John M. Larn – Vigilante, Outlaw, Lawman
The saga of John M. Larn is a complex tapestry woven with threads of vigilantism, outlawry, and fleeting law enforcement, a story deeply embedded in the tumultuous landscape of the American West. His life, a whirlwind of violence and shifting allegiances, paints a vivid portrait of a man who embodied the contradictions of a frontier society struggling to define itself. Born in Mobile, Alabama, on March 1, 1849, Larn’s journey westward was marked by both ambition and a propensity for deadly conflict, ultimately leading him to a notorious place in the annals of Texas history.
The allure of the West beckoned Larn in his teenage years, drawing him to the rugged terrain of Colorado. There, he sought his fortune as a ranch hand, immersing himself in the demanding world of cattle herding and open ranges. However, his time in Colorado was cut short by a fatal altercation. An argument with his employer over a horse escalated into violence, resulting in the rancher’s death at Larn’s hand. This act set in motion a pattern of flight and violence that would define much of his life.
Fleeing Colorado, Larn sought refuge in the vast expanses of New Mexico. But the shadow of his past followed him, and another confrontation led to further bloodshed. Believing himself pursued by a local sheriff, Larn engaged in a deadly encounter, adding another life to the toll he had taken. This incident solidified his status as a fugitive, forcing him to continue his westward trek.
Texas, with its wide-open spaces and reputation for both opportunity and lawlessness, became Larn’s next destination. He settled in the burgeoning settlement of Fort Griffin in 1871. Initially, he found work as a trail boss for Bill Hays, a local rancher, leading cattle drives to distant markets like Trinidad, Colorado. Allegations arose that during one of these drives, Larn was responsible for the deaths of two Mexicans and a sheepherder, further darkening his already troubled past. Amidst this volatile existence, Larn married Mary Jane Matthews, a member of the prominent Matthews family, establishing himself as a citizen of Shackelford County.
Despite the rumors and whispers surrounding his past, Larn managed to cultivate a reputation within the Fort Griffin community. By 1873, however, new allegations emerged, this time accusing him of involvement in cattle rustling, an ironic twist given his later actions. That same year, he secured a warrant for the arrest of every member of Bill Hays’ cattle outfit on the very same charge.
The events that followed were brutal and decisive. As Larn accompanied a posse of thirteen soldiers from Fort Griffin, the men ambushed and killed every member of Hays’ outfit near Bush Knob, Texas. This incident, marked by its ruthlessness, solidified Larn’s image as a man capable of extreme violence.
In 1874, Larn joined the Tin Hat Brigade in Fort Griffin, a vigilante group that dispensed its own brand of "justice" to those accused of crimes, particularly horse theft. The Brigade’s methods were swift and unforgiving, often resulting in the accused being hanged from a tree near the river. As a member of the Tin Hat Brigade, John M. Larn gained a reputation for unwavering commitment to their cause, earning him the respect, or perhaps the fear, of the community.
This reputation propelled him to a position of authority. In April 1876, John M. Larn was elected sheriff of Fort Griffin, a testament to the perceived effectiveness of his vigilante actions. That same month, the Tin Hat Brigade apprehended a horse thief and promptly hanged him from a pecan tree, leaving his body on display with a pick and shovel nearby, a grim warning to others. The Fort Griffin vigilantes continued their violent methods, shooting two more horse thieves and hanging six others in the following three months.
However, John M. Larn’s ascent to law enforcement was short-lived and ultimately disastrous. Shortly after assuming the role of sheriff, he entered into a private contract with the local territorial garrison to supply three steers of cattle per day. Instead of procuring the cattle through legitimate means, Larn, along with his longtime friend and recently deputized John Selman, devised a scheme to rustle cattle from neighboring ranchers.
Instead of controlling the crime in the area, John M. Larn and Selman controlled the vigilantes, rustling even more cattle and terrorizing the county. Suspicions were soon raised as several ranchers noticed that their herds were dwindling while Larn’s remained untouched. Profiting handsomely from this illicit enterprise, Larn built a house at Camp Cooper Ranch on the Cedar Fork in Lambshead, Texas, a symbol of his ill-gotten gains.
After serving less than a year, Larn resigned as sheriff on March 7, 1877, and was replaced by his deputy, William Cruger, a month later. He and Selman continued to profit from outright cattle rustling and, in March 1877, were appointed as deputy hide inspectors for Shackelford County. This position allowed them to inspect all cattle herds entering and leaving the county and supervise the butchers, providing them with ample opportunities to conceal their criminal activities.
Larn continued to supply Fort Griffin with its beef, and as more and more cattle went missing, the complaints grew louder. Violent acts were also reported as a band of men, allegedly led by Larn and Selman, bushwhacked area ranchers, drove off their cattle, shot horses, and fired potshots at the homes of terrified citizens.
The tide began to turn in February 1878 when a group of civilians secured a warrant to search the river behind Larn’s house. They discovered six hides with brands other than Larn’s, providing concrete evidence of his involvement in cattle rustling. Although Larn was arrested, he was later released, and the violence continued.
The final act of John M. Larn’s drama played out in June 1878. A local rancher named Treadwell, who had reportedly uncovered the cattle rustling operation, was wounded by Larn, prompting the Albany court to issue a warrant for his arrest. Sheriff William Cruger, Larn’s former deputy, was tasked with apprehending his former boss, which he did on June 22, 1878. To prevent a breakout by Larn’s supporters, Cruger had the local blacksmith shackle Larn to the floor of his cell.
The next night, the Tin Hat Brigade stormed the jail, intending to lynch Larn. Finding him shackled and unable to be hanged, they shot him in his cell. His body was returned to Camp Cooper Ranch, where he was buried beside his infant son, marking the end of a life marked by violence and controversy.
Following Larn’s death, John Selman fled to the lawless Lincoln County, New Mexico, where he formed a notorious gang known as Selman’s Scouts. For two months, these outlaws terrorized the area, stealing horses and cattle, murdering innocent men and boys, and pillaging businesses and homes.
Governor Lew Wallace eventually issued a proclamation threatening martial law, forcing Selman to return to Texas. He was captured by Texas Rangers in 1880 and taken to Shackelford County to stand trial for his previous crimes. However, he escaped and fled to Chihuahua, Mexico, where he lived until 1888. The Texas charges were eventually dropped, and he moved to El Paso, where he remarried and made his living primarily as a gambler and sometimes as a City Constable.
Selman’s violent tendencies resurfaced in El Paso. On April 5, 1894, he killed former Texas Ranger Baz (Bass) Outlaw during a fight in Tillie Howard’s brothel. The following year, on August 19, 1895, he killed the famous gunman John Wesley Hardin in the Acme Saloon. Although charged with murder, his trial resulted in a hung jury. While out on bond, he encountered Marshal George Scarborough, and a dispute escalated into a gunfight, resulting in Scarborough shooting Selman four times. Selman died on April 6, 1896, and Scarborough was acquitted of murder, bringing an end to the saga of another figure deeply intertwined with the life and legacy of John M. Larn.
The story of John M. Larn serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and contradictions that defined the American West. He was a man who operated on both sides of the law, a vigilante who became a lawman, and ultimately, a victim of the very violence he perpetuated. His life, though brief and tumultuous, left an indelible mark on the history of Fort Griffin and the surrounding region, a testament to the enduring power of legends born in the crucible of the frontier.