Outlaw Gangs

The concept of outlaw gangs is not a modern phenomenon; it stretches back through the annals of human history, embodying a primal urge for survival, power, and the acquisition of resources through means outside the established legal frameworks. The term "thug," with its origins rooted in the Sanskrit word "sthaga" meaning "deceiver" or "swindler," offers a glimpse into the antiquity of organized criminal activity. As early as 1200 A.D., groups in India, referred to as "Thugz," engaged in widespread pillaging and banditry, terrorizing towns and villages across the country. These early gangs developed sophisticated methods of communication and cohesion, often employing unique hand signs, rituals, symbols, and specialized slang to maintain secrecy and solidify their bonds. This clustering together provided both a means of force, allowing them to overpower their victims, and protection against rival groups or law enforcement.

During the 19th century, the American public developed a complex and often contradictory fascination with outlaw gangs operating primarily in the territories of the Wild West. Figures like Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and leaders of the Doolin-Dalton Gang captured the popular imagination, their exploits transformed into romanticized tales of rebellion against a rapidly changing world. The outlaw gangs of the Wild West became the subject of dime novels, ballads, and stage plays, solidifying their place in American folklore. Despite the romantic aura that often surrounds them, it is crucial to remember that these outlaw gangs were, at their core, criminal organizations. While the narratives surrounding these figures often emphasized their supposed Robin Hood-like qualities, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, their actions ultimately inflicted violence, fear, and economic hardship on countless individuals and communities. The reality of their existence was far removed from the glamorous depictions often portrayed.

The history of these outlaw gangs is a tapestry woven with threads of economic desperation, social upheaval, and the allure of quick riches. The vast expanses of the American West, coupled with limited law enforcement and a volatile social climate, provided fertile ground for the rise of these groups. The allure of the outlaw gangs remains, but it’s essential to recognize that these figures, while romanticized in popular culture, were essentially criminals whose actions brought harm to many. This list provides a glimpse into the diverse range of outlaw gangs that operated throughout the American West, each with its own unique history, motivations, and legacy of violence and lawlessness.

Outlaw Gang List:

• Alvord-Stiles Gang (1899-1904): Operating in the Arizona Territory at the turn of the century, this gang was led by two former lawmen, Burton Alvord and Billy Stiles. Their intimate knowledge of law enforcement tactics allowed them to effectively plan and execute train robberies, evading capture for a considerable period.

• Archer Gang (the 1880s): Predating and mirroring the Reno Brothers’ activities, the Archer brothers—Thomas, Mort, John, and Sam—conducted raids in Orange and Marion Counties, Indiana, for several decades, primarily targeting banks and wealthy landowners.

• Sam Bass Gang (1877-1878): Under the leadership of Sam Bass, this gang terrorized the state of Texas, robbing trains and banks. Their brazen acts of defiance made them notorious figures, while their eventual capture and demise solidified their place in outlaw lore. For robberies in South Dakota and Nebraska, see the Black Hills Bandits.

• Billy the Kid’s Gang, aka The Rustlers (1876-1880): Emerging from the violent conflict of the Lincoln County War in New Mexico, Billy the Kid’s gang, also known as the Rustlers, engaged primarily in cattle rustling and other forms of banditry. The Lincoln County War was a microcosm of the larger social and economic tensions that characterized the Wild West.

• Black Hills Bandits (1876-1877): This gang, comprised of Sam Bass, Joel Collins, and four other men, gained notoriety for robbing stagecoaches in the Deadwood, South Dakota area, and pulling off the Big Springs train robbery in Nebraska. Their operations targeted transportation routes and financial institutions, disrupting commerce and instilling fear in the region.

• Blonger Brothers (1890s-1922): Louis H. "The Fixer" Blonger orchestrated one of the longest-running confidence rings in the American West. Operating from Denver, Colorado, the Blonger brothers utilized elaborate schemes to swindle unsuspecting victims out of their money.

• Bummers Gang (1855-1860): The Bummers Gang began "raiding" the town of Denver, Colorado, in the mid-1850s. Their activities ranged from petty theft to more serious crimes, contributing to the overall lawlessness of the early Denver settlement.

• Burrow Gang (1887-1890): Led by Reuben "Rube" Burrow and his brother Jim, this gang turned to train robbery after Rube’s crops failed in Texas. The economic hardship that drove them to a life of crime highlights the precarious existence of many settlers in the late 19th century.

• Clanton Gang, aka The Cowboys (1870s): The Clanton family and their ranch hands formed a loosely organized gang of outlaws who operated along the Mexican border of Arizona. They engaged in cattle rustling, stagecoach robberies, ambushing teamsters, and murder.

• Cook Gang (1894): Led by Bill Cook and Cherokee Bill, this ruthless gang terrorized the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1894, shooting anyone who stood in their way. Their brutal tactics and disregard for human life made them among the most feared outlaws of their time.

• Dalton Gang (1891-1892): Under the leadership of brothers Bob and Grat Dalton, this gang robbed banks and trains throughout Kansas and Oklahoma. Their ambition ultimately led to their downfall in the infamous Coffeyville, Kansas, raid, where most of the gang members were killed.

• Daly Gang (1862-1864): For two years, the Daly Gang terrorized the town of Aurora, Nevada, engaging in various criminal activities that disrupted the town’s peace and stability.

• Dodge City Gang (1879-1881): During the summer of 1879, a gang of desperadoes known as the Dodge City Gang masqueraded as lawmen in Las Vegas, New Mexico, abusing their authority to commit crimes and exploit the local population.

• Doolin-Dalton Gang, aka Oklahombres, the Wild Bunch (1892-1895): Led by Bill Doolin, this gang specialized in robbing banks, stagecoaches, and trains in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Their widespread activities and daring heists made them legendary figures in the annals of the Wild West.

• Espinosa Gang: Bitter at the killing of six family members during the Mexican-American War, the Espinosas took their revenge on Colorado residents and travelers, murdering them viciously.

• The Five Joaquins (1850-1853): The Five Joaquins were rumored to be responsible for the majority of cattle rustling, robberies, and murders committed in the Mother Lode area of the Sierra Nevadas between 1850 and 1853.

• Fleagle Gang (1920s): The Fleagle Gang robbed banks and murdered in Kansas, Colorado, and California during the 1920s. They were found, executed, or killed after robbing the First National Bank in Lamar, Colorado.

• Flores-Daniel Gang (1856-1857): Juan Flores and Pancho Daniel led this gang in raiding southern California, stealing horses and cattle, robbing travelers along the roadways, and sometimes leaving their victims dead.

• High Fives Gang (1890s): Also referred to as the Christian Gang, and led by "Black Jack" Will Christian and his brother, Bob, from Oklahoma. The gang operated in New Mexico and Arizona after the Christian brothers escaped from an Oklahoma jail in 1895.

• Hole-in-the-Wall Gang (1880s-1890s): Active in the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming, the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang wasn’t one organized gang of outlaws, but rather several separate groups and individuals who made their hideouts within the pass in Johnson County, Wyoming.

• Innocents Gang: The Innocents were an alleged gang of outlaw road agents in Montana Territory who operated during the gold rush of the 1860s, preying on shipments and travelers carrying gold between Bannack and Virginia City.

• James Gang (1879-1882): Three years after the demise of the James-Younger Gang, when the Youngers were arrested in Northfield, Minnesota, Jesse James put together another group to continue his criminal career. The James Gang lasted from 1879 to 1882, when Bob Ford killed Jesse on April 3, 1882.

• James-Younger Gang (1866-1882): After the Civil War, the James and Younger brothers hooked up and robbed banks, trains, and stagecoaches for ten years, becoming the most famous outlaw gang in American history.

• Jennings Gang (1897): This short-lived gang operated for only a few months, making several failed train robbery attempts in Oklahoma in 1897 before all were arrested or killed.

• Jesse Evans Gang – The Boys (1872-1879): Led by Jesse Evans, this gang was actively involved in cattle rustling and armed robbery in New Mexico in the early 1870s.

• Ketchum Gang (1896-1899): Black Jack Ketchum led the Ketchum Gang, which consisted of a revolving list of members and robbed retail businesses, post offices, and trains in New Mexico.

• John Kinney Gang (1870s-1883): Also known as the Rio Grande Posse, the Kinney Gang were successful cattle rustlers, robbers, and hired gunmen in New Mexico.

• Lee Gang (1885): In the mid-1880s, Cooke County, Texas, was plagued by a gang of horse and livestock thieves led by James Lee and his brothers, Tom and Pink.

• McCanles Gang: Led by David McCanles, this group of men was allegedly wanted for robbing banks and trains, cattle rustling, murder, and horse theft in the early 1860s.

• McCarty Gang (1892-1893): The McCarty Gang was run by Tom McCarty, who was one of the first to introduce Butch Cassidy to the life of banditry. The gang robbed banks until several members were killed.

• Mes Gang: This bunch of primarily Hispanic outlaws and gunmen were a rival of the John Kinney Gang, both operating out of New Mexico.

• Musgrove Gang (1867-1868): A gang of horse thieves and cattle rustlers who operated throughout Southern Wyoming and Northern Colorado in the late 1860s.

• Red Jack Gang: Led by "Red Jack" Almer, this gang preyed on Arizona stagecoaches during the early 1880s, particularly along the San Pedro River.

• Reno Gang (1866-1868): Four of the five Reno Brothers terrorized the state of Indiana for two years before they were tracked down and hanged by the Southern Indiana Vigilance Committee in 1868.

• Reynolds Gang (1863-1864): A group of Confederate sympathizers that rampaged the South Park, Colorado, area to raise money for the Confederate government.

• Rogers Brothers Gang (1890s): The Rogers Brothers Gang, led by Bob Rogers, terrorized Oklahoma and Kansas in the 1890s. The gang stole horses, rustled cattle, and robbed stores, post offices, banks, and trains.

• Rufus Buck Gang (1895-1896): A gang of ruthless outlaws who preyed on victims in Oklahoma; five of them were hanged at Fort Smith, Arkansas.

• Selman’s Scouts (1878): An outlaw gang in Lincoln County, New Mexico, led by John Selman. For two months, during September and October 1878, the gang members terrorized the county by rustling cattle and horses, killing innocent men and boys, pillaging businesses and homes, and raping women.

• Seven Rivers Warriors (1870s): Made up mostly of small-time ranchers from the Seven Rivers area of southeastern Lincoln County, New Mexico. They supported the Tunstall/McSween faction against Dolan and Murphy in the Lincoln County War of New Mexico.

• Silva’s White Caps, aka Forty Bandits, Society of Bandits (1879-1893): Silva’s White Caps were a vicious outlaw gang that operated in Las Vegas, New Mexico, from about 1879 to 1893. They were a mafia-like organization led by Vicente Silva.

• Smith-Dixon Gang: A Gang of horse thieves and whiskey peddlers operating in Indian Territory (Oklahoma), its members included Dave Smith, a former member of the Belle Starr Gang; his brother-in-law, Leander "Lee" Dixon; and a man teenager of about 17 years-old named William "Billy" Towerly.

• Soapy Smith Gang (1879-1898): Led by Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, the gang operated in Denver and Creede, Colorado, before moving to Skagway, Alaska, running several con games against unsuspecting citizens.

• Stockton Gang (1878-1881): Led by Ike Stockton, this gang of cattle rustlers terrorized the area of northern New Mexico while posing as "gentleman cowboys" in Durango, Colorado.

• Triskitt Gang: Known for having conducted several robberies and killings in Northern California, the gang killed 18 people in Sailor’s Diggings, Oregon, and stole $75,000 in gold.

• Vasquez Gang (1860s-1875): Led by Tiburcio Vasquez, the gang committed armed robbery and rustled horses and cattle up and down central and southern California for years.

• Bill Whitley or Brack Cornett Gang (1887-1888): Comprised of about 12 outlaws, the gang was led by Texas desperadoes Bill Whitley and Brack Cornett, robbing Texas banks and trains in the late 1880s.

• Wild Bunch (1896-1901): Led by Butch Cassidy, the Wild Bunch terrorized the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada for five years.

• Wolcott’s Regulators (1892): One of the most feared bands of gunfighters and outlaws in Wyoming was Wolcott’s Regulators, who preyed on homesteaders in 1892, frequently leaving dead bodies in their wake.