Smith-Dixon Gang – Horse Thieves in Oklahoma
The untamed landscapes of the Old West, particularly the region known as Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), served as both a haven and a battleground for individuals operating outside the boundaries of the law. Among the many figures who etched their names into the history of this era, albeit in a less than honorable fashion, was the Smith-Dixon Gang. This group, primarily known for their activities involving horse theft and the illegal distribution of whiskey, left a bloody trail across the Oklahoma Territory, culminating in a dramatic and violent confrontation with law enforcement.
The nucleus of the Smith-Dixon Gang consisted of three individuals: Dave Smith, a man with prior affiliations to the notorious Belle Starr Gang; Leander "Lee" Dixon, Smith’s brother-in-law; and a young man named William "Billy" Towerly, barely out of his teens at the age of seventeen. Their operations centered around exploiting the vulnerabilities of the Indian Territory, a region often characterized by its vast distances, sparse population, and limited law enforcement presence. This environment allowed them to engage in their illicit activities with relative impunity, at least for a time.
The gang’s primary source of income stemmed from the theft of horses, a valuable commodity in the Old West. Horses were essential for transportation, agriculture, and even warfare. Stealing and reselling these animals proved to be a lucrative, albeit dangerous, enterprise. In addition to horse theft, the Smith-Dixon Gang also engaged in the illegal peddling of whiskey within the Indian Territory. The sale of alcohol to Native American tribes was prohibited by federal law, but the demand for it created a thriving black market, which the gang eagerly exploited.
The law, however, was slowly but surely closing in on the Smith-Dixon Gang. On November 27, 1887, U.S. Deputy Marshals Frank Dalton and James R. Cole were tasked with apprehending Dave Smith on warrants related to horse theft and the introduction of whiskey into the Indian Territory. These marshals, representatives of the federal government, were responsible for maintaining law and order in a region often plagued by lawlessness.
Dalton and Cole meticulously tracked Smith and his associates to a wood chopper’s camp situated in the Arkansas River bottoms, within what is now Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. The camp consisted of a simple tent, where the outlaws, including Dixon’s wife, had established a temporary base. As the marshals approached the tent, they issued a warning, specifically targeting Dave Smith. They made it clear that their intention was to arrest Smith alone and that the others should not interfere. This was an attempt to de-escalate the situation and avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
However, Dave Smith chose to defy the lawmen’s warning. Instead of surrendering peacefully, he initiated a violent confrontation by firing a shot at Frank Dalton, striking him in the chest. This act of aggression immediately transformed the situation from an attempted arrest into a deadly gunfight.
Deputy Cole, witnessing his fellow marshal fall, responded swiftly and decisively. He returned fire, striking and killing Dave Smith. The death of their leader enraged Lee Dixon and William Towerly, who immediately joined the fray, directing their gunfire at Deputy Cole. Cole, finding himself outnumbered and under heavy fire, sought cover behind a nearby tree, using it as a shield against the barrage of bullets.
Amidst the chaos and gunfire, William Towerly made a calculated and brutal move. He broke cover and ran towards the fallen Frank Dalton, who lay wounded and helpless on the ground. Towerly, with his gun pointed directly at Dalton’s face, disregarded the marshal’s pleas for mercy. In a cold and calculated act of violence, Towerly fired, blasting Dalton once in the face and then again in the head, ensuring his death.
While Towerly was executing the wounded marshal, Deputy Cole continued to fight, despite having sustained multiple gunshot wounds himself. His unwavering determination and accurate gunfire managed to wound Lee Dixon and, tragically, kill Dixon’s wife, who had been caught in the crossfire. The scene was one of utter devastation, marked by the loss of life and the escalating violence.
Following the deadly shootout, William Towerly fled the scene, disappearing into the surrounding wilderness. Deputy Marshal Cole, severely wounded but alive, made his way back to Fort Smith, Arkansas, the base of operations for the U.S. Marshals Service in that region. He reported the events of the battle, detailing the deaths of Frank Dalton, Dave Smith, and Mrs. Dixon, as well as the escape of William Towerly.
In response to the report, a posse was immediately formed and dispatched to retrieve the bodies of Smith, Dalton, and Mrs. Dixon. Lee Dixon, who had been wounded by a bullet near his left collarbone, was apprehended and taken to the prison hospital in Fort Smith for medical treatment. However, despite the medical attention, Dixon succumbed to his wounds and died.
The murder of Deputy Marshal Frank Dalton ignited a firestorm of outrage, and a $1,000 reward was offered for the capture of William Towerly. The young outlaw’s freedom proved to be short-lived. Marshals Z.W. "Bill" Moody and Ed Stokley tracked Towerly to his parents’ home near Atoka, Oklahoma, where he was hiding.
On December 3, 1887, the marshals approached Towerly, demanding his surrender. However, Towerly, unwilling to face justice, reached for his gun. In response, both officers opened fire, hitting him in the leg and the shoulder. Despite being wounded, Towerly refused to surrender. As Stokley approached the outlaw to disarm him, Towerly switched the gun to his unwounded arm and shot Stokley in the chest. This act of defiance and continued violence forced Moody to take decisive action. He fired again, killing Towerly and bringing the saga of the Smith-Dixon Gang to a bloody end.
The story of the Smith-Dixon Gang serves as a grim reminder of the lawlessness and violence that characterized the Old West. Their activities, from horse theft to the illegal sale of whiskey, and their ultimate confrontation with law enforcement, highlight the challenges faced by those who sought to establish order in a region often ruled by chaos. The names of Dave Smith, Lee Dixon, and William Towerly are forever etched in the history of Oklahoma, not as heroes or pioneers, but as outlaws who met a violent end in their pursuit of a life outside the law. The events surrounding the Smith-Dixon Gang underscore the dangers faced by both lawmen and outlaws in the tumultuous landscape of the American West.