Roy Daugherty – Member of the Doolin Gang

Roy Daugherty, an alias "Arkansas Tom Jones" cloaked his true identity, remains a compelling figure in the annals of the American Old West. Best known as an outlaw affiliated with the notorious Doolin Gang operating in Oklahoma Territory, Daugherty’s life was a turbulent tapestry woven with threads of rebellion, crime, fleeting redemption, and ultimately, a violent end. His story offers a glimpse into the harsh realities and moral complexities of a bygone era, a time when the line between lawman and outlaw was often blurred, and survival depended on cunning, grit, and a willingness to live outside the bounds of societal norms. The life and times of Roy Daugherty are a testament to the enduring allure of the Wild West, a landscape where legends were forged in the crucible of conflict.

Born around 1870, the future outlaw’s early years were steeped in the rigid piety of a deeply religious family residing in Missouri. While specific details about his childhood remain somewhat obscure, the stark contrast between his upbringing and his later life choices is undeniably striking. His parents envisioned a life of devotion for their sons, and indeed, two of Daugherty’s brothers embraced the calling, becoming ministers of the cloth. However, young Roy Daugherty found himself chafing against the constraints of religious dogma. The stifling atmosphere proved too restrictive for his restless spirit, sparking a rebellion that would ultimately define the course of his life.

At the tender age of fourteen, Roy Daugherty made the momentous decision to sever ties with his family and the life they had envisioned for him. He fled his Missouri home, venturing westward towards the promise of opportunity and adventure in the Oklahoma Territory. Upon his arrival, he adopted the moniker "Arkansas Tom Jones," perhaps seeking to create a fresh start or to distance himself from his past. Initially, Daugherty sought honest employment, finding work as a cowboy, a common occupation in the sprawling cattle country of the era. However, the allure of quick riches and the camaraderie of outlaws soon proved too tempting to resist.

It wasn’t long before "Arkansas Tom Jones," drawn by the promise of excitement and the lure of easy money, crossed paths with the infamous Bill Doolin. Doolin, a charismatic and ruthless leader, had assembled a formidable gang of outlaws who preyed on banks, trains, and stagecoaches throughout the Oklahoma Territory. Daugherty readily joined the ranks of the Doolin Gang, embracing a life of crime and notoriety. He quickly became a trusted member of the gang, participating in numerous robberies and engaging in daring escapades that captured the attention of law enforcement and the public alike. The name Roy Daugherty was quickly becoming synonymous with the lawlessness of the frontier.

The Doolin Gang’s reign of terror was brought to a head on September 1, 1893, in the small town of Ingalls, Oklahoma. A posse of lawmen, determined to bring the outlaws to justice, descended upon the town, resulting in a fierce and bloody gunfight. The shootout at Ingalls became legendary, immortalized in dime novels and folklore as a symbol of the Old West’s violent struggles between law and order. While some members of the Doolin Gang managed to escape, Roy Daugherty was not so fortunate. He was captured during the gunfight, marking a significant turning point in his life.

Following his capture, Daugherty faced the full weight of the law. He was tried and convicted of manslaughter, a charge stemming from the violence at Ingalls. The court sentenced him to a lengthy prison term of fifty years, a seemingly insurmountable punishment that threatened to extinguish any hope of redemption. However, fate, or perhaps the unwavering faith of his ministering brothers, intervened on his behalf. After serving seventeen years behind bars, Daugherty was granted parole in 1910, a testament to the power of forgiveness and the enduring bonds of family.

Upon his release from prison, Daugherty attempted to reintegrate into society, seeking to leave his outlaw past behind him. He established a restaurant in Drumright, Oklahoma, hoping to build a legitimate life for himself. For two years, he managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy, running his business and attempting to distance himself from his previous associations. However, the mundane routine of restaurant ownership proved to be a poor match for Daugherty’s restless spirit. The allure of adventure and the yearning for something more eventually led him to abandon his newfound respectability.

Driven by a desire for excitement and perhaps a lingering fascination with the outlaw life, Daugherty drifted westward to Hollywood, California. He harbored aspirations of becoming an actor in Western films, hoping to capitalize on his notoriety and experience in the Old West. However, his attempts to break into the film industry proved unsuccessful. Disillusioned and financially strapped, Daugherty found himself drawn back to the familiar path of crime.

In 1917, Daugherty resurfaced in the criminal underworld, participating in a bank robbery in Neosho, Missouri. His involvement in the robbery led to his re-arrest and imprisonment, shattering any remaining illusions of redemption. However, his incarceration was relatively short-lived. In 1921, he was once again released from prison, seemingly unable to escape the cycle of crime and punishment that had defined much of his adult life.

Tragically, Daugherty’s release from prison did not mark a turning point towards a more lawful existence. In the very same year, he committed yet another bank robbery, this time in Ashbury, Missouri. This act cemented his reputation as an incorrigible outlaw, sealing his fate as a fugitive from justice. For the next three years, Daugherty remained a wanted man, evading capture and living on the fringes of society.

The final chapter of Roy Daugherty‘s life unfolded on August 16, 1924, in Joplin, Missouri. Law enforcement officers, having tracked him to the city, cornered him. In a final act of defiance, Daugherty resisted arrest, engaging in a gunfight with the officers. The ensuing shootout proved fatal for the former Doolin Gang member. Roy Daugherty, alias "Arkansas Tom Jones," died as he had lived, in a blaze of violence, forever etching his name into the legends of the Old West. His life serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder of the enduring consequences of choices made in a time of lawlessness and moral ambiguity.