Ben Robertson – Lawman Turned Outlaw
The history of the American West is replete with figures who straddled the line between law and lawlessness, men whose lives took unexpected turns, leading them down paths far removed from their initial trajectories. Among these individuals, Ben Robertson stands as a compelling example, a man who transitioned from upholding the law to defying it, leaving a trail of aliases and questionable choices in his wake. His story, unfolding across the vast landscapes of Texas, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Kansas, is a testament to the era’s turbulent nature and the allure of the outlaw life. The tale of Ben Robertson is a stark reminder that even those sworn to protect and serve could succumb to the temptations of the Wild West.
Born around 1854 into a respected Texas family, Ben Robertson, also known as Ben Wheeler and Ben Burton, began his life under the name Ben F. Robertson. For the early years of his life, Robertson appeared to follow a conventional path. He married and built a family, eventually having four children. However, this seemingly stable existence was shattered in 1878 when an argument escalated, resulting in Robertson severely wounding his opponent. Facing the potential consequences of his actions, he made a drastic decision: abandoning his wife and children, he fled Texas. This act marked a pivotal moment in his life, setting him on a course that would ultimately lead to his demise.
Seeking anonymity and a fresh start, Robertson ventured north to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Here, he adopted the alias Ben Wheeler and found work as a cowboy, immersing himself in the rugged lifestyle of the open range. The anonymity of the West allowed him to escape his past, but it also presented new temptations and opportunities, shaping his character in ways that would later become evident. His time in Wyoming was relatively uneventful, a period of transition as he distanced himself from his past life.
From Wyoming, Wheeler moved eastward to Indianola, Nebraska. Continuing his pattern of assuming new identities, he now went by the name Ben F. Burton. In November 1881, he married a woman named Alice Wheeler, seemingly attempting to build another life. However, this attempt at domesticity proved short-lived. After a year of living with Alice at her parents’ home, Robertson, once again, abandoned his wife. This pattern of forming relationships and then abruptly leaving them suggests a deep-seated instability and an inability to commit to a settled existence.
The next chapter in Robertson’s life unfolded in Caldwell, Kansas, a bustling town known for its cattle trade and frontier atmosphere. It was here that he reconnected with an old acquaintance, Henry Brown. Brown, a former gunman himself, had undergone a transformation, becoming the City Marshal of Caldwell. The town itself was a microcosm of the Wild West, a place where fortunes could be made and lost, and where the line between law and lawlessness was often blurred. The arrival of Ben Robertson in Caldwell would further complicate this dynamic.
In a surprising turn of events, Brown appointed Wheeler (Robertson) as his Assistant Marshal in December 1882. The two men, united by their shared past and perhaps a similar understanding of the world, formed a formidable law enforcement duo. They quickly earned a reputation for "cleaning up" Caldwell, bringing a semblance of order to the rowdy town. Their methods were likely direct and uncompromising, reflecting the harsh realities of frontier justice. However, beneath the surface of their success, trouble was brewing.
Despite their apparent effectiveness as lawmen, Brown was struggling with financial difficulties. Driven by desperation, he devised a plan to rob a bank, a decision that would have disastrous consequences for himself and Robertson. On April 30, 1884, Brown and Ben Robertson embarked on a journey to Medicine Lodge, Kansas, ostensibly in search of a killer. However, their true intentions were far more sinister. They had conspired with two other outlaws, John Wesley and William Smith, to rob the bank in Medicine Lodge.
The robbery attempt was a failure from the outset. The details of the botched heist are scarce, but it is clear that the four men were quickly discovered and forced to flee. A posse was immediately formed, and the outlaws were apprehended just outside of town. Their capture marked the beginning of the end for Brown and Robertson.
The captured outlaws were taken to the Medicine Lodge jail, where they were treated with a surprising degree of civility. They were given a meal, allowed to have their photograph taken, and even permitted to write letters to their families. This seemingly humane treatment belied the grim fate that awaited them. The citizens of Medicine Lodge, outraged by the attempted robbery, were not content to let the law take its course.
At approximately 9:00 p.m., a mob stormed the jail. Overwhelmed and outnumbered, the prisoners attempted to escape, but their efforts were futile. Brown was the first to fall, his body riddled with bullets. Wheeler (Robertson) was also wounded in the melee. Despite his injuries, he was dragged, along with Wesley and Smith, to a nearby elm tree. There, the three men were hanged, their lives ending in a brutal display of frontier justice.
The death of Ben Robertson and Henry Brown sent shockwaves through Caldwell and the surrounding region. The story of a lawman turning outlaw, and ultimately meeting a violent end, served as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ambition, desperation, and the seductive power of the outlaw life. The swift and merciless justice meted out by the mob reflected the raw emotions and the lack of formal legal processes that often characterized the Wild West.
The legacy of Ben Robertson is a complex and contradictory one. He was a man who wore many faces, adopting different names and roles as he moved across the frontier. He was a husband and father who abandoned his family, a cowboy, a lawman, and ultimately, an outlaw. His story is a reminder that the lines between good and evil are not always clear, and that even those who start on a path of righteousness can be led astray by circumstance and personal failings. The narrative of Ben Robertson serves as a compelling glimpse into the underbelly of the American West, a time and place where justice was often dispensed with a heavy hand and where the allure of easy money could lead even the most upstanding citizens down a path of ruin. The story of Ben Robertson remains a captivating and cautionary tale from a bygone era.