The Lee Gang – Murder & Thievery on the Texas Border
The annals of the American West are rife with tales of outlaws, gunfights, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Among these narratives, the story of The Lee Gang stands out, etched in blood and thievery on the Texas-Indian Territory border in the mid-1880s. This infamous group, led by the Lee brothers, terrorized Cooke County, Texas, and the adjacent Chickasaw Nation (present-day Oklahoma), leaving a legacy of violence and lawlessness that continues to fascinate and horrify.
The stage for The Lee Gang’s reign of terror was set in a region characterized by vast open spaces, burgeoning settlements, and a complex interplay of cultures. Cooke County, situated on the northern border of Texas, was a land of opportunity for some, but a haven for others seeking to exploit the vulnerable. Just north, the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory offered a degree of autonomy, but also presented challenges for law enforcement due to jurisdictional complexities.
At the heart of this criminal enterprise were the Lee brothers: James, Tom, and Pink. James, the eldest, cemented his presence in the Chickasaw Nation through marriage to a Chickasaw woman, granting him the right to establish a ranch. This ranch, situated along the Red River near Delaware Bend, east of Thackerville, became the operational base for the brothers’ illicit activities. While ostensibly a ranch, its primary function quickly shifted from honest agriculture to a center for rustling and harboring outlaws.
Instead of engaging in legitimate ranching, the Lee brothers turned to the lucrative, albeit dangerous, business of livestock theft. They targeted herds from neighboring ranches, most notably those belonging to the Roff Brothers, who operated a large ranch in the Arbuckle Mountains, approximately twenty miles north of the Lee Ranch. The strategic location of the Lee Ranch, nestled between Texas and the Chickasaw Nation, made it an ideal refuge for bandits traveling between the two territories, effectively transforming it into a sanctuary for criminal elements. The legacy of The Lee Gang was beginning.
The Lee brothers, along with their growing band of cohorts, quickly gained notoriety as the Lee Gang. Their rustling activities were not confined to the Roff Brothers’ ranch; they systematically stole cattle and horses from local ranches throughout Cooke County and the Chickasaw Nation. This brazen disregard for the law created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among the settlers and indigenous communities alike.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation was Ed Stein, the Lee brothers’ brother-in-law. Stein owned a store across the Red River in Texas and engaged in the illegal peddling of liquor into the Chickasaw Nation, a clear violation of federal law. His involvement further fueled the lawlessness that plagued the region, as the illegal liquor trade often contributed to social unrest and violence.
Faced with escalating crime, both white settlers and Native Americans pleaded with authorities for assistance. However, the vastness of the territory, coupled with the sheer number of outlaws operating in the area, hindered law enforcement’s ability to respond effectively. The cries for help went largely unanswered, and the thievery continued unabated, leaving the communities feeling vulnerable and abandoned.
The simmering tensions finally erupted in late April 1885. While checking his cattle, Jim Roff observed a group of men rounding up a small herd. As he approached, the men scattered, leaving behind a cloud of dust. Roff discovered that the cattle bore brands from various neighboring ranches, confirming his suspicions of widespread rustling.
Determined to uncover the truth, Roff concealed himself in a nearby ravine. Soon, the rustlers returned and began herding the stolen cattle south, towards the direction of the Lee Ranch. Roff wasted no time in sharing his discovery with his neighbors and U.S. Marshal James Guy. Together, they formed a posse to track down the culprits and bring them to justice.
On May 1, 1885, a five-man posse, consisting of Marshal Guy, Bill Kirsksey, Frances Mathes, and Andy and James Roff, followed the cattle trail to Delaware Bend, leading directly to the Lee Ranch. The posse cautiously approached the log cabin, immediately noticing the ominous gun portholes cut into the sides of the building. Recognizing the potential for danger, they called out to the occupants, announcing their presence and intentions.
Ed Stein, the Lee’s brother-in-law, responded by directing the posse to the rear of the cabin. This seemingly innocuous instruction proved to be a deadly trap. As the posse members moved towards the back of the cabin, they were ambushed. A hail of gunfire erupted from within, instantly killing Jim Roff and Bill Kirksey, each struck by multiple bullets. Andy Roff, severely wounded, managed to reach a nearby tree for support, but he was not spared. Two more shots were fired into the injured man, one through his chest and another into his lower body, ensuring his demise.
The surviving posse members, Frances Mathes and Marshal Guy, barely escaped with their lives, managing to retreat and recount the horrific ambush. They estimated that ten to twelve men were inside the cabin, including Jim, Tom, and Pink Lee, Ed Stein, Tom Cole, Jim Copeland, Della Humby, and the Dyer brothers. The ambush marked a turning point in the saga of The Lee Gang, escalating the conflict from simple thievery to outright murder.
News of the ambush spread rapidly, igniting a wave of outrage and vengeance. Two days later, a mob converged on the Lee Ranch, burning every building to the ground. The Dyer brothers were soon tracked down and lynched by a vigilante group, demonstrating the community’s determination to take justice into their own hands. Rewards totaling $7,000 were offered for the apprehension of the Lee brothers and Ed Stein, dead or alive, signaling the commencement of a full-scale manhunt.
Tom Lee and Ed Stein were eventually located in Denison, Texas, where they surrendered to authorities. They were subsequently transported to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to stand trial for their alleged crimes. However, in a surprising turn of events, both men were acquitted. Stein returned to his bootlegging activities but succumbed to the effects of alcohol abuse a short time later, while Tom Lee was later arrested on a larceny charge and sentenced to prison. After his release, he reportedly lived as a wandering gambler, eventually passing away in 1925.
The leaders of The Lee Gang, Jim and Pink Lee, remained at large for several months, eluding capture and continuing their life of crime. However, their luck eventually ran out. On September 7, 1885, legendary lawman Heck Thomas, known for his relentless pursuit of outlaws in Indian Territory, received a tip regarding their whereabouts.
Thomas, accompanied by Jim Taylor and a posse, tracked the Lee brothers to the John Washington Ranch near Delaware Bend on the banks of Lake Texoma. They caught the brothers off guard, surrounded them, and ordered them to surrender. Refusing to yield, the Lee brothers responded with gunfire, initiating a final, decisive shootout.
When the smoke cleared, Jim and Pink Lee lay dead. None of the posse members sustained any injuries. The bodies of the Lee brothers were loaded into a wagon and transported to Gainesville, Texas, where Thomas and Taylor collected the reward money.
The following day, newspapers across the region proclaimed the demise of The Lee Gang. One headline declared, "The Lee brothers, the most notorious desperadoes in Texas, finally go down with their boots on." The press also attributed at least forty murders to the gang, although this figure has never been definitively verified.
The story of The Lee Gang serves as a chilling reminder of the challenges faced by early settlers and law enforcement in the American West. Their reign of terror, marked by murder and thievery, left an indelible stain on the Texas-Indian Territory border, solidifying their place in the annals of outlaw history. The Lee brothers, who orchestrated The Lee Gang left behind a narrative that continues to be told and retold.