Old West Outlaw List – L
The era of the Old West, a period romanticized in countless tales of daring cowboys, sprawling landscapes, and dusty frontier towns, also harbored a darker side: a haven for outlaws. This list delves into the lives and misdeeds of some of the individuals whose names, beginning with the letter "L," became synonymous with lawlessness in the American West. From petty thieves to cold-blooded killers, these figures represent a diverse spectrum of criminality that shaped the tumultuous history of this iconic period. The keyword Old West Outlaw List – L will guide us through these brief biographies.
James Lamb (1864?-1887) – This Oklahoma outlaw’s name is forever stained by a heinous act of double murder. Lamb, along with Albert O’Dell, conspired to eliminate Edward Pollard and George Brassfield. The motive was as chilling as it was simple: Pollard and Brassfield were the husbands of Lamb and O’Dell’s mistresses, both of whom were carrying the outlaws’ children. Justice, swift and unforgiving, caught up with them. Both men were hanged at Fort Smith, Arkansas, on January 14, 1887, paying the ultimate price for their crimes. This Old West Outlaw List – L entry paints a grim picture of personal treachery and violence.
Thomas N. Lamb – Unlike his namesake, Thomas N. Lamb’s crimes were of a less personal, though equally illegal, nature. This New Mexico outlaw found himself embroiled in the brazen robbery of an Army paymaster in Graham County on May 11, 1889. While the details of his involvement remain somewhat obscure, the act itself speaks to the pervasive lawlessness that plagued the region. This inclusion in the Old West Outlaw List – L highlights the financial motivations that often drove outlaw behavior.
"Lame Johnny" – See Cornelius Donahue. Often, outlaws operated under various aliases, adding to the mystery and elusiveness of their personas. In this case, "Lame Johnny" is simply a nickname for Cornelius Donahue, whose story is detailed elsewhere. The Old West Outlaw List – L entry serves as a useful cross-reference.
"Clubfoot George" Lane – George Lane, a bootmaker by trade in Virginia City, Montana, led a double life shadowed by suspicion. He was believed to be a member of Henry Plummer’s infamous gang of "Innocents," a band of highwaymen who terrorized the Montana territory. Lane’s distinctive physical characteristic, a clubfoot, earned him his nickname and perhaps contributed to his notoriety. His fate was sealed when he was apprehended by the Montana Vigilantes and hanged on January 13, 1864, alongside four other men. This Old West Outlaw List – L entry illustrates the brutal efficiency of vigilante justice in the absence of established law enforcement.
George Lane – Adding to the confusion of similar names, another George Lane existed, though his criminal affiliation was of a different nature. This George Lane was a black outlaw member of the Christian Gang. Details about the Christian Gang are scarce, but the mention of his race highlights the diverse backgrounds of individuals who turned to a life of crime in the Old West.
Ruperto Lara – The name Ruperto Lara is linked to a particularly brutal crime: the killing of George Nesmith’s family on August 17, 1882, in White Sands, New Mexico. The heinous nature of this act, the murder of an entire family, elevates Lara’s crimes beyond mere robbery or theft. This entry in the Old West Outlaw List – L serves as a reminder of the extreme violence that could erupt in the frontier.
Sostenes L’archeveque – This outlaw’s story takes a more international turn. Sostenes L’archeveque, an immigrant from France, operated in the 1870s around West Texas. His foreign origins distinguish him from many other outlaws, suggesting that the allure of the Wild West extended beyond American borders. He met a violent end, though the exact circumstances of his death remain unknown.
Jesus Largo – Jesus Largo’s crime was simple: horse theft. His punishment, however, was swift and brutal. He was lynched in August 1877 outside Lincoln, New Mexico. This fate, common for those accused of even relatively minor crimes, underscores the volatile and often lawless nature of frontier justice.
Juan Largo – Similar to Jesus Largo, Juan Largo also met his end by lynching in August 1877. He led a gang of horse thieves around the Boquilla, New Mexico. The fact that two men with the same last name suffered the same fate in the same month suggests a period of heightened tension and vigilante activity in the region.
William "Billy" Larkin – See William Larkin Stiles. Again, we encounter an alias. William "Billy" Larkin is simply another name for William Larkin Stiles, whose story is more fully explored under that name.
John M. Larn (1849-1877) – John M. Larn’s story is one of tragic irony. He was both an outlaw and a lawman in Shackleford County, Texas. Larn’s involvement in the "Tin Hat Brigade," a vigilante group, ultimately led to his demise. He became a victim of the very system of extralegal justice he had embraced. This Old West Outlaw List – L entry highlights the blurred lines between law and lawlessness in the Old West.
Charles Lattemer – Charles Lattemer was a New Mexico criminal wanted for forgery in 1893. Forgery, a crime involving deception and financial manipulation, was a common offense in the Old West, where opportunities for quick riches often tempted individuals to break the law.
Bill Lawless – Bill Lawless, a cowboy turned outlaw, committed a murder in McLennon County, Texas, in 1870. He was later killed near Cameron, Texas. His story, while brief, underscores the fact that many outlaws came from humble beginnings, often driven to crime by circumstance or desperation.
Ed Lawrence – Ed Lawrence, an Oklahoma outlaw, found himself incarcerated in the Guthrie jail when Bob Doolin made his daring escape. Lawrence fled to his father’s home near Enid, where he was eventually recaptured. His story highlights the challenges of maintaining law and order in the vast and sparsely populated territories of the Old West.
William Ellsworth "Elza" Lay (1869-1934) – Also known as Elzy and William McGinnis, Elza Lay was a prominent member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch. Operating out of the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass in Johnson County, Wyoming, Lay participated in numerous robberies and other criminal activities. The Wild Bunch, one of the most notorious outlaw gangs in American history, epitomized the lawlessness and adventure of the Old West.
G.J. Layton – G.J. Layton’s alleged crimes earned him a swift and unforgiving punishment. He was lynched by a vigilance committee on June 17, 1852, in Sonora, California, for alleged robbery and murder. The actions of vigilance committees often bypassed the legal system, resulting in harsh penalties for those suspected of wrongdoing.
Juan Layton – Juan Layton, a gunman, killed Alejandro Maes on October 23, 1881, in Canoncito, New Mexico. The brevity of the entry speaks volumes about the violence and lawlessness that pervaded the region, where disputes were often settled with firearms.
William Leach (18??-1876) – William Leach was hanged at Fort Smith, Arkansas, on April 21, 1876, for robbing and killing his traveling companion, John Wadkins, on March 8, 1875, as they rode through the Cherokee Nation.
B.B. Lee – B.B. Lee was killed by Joe Farr in 1868 at Hempstead, Texas.
Clem Lee – Clem Lee led a gang that robbed a Reno, Nevada stage. He was arrested in Virginia City.
James Lee (1850-1885) – An outlaw and member of the Lee Gang, James Lee operated in Indian Territory and Cooke County, Texas. He and his brother Pink were killed on December 7, 1885, by a posse led by Heck Thomas and Jim Taylor near Dexter, Texas.
Mitch Lee – Mitch Lee was a member of the Kit Joy Gang. He was involved in several train robberies in New Mexico before being lynched on March 13, 1884.
Pinkney "Pink" Lee (1857-1885) – Pink Lee was an outlaw and member of the Lee Gang. He and his brother James were killed on December 7, 1885, by a posse led by Heck Thomas and Jim Taylor near Dexter, Texas.
Robert E. Lee – Robert E. Lee, a cousin of Harvey Logan, was a member of the Curry Gang and the Wild Bunch. After robbing a train in Wyoming on June 2, 1899, he was arrested, imprisoned, and released in February 1907.
Robert E. Lee – This Robert E. Lee was involved in reconstruction troubles in North Texas after the Civil War. He was killed in an ambush in Hopkins County on June 26, 1869.
William "Butch" Leland – William Leland was killed by A.J. Fountain’s militia in March 1888.
Dan Lemons – Dan Lemons was arrested in March 1880 at Lincoln County, New Mexico.
Antonio Lenta – Antonio Lenta was aligned with the Clantons and served time for killing Hop Lee in 1891.
Bill Leonard (18??-1881) – Bill Leonard was killed by the Heslett brothers in June 1881.
Billy Leroy – Billy Leroy was lynched in 1881.
Nashville Franklin "Buckskin Frank" Leslie (1842-1925?) – Buckskin Frank Leslie was a friend to the Earps in Tombstone, Arizona and deadly gunman, he killed ten to thirteen men, including Mike Killeen and Billy Claibourne in 1881, and claimed to have killed Johnny Ringo. He served eight years in Yuma prison for murder.
Alexander Lewis – Alexander Lewis was an Oklahoma train robber. He was captured and sentenced to hang, but upon appeal, he was acquitted.
Bill Lewis – Bill Lewis was imprisoned for life for robbing the U.S. Mail.
Elmer Lewis – Elmer Lewis robbed the bank at Wichita Falls, Texas with Foster Crawford. He was arrested by Marshal W.D. McDonald and hanged by a mob.
Ernest White Lewis – Ernest White Lewis was captured by Heck Thomas. When he escaped, he was killed by Constable Pussyfoot Johnson.
Jim Lewis – Jim Lewis was killed by Marshal Hatch on September 30, 1881.
Marino Leyba – Marino Leyba was killed in Golden, Colorado.
Lee Lian – Lee Lian was recaptured by Heck Thomas.