George “Red Buck” Weightman – Vicious Desperado
The annals of the American West are replete with tales of daring lawmen and ruthless outlaws, their lives often intertwined in a deadly dance of pursuit and evasion. Among the more notorious figures who roamed the turbulent landscapes of the late 19th century, George "Red Buck" Weightman stands out as a particularly vicious desperado. His name, synonymous with violence and lawlessness, echoed through the territories, leaving a trail of fear and bloodshed in its wake. This is the story of George “Red Buck” Weightman, a man who embraced the outlaw life with chilling enthusiasm.
Origins and Early Crimes
While the exact details of his early life remain somewhat shrouded in mystery, it’s believed that George “Red Buck” Weightman hailed originally from the vast expanse of Texas. He earned his distinctive nickname, "Red Buck," due to his fiery red hair, a visual marker that would become instantly recognizable throughout the region. By the time Weightman made his way to Oklahoma, during its time as Indian Territory, he had already established a reputation as a hardened criminal, specializing in horse theft and, more disturbingly, murder. Rumors circulated that he had already taken the lives of at least four men, and allegedly, he was willing to kill for as little as $50, showcasing a complete disregard for human life. George “Red Buck” Weightman quickly became one of the most feared figures in the Indian Territory, an area already notorious for its lawlessness.
Weightman’s infamy stemmed not only from his crimes but also from his apparent enjoyment of them. He was known to openly brag about his deeds, reveling in the fear he instilled in others. This boastful nature, combined with his violent tendencies, painted a portrait of a man utterly devoid of remorse. In 1889, his criminal career faced a temporary setback when he was apprehended by the renowned lawman Heck Thomas for the crime of horse theft. This arrest led to a three-year prison sentence, a period that many hoped would reform the violent outlaw.
Association with the Doolin Gang
However, upon his release from prison, George “Red Buck” Weightman showed no signs of rehabilitation. Instead, he swiftly returned to Oklahoma and quickly gravitated towards the infamous Doolin Gang, a notorious band of outlaws led by Bill Doolin. This alliance marked a significant escalation in Weightman’s criminal activities, placing him at the heart of some of the most daring and violent exploits of the era.
On September 1, 1893, George “Red Buck” Weightman was an active participant in the infamous gun battle at Ingalls, Oklahoma. This bloody confrontation pitted the Doolin Gang against a contingent of U.S. Deputy Marshals, resulting in the tragic deaths of three lawmen. The Ingalls gunfight solidified the Doolin Gang’s, and by extension Weightman’s, reputation as a dangerous and formidable force to be reckoned with.
An anecdote that speaks volumes about Weightman’s character involves a planned ambush against U.S. Deputy Marshal Bill Tilghman. While riding with Bill Doolin and the gang, Red Buck allegedly attempted to shoot Tilghman in the back. However, Doolin, despite his own outlaw status, was said to possess a sense of fairness and intervened to prevent the cowardly act. Doolin reportedly stated that Tilghman was too good a man to be shot in the back, highlighting the stark contrast between his own code of conduct and Weightman’s seemingly boundless capacity for cruelty.
The Dover Train Robbery and Godfrey’s Murder
The Doolin Gang’s criminal activities continued to escalate, culminating in the train robbery in Dover, Oklahoma, on April 3, 1895. George “Red Buck” Weightman played a key role in this daring heist, further cementing his reputation as a hardened outlaw. While the gang initially escaped with their ill-gotten gains, a posse of lawmen quickly gave chase. A fierce gunfight ensued, resulting in the death of another outlaw, "Tulsa Jack" Blake. During the chaos, Weightman’s horse was shot out from under him, but he managed to vault onto the horse of fellow outlaw George "Bitter Creek" Newcomb, allowing them to outdistance the pursuing posse.
By this point, George “Red Buck” Weightman was a well-known figure to every U.S. Deputy Marshal in the territory. He even brazenly issued an open challenge to the lawmen, daring them to attempt to arrest him. However, the danger he posed was so great that few were willing to risk their lives for the reward offered for his capture.
The turning point in Weightman’s relationship with the Doolin Gang came after their escape from the Dover train robbery. The gang sought refuge at the home of a Baptist minister named Godfrey, demanding a meal and intending to steal his horses. When Godfrey objected, Red Buck callously shot him to death. This act of unnecessary violence deeply disgusted Bill Doolin, who, despite his own criminal activities, still possessed a moral compass. Outraged by Weightman’s brutality, Doolin expelled him from the gang and went into hiding, fearing the vicious outlaw’s wrath.
Independent Criminal Activity and Final Days
Free from the constraints of the Doolin Gang, George “Red Buck” Weightman continued his murderous spree. He was hired to assassinate a prominent rancher named Perry Parish in Greer County. However, Parish learned of the plot and managed to thwart the attack, saving his own life.
In September 1895, rancher Gus Holland was not so fortunate. When Weightman and an accomplice named Charlie Smith attempted to steal Holland’s cattle, the rancher objected, and Weightman fatally shot him. A few days later, the bandits attempted to sell the stolen cattle to a rancher in Cleo Springs. The rancher recognized Holland’s brand and refused to purchase the cattle. That night, Weightman attempted to kill the rancher, who survived the attack but refrained from taking further action, fearing for his life.
Weightman then formed a new gang of outlaws, primarily recruited from Texas. This gang terrorized the Taloga area, engaging in robberies, cattle rustling, and other violent crimes. Among the members of this gang was Joe Beckman, an ex-lawman from Motley, Texas, who had fled the state under accusations of murder and extortion.
U.S. Deputy Marshal Joe Ventioner, who resided in the area, was determined to bring an end to the lawlessness. Weightman and his gang made several unsuccessful attempts on Ventioner’s life, as well as on the lives of other lawmen.
When the gang robbed a store in Arapaho, Oklahoma, they were quickly pursued by Ventioner and his posse. However, the gang fled to Texas, placing them outside Ventioner’s jurisdiction. The Texas Rangers were summoned to confront the outlaws. During skirmishes with the Rangers, Joe Beckman was killed, and George “Red Buck” Weightman was seriously wounded but managed to escape.
Elmer "Kid" Lewis and Hills Loftis, two other members of Weightman’s gang, also managed to escape. Lewis was later lynched in Wichita Falls, Texas, after robbing a bank and killing a banker. Loftis disappeared and was never heard from again. Weightman returned to Oklahoma, where he recovered from his wounds and joined forces with another Texas outlaw named George Miller.
At one point, a citizen named W.W. Glover harbored Weightman and Miller in his dugout near Arapaho. However, after a couple of days, Glover decided to betray the fugitives in hopes of collecting the reward money. He informed the Indian Police in Arapaho of their location and led a posse to the hideout. George “Red Buck” Weightman shot and killed Glover, and the two outlaws escaped.
Upon learning that Weightman had returned to the area, U.S. Deputy Marshal Joe Ventioner, along with Deputy Marshals William Holcomb and Bill Quillen, resumed their pursuit of the outlaw. They tracked him to Custer County, where they discovered that he was hiding out at a farm owned by Dolph Pickelseimer, a man known for harboring outlaws. On the morning of March 4, 1896, the marshals attempted to arrest Weightman and Miller. A gunfight erupted, and Joe Ventioner fatally shot George “Red Buck” Weightman. In retaliation, George Miller shot Ventioner in the abdomen. Holcomb then fired at Miller, striking his cartridge belt and causing several rounds to detonate, blowing off his right hand at the wrist and the three middle fingers of his left hand.
Pickelseimer was arrested and charged with harboring fugitives, and George Miller was sentenced to prison in Texas, where he served a short term. George “Red Buck” Weightman was buried in the Arapaho Cemetery in Arapaho, Oklahoma, bringing an end to the reign of terror.
After Miller’s release, he had his maimed hand fitted with a steel hook, earning him the nickname "Hookie Miller." He continued a life of crime for several years before eventually becoming a U.S. Deputy Marshal himself. He was later killed while serving an arrest warrant. Joe Ventioner recovered from his wounds and continued his career as a lawman. The story of George “Red Buck” Weightman serves as a stark reminder of the violence and lawlessness that characterized the American West and the brave men who risked their lives to bring order to the frontier.