The Dodge City Gang of Las Vegas, New Mexico

The dusty streets of Las Vegas, New Mexico, in the summer of 1879, became a stage for a drama of frontier justice and outlawry, a period etched in local lore with the arrival of a band of desperados. The rhythmic chugging of the first Santa Fe trains heralded not only progress but also an influx of gamblers, roughnecks, and assorted shady characters, transforming the town into a melting pot of ambition and lawlessness. It was from this volatile environment that The Dodge City Gang of Las Vegas, New Mexico emerged, a collective that would leave an indelible mark on the region’s history.

Before long, a notorious group calling themselves The Dodge City Gang of Las Vegas, New Mexico had coalesced. Their name was a boastful reference to their prior exploits and reputations forged in the rough-and-tumble cow towns of Kansas. Dodge City, with its saloons, gambling halls, and frequent gunfights, had served as a training ground for many of these individuals, honing their skills in violence and intimidation. They brought this experience, and a complete disregard for the law, to the burgeoning town of Las Vegas.

This brazen collective quickly established a criminal cartel, openly flouting the authority of law enforcement and the established order. For the next two years, the The Dodge City Gang of Las Vegas, New Mexico engaged in a spree of audacious crimes. Stagecoach robberies became their signature move, terrorizing travelers and disrupting commerce. Train robberies, even more lucrative and daring, were added to their repertoire. Beyond these high-profile heists, the gang also engaged in the more mundane, yet equally disruptive, activity of organized cattle rustling, preying on the ranchers who formed the backbone of the local economy. But their reign of terror was not limited to economic crimes. The gang was widely believed to be responsible for a disturbing number of murders and lynchings, adding a layer of brutality to their already infamous reputation.

What made the The Dodge City Gang of Las Vegas, New Mexico particularly insidious was its composition. It wasn’t simply a collection of hardened criminals operating on the fringes of society. Instead, it was a network that infiltrated the very institutions of law and order. The gang included a Justice of the Peace, a group of peace officers, and a contingent of known outlaws with direct ties to Dodge City. This unholy alliance created a system where crime was not only perpetrated but also protected, leaving the honest citizens of Las Vegas feeling vulnerable and betrayed.

The key figures within this corrupt network included:

• Hyman G. "Hoodoo Brown" Neill: A Justice of the Peace, Neill was the supposed arbiter of law in the region, but he was deeply implicated in the gang’s activities, using his position to shield them from justice.

• Joe Carson: The City Marshal of Las Vegas, Carson was entrusted with upholding the law, but he allegedly used his authority to cover up the gang’s crimes, becoming an accomplice to their misdeeds.

• "Mysterious Dave" Mather: A Deputy U.S. Marshal and later, Las Vegas Marshal, Mather’s allegiance was always in question. His reputation as a gunslinger and his close association with known outlaws fueled suspicions that he was playing both sides of the law.

• Tom Pickett: Another peace officer, Pickett’s involvement with the gang further eroded public trust in law enforcement.

• John Joshua (J.J.) Webb: Serving as a policeman, Webb’s connections to the gang suggested a systemic corruption within the ranks of law enforcement.

These figures formed the core of the gang’s power structure, but they were supported by a coterie of notorious gunmen and petty criminals, including "Dirty Dave" Rudabaugh, Selim K. "Frank" Cady, Dutch Henry Borne, William P. "Slap Jack Bill" Nicholson, John "Bull Shit Jack" Pierce, and Jordan L. Webb (no relation to J.J.). While these individuals carried out the acts of thievery and violence, the complicity of officials like Neill, Carson, Mather, and J.J. Webb allowed them to operate with impunity.

The summer of 1879 saw a surge in lawlessness, with two stagecoach robberies in August and a train robbery in October. Suspicion immediately fell on the members of the The Dodge City Gang of Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The first stagecoach robbery occurred on August 18, 1879, when a Barlow & Sanderson stage was ambushed near the village of Tecolote. John Clancy, Jim Dunagan, and Antonio Lopez were arrested for the crime, but they were ultimately acquitted, highlighting the difficulty of securing convictions in a climate of corruption and intimidation.

Just a few weeks later, on August 30, 1879, another Barlow and Sanderson stagecoach was targeted. "Frank" Cady, "Slap Jack Bill," "Bull Shit Jack," and Jordan L. Webb, all known associates of the Dodge City Gang, were arrested and charged with the second holdup. However, they too managed to evade conviction, further emboldening the gang and eroding public confidence in the justice system. Dave Rudabaugh would later confess to this crime, implicating Las Vegas Marshal Joe Carson and a man named Joseph Martin, revealing the deep-seated corruption within the local government.

The most audacious act of the gang came on October 14, 1879, when masked men robbed a train in the Las Vegas area. The robbers made off with a substantial haul, including $2,085, three pistols, and all the lanterns on the train, leaving the passengers stranded in the darkness. In a desperate attempt to avoid trial on a more serious charge, Dave Rudabaugh pleaded guilty to the robbery in mid-February of 1881.

The Adams Express Company, desperate to bring the perpetrators to justice, hired Charlie Bassett, Chalk Beeson, Harry E. Gryden, and J.J. Webb to investigate the robbery. However, Webb’s involvement in the investigation was met with skepticism, as he was already suspected of being an accomplice in the thefts.

The escalating violence and thievery gave the town a bad reputation. "Shooting scrapes are frequent in that remote region," reported the Dodge City Times, reflecting the growing concern over the lawlessness in Las Vegas. Miquel Otero, who would later become the governor of New Mexico, recounted that twenty-nine men were killed in the Las Vegas vicinity in a single month, highlighting the pervasive violence that gripped the town. It seemed as if every desperado from Kansas, Texas, and Colorado had descended upon Las Vegas, drawn by the promise of easy riches and a lack of effective law enforcement.

On January 22, 1880, a confrontation at the Close & Patterson Variety Hall escalated into a deadly gunfight. T.J. House, James West, John Dorsey, and William Randall, were parading about town, sneering, laughing, and looking for trouble. When they entered the Close & Patterson Variety Hall, Marshal Joe Carson asked them to check their guns, but they refused. The ensuing gunfight resulted in Carson’s death, while Deputy "Mysterious" Dave Mather killed Randall and wounded West. John Dorsey and T.J. House managed to escape, but the incident further inflamed tensions in the town.

On February 5, the Dodge City Gang learned that Dorsey and House were hiding out at the home of Juan Antonio Dominguez in Buena Vista, thirty miles north of Las Vegas. A posse comprised of J.J. Webb, Dave Rudabaugh, and five other men surrounded the house and demanded their surrender.

Dorsey and House complied, after being assured protection from the citizens of Las Vegas. However, this promise proved to be a cruel deception. Within hours of the men being placed in the Old Town Jail, vigilantes stormed the facility, overpowering the jailers. They dragged Dorsey and House to the windmill on the Plaza, intending to lynch them. In a final act of vengeance, Mrs. Carson opened fire on the men, ending their lives before they could be hanged.

In the aftermath of Carson’s death, "Mysterious" Dave Mather was appointed marshal, and J.J. Webb became a policeman. Despite the widespread suspicion of his involvement with the Dodge City Gang, Webb faced no consequences for his alleged crimes. The people of Las Vegas, outraged by the killings, thefts, and general lawlessness, reached a breaking point.

On March 2, 1880, Hyman Neill learned that a freighter named Mike Kelliher was carrying a substantial amount of cash, around $1,900. According to a report reprinted from the Las Vegas Daily Optic in the Ford County Globe of March 9, 1880:

"About four o’clock this morning, Michael Kelliher, in company with William Brickley and another man [a member of the Dodge City Gang], entered Goodlet & Roberts’ Saloon and called for drinks. Michael Kelliher appeared to be the leader of the party, and he, in violation of the law, had a pistol on his person. This was noticed by the officers, who came through a rear door, and they requested that Kelliher lay aside his revolver. But he refused to do so, remarking, “I won’t be disarmed – everything goes,” immediately placing his hand on his pistol, no doubt intending to shoot. But Officer Webb was too quick for him. The man was shot before he had time to use his weapon. He was shot three times – once in each breast and once in the head… Kelliher had $1,090 [$1,900] on his person when killed."

Although Webb was arrested, it was rumored that Hoodoo Brown had seized the money, highlighting the rampant corruption that permeated the town.

Finally, the citizens of Las Vegas had had enough. They formed a vigilante group and posted a notice in the Las Vegas Optic on April 8, 1880, sending a clear message to the outlaws:

"To Murderers, Confidence Men, Thieves:

The citizens of Las Vegas have tired of robbery, murder, and other crimes that have made this town a byword in every civilized community. They have resolved to put a stop to crime if, in attaining that end, they have to forget the law and resort to a speedier justice than it will afford. All such characters are, therefore, hereby notified that they must either leave this town or conform themselves to the requirements of law, or they will be summarily dealt with. The flow of blood must and shall be stopped in this community, and the good citizens of both the old and new towns have determined to stop it if they have to HANG by the strong arm of FORCE every violator of the law in this country."

Soon afterward, Hyman G. "Hoodoo Brown," "Mysterious" Dave Mather, and the rest of the Dodge City Gang fled Las Vegas, seeking refuge in other territories.

Dodge City Gang Members:

• Dutch Henry Borne – A notorious horse thief, Borne eventually served time in prison before living a reformed life.
• Hyman G. "Hoodoo Brown" Neill – Fled Las Vegas and met a violent end in Leadville, Colorado.
• Selim K. "Frank" Cady – His fate remains unknown.
• Joe Carson – Killed in a gunfight in Las Vegas.
• "Mysterious Dave" Mather – Continued his career as a lawman, eventually joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
• William P. "Slap Jack Bill" Nicholson – His fate remains unknown.
• Tom Pickett – Worked with the Hashknife Outfit in Arizona and later served as a U.S. deputy marshal.
• John "Bull Shit Jack" Pierce – His fate remains unknown.
• "Dirty Dave" Rudabaugh – Escaped from jail with J.J. Webb and was eventually killed in Mexico.
• "Six Shooter" Bill Smith – A gunman known for wounding rather than killing, he met his end in a gunfight in Texas.
• John Joshua (J.J.) Webb – Escaped from jail with Rudabaugh, later died of smallpox in Arkansas.
• Jordan L. Webb – His fate remains unknown.

The story of the The Dodge City Gang of Las Vegas, New Mexico serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by frontier communities in the late 19th century. It is a tale of corruption, violence, and the struggle for law and order in a land where justice was often swift and brutal.