife’s band was primarily focused on returning to their homeland and soon moved out of the area, restoring a sense of normalcy to the region.
In 1879, Webb again found himself working as a hired gun, this time for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad in their ongoing battle with the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad over the Royal Gorge. This further illustrates the complex and often morally ambiguous nature of frontier life, where individuals could be both lawmen and enforcers, depending on the circumstances.
The turning point in John Joshua Webb’s life came with his move to Las Vegas, New Mexico. While he had been a respected figure in Dodge City, his fortunes took a drastic turn in the burgeoning New Mexican town. He was not alone in his migration; many of his former acquaintances from Dodge City had also gravitated to Las Vegas, including Doc Holliday, David "Mysterious Dave" Mather, Wyatt Earp, and his old adversary, Dave Rudabaugh.
Shortly after arriving in Las Vegas, Webb partnered with Doc Holliday to operate a saloon, where Doc spent the majority of his time gambling. On July 19, 1879, an incident occurred that would set in motion a chain of events leading to Webb’s downfall. A former army scout named Mike Gordon, known for his bullying behavior, began verbally abusing one of the saloon girls, a former girlfriend who had rejected his advances. Gordon’s outburst escalated, and he stormed out of the saloon, shouting obscenities. Doc Holliday followed Gordon outside, and a shot fired by Gordon narrowly missed him. In response, Doc calmly drew his revolver and fired a single shot, fatally wounding Gordon. Gordon died the following day, and fearing arrest, Doc Holliday fled to Dodge City.
In 1880, John Joshua Webb accepted the position of Las Vegas City Marshal. It was in this capacity that he became entangled with the notorious Dodge City Gang, led by Justice of the Peace Hyman Neill, better known as "Hoodoo Brown." This gang, comprised of former Dodge City residents and other unsavory characters, operated a criminal enterprise with impunity, openly defying the law. For two years, the Dodge City Gang engaged in a wide range of criminal activities, including stagecoach and train robberies, cattle rustling, and even murder and lynching.
The Dodge City Gang was a collection of individuals who had either come from Dodge City or had aligned themselves with the gang’s corrupt leadership. The key figures included Justice of the Peace Hyman "Hoodoo Brown" Neill, City Marshal Joe Carson, Deputy U.S. Marshal "Mysterious Dave" Mather, and police officer John Joshua (J.J.) Webb. The gang also included several gunfighters and outlaws, such as "Dirty Dave" Rudabaugh, William P. "Slap Jack Bill" Nicholson, John "Bull Shit Jack" Pierce, Selim K. "Frank" Cady, Jordan L. Webb (no relation to J.J.), and other hard cases. While Rudabaugh, Jordan Webb, Cady, Nicholson, Pierce, and the others committed the actual acts of theft and violence, Neill, Mather, Carson, and J.J. Webb used their official positions to protect the outlaws and cover their tracks.
On March 2, 1880, Justice of the Peace "Hoodoo Brown" Neill learned that a freighter named Mike Kelliher was carrying a substantial amount of cash, reportedly around $1,900. The Dodge City Gang, eager to seize the money, devised a plan to relieve Kelliher of his funds. The Ford County Globe of March 9, 1880, reprinted a report from the Las Vegas Daily Optic, detailing the events that unfolded:
"About four o’clock this morning, Michael Kelliher, in company with William Brickley and another man, entered Goodlet [a member of the Dodge City Gang] & Roberts’ Saloon and called for drinks. Michael Kelliher appeared to be the leader of the party, and he, in violation of the law, had a pistol on his person. This was noticed by the officers, who came through a rear door, and they requested that Kelliher lay aside his revolver. But he refused to do so, remarking, ‘I won’t be disarmed – everything goes,’ immediately placing his hand on his pistol, no doubt intending to shoot. But Officer Webb was too quick for him. The man was shot before he had time to use his weapon. He was shot three times – once in each breast and once in the head… Kelliher had $1,090 [$1,900] on his person when killed."
Despite his position as City Marshal, Webb was convicted of murder and sentenced to hang for the killing of Kelliher. On April 30, Rudabaugh and a man named John Allen attempted to free Webb by storming the Sheriff’s office. Although the jailbreak was unsuccessful, Rudabaugh murdered jailer Antonio Lino during the attempt. Webb’s sentence was appealed and eventually commuted to life in prison.
Rudabaugh, along with another Dodge City Gang member, fled Las Vegas and joined Billy the Kid and his gang. However, both Rudabaugh and Billy the Kid were captured on December 23, 1880.
After Dirty Dave’s conviction, he found himself imprisoned alongside J.J. Webb. On September 19, 1881, the pair, along with two other inmates, Thomas Duffy and H.S. Wilson, attempted a violent escape from jail. Duffy was mortally wounded in the attempt, and the escape was thwarted. However, Webb, facing a life sentence, and Rudabaugh, facing the gallows, were undeterred.
Two months later, Webb, Rudabaugh, and five other men managed to escape from jail by chipping a stone out of the wall, creating a hole measuring just 7’x19′. Rudabaugh and Webb fled to Texas and then to Mexico, where Webb disappeared, and Rudabaugh was later killed.
In a final twist, Webb later returned to Kansas, assuming the alias "Samuel King" and working as a teamster. He eventually moved to Winslow, Arkansas, where he worked for the railroad. In 1882, he died of smallpox in Arkansas, never having married. The life of John Joshua Webb is a stark reminder of the complexities and contradictions of the American West, where the line between lawman and outlaw could be easily blurred.