Tom Pickett – Lawman & Outlaw
The saga of the American West is replete with figures who straddled the line between law and lawlessness, individuals whose lives were a complex tapestry woven with threads of both justice and transgression. Among these intriguing characters stands Tom Pickett, a man who, at various points in his life, wore the badges of both an outlaw and a lawman. His story, punctuated by cattle rustling, association with the infamous Billy the Kid, service as a Texas Ranger, and later, a U.S. Deputy Marshal, offers a fascinating glimpse into the blurred moral landscape of the late 19th-century American frontier.
Thomas Pickett, the man who would become known across parts of the West as Tom Pickett, entered the world on May 27, 1856, at Camp Throckmorton, Texas. His parents, George Bibb and Cordelia Scarborough Pickett, raised him in Decatur, Texas. His father, a former officer for the Confederacy and a member of the Texas legislature, would later play a significant role in his son’s early brushes with the law. Even in his youth, Tom Pickett found himself drawn to the allure of the Wild West and would experience life on both sides of the law.
The trajectory of Tom Pickett‘s life took an unexpected turn when, at the tender age of 17, he committed the crime of cattle theft. In the vast expanse of Texas, where cattle ranching reigned supreme, such an offense was considered a serious breach of social order. The consequences for Pickett were swift; he was apprehended and brought before the justice system. Facing a hefty fine, the young Pickett found salvation in the unwavering support of his father. Demonstrating a father’s dedication, George Bibb Pickett mortgaged the family home to secure his son’s release, a testament to the lengths parents would go to for their children.
Following this early transgression, Tom Pickett briefly embraced the path of law and order, enlisting as a Texas Ranger. The Texas Rangers were a renowned law enforcement agency known for their bravery and effectiveness in patrolling the vast and often dangerous Texas frontier. However, Pickett’s tenure as a Ranger was relatively short-lived, suggesting that the constraints of structured law enforcement may not have fully aligned with his adventurous spirit.
Seeking fortune and perhaps a less regulated environment, Pickett embarked on a cattle drive to Kansas. It was in this bustling frontier state that he discovered a penchant for gambling. Kansas was a melting pot of opportunity and vice during this era. During his time in Kansas, Tom Pickett also encountered the notorious "Dirty Dave" Rudabaugh, a character known for his involvement in various outlaw activities. The two men formed an alliance, and their paths converged as they ventured to Las Vegas, New Mexico, in 1879.
In Las Vegas, New Mexico, Pickett initially assumed the role of a "peace officer," aligning himself with the Dodge City Gang. This gang, despite its association with the infamous Dodge City, Kansas, operated in numerous frontier towns. However, their methods were often questionable, and their presence frequently led to increased violence and unrest. Eventually, the citizens of Las Vegas grew weary of the Dodge City Gang’s disruptive influence and forced them to leave the city.
With their welcome in Las Vegas worn out, Pickett and Rudabaugh sought refuge and opportunity among the ranks of Billy the Kid’s Gang. This notorious group of outlaws was infamous for their cattle rustling activities in the vicinity of Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The allure of easy money and a life outside the confines of the law proved irresistible to Pickett, and he readily joined their ranks.
The gang’s cattle rustling escapades continued until fate intervened in the form of Pat Garrett, the newly appointed sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico. Garrett, determined to bring an end to the lawlessness that plagued the region, relentlessly pursued Billy the Kid and his associates. After a series of skirmishes and close calls, Garrett’s posse cornered Pickett and the remaining members of the gang in a stone house in Stinking Springs, New Mexico.
On December 23, 1880, the confrontation at Stinking Springs reached its climax. A fierce shootout ensued, resulting in the death of Charlie Bowdre, one of Billy the Kid’s closest companions. Overwhelmed and outgunned, Pickett and the rest of the gang were ultimately captured by Garrett’s posse. The prisoners were then transported to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they were to face trial for their crimes.
After being released on a $300 bail, Tom Pickett journeyed into northern Arizona. In Arizona, Pickett joined the Hash Knife outfit and became entangled in the Graham-Tewksbury Feud. This bloody conflict, also known as the Pleasant Valley War, was a bitter dispute between cattlemen and sheepmen that claimed the lives of numerous individuals. Pickett sustained a leg wound during one of the many violent skirmishes, prompting him to abandon his involvement in the feud.
Following his injury, Pickett returned to the more mundane life of a cowboy. In 1888, he married, but tragedy struck when his wife and baby died during childbirth. The loss profoundly affected Pickett, leaving him to drift through life, alternating between gambling, bartending, prospecting for gold, and working as a cowboy.
Despite his checkered past, Pickett once again found himself drawn to law enforcement, serving a brief stint as a U.S. Deputy Marshal. This unlikely turn of events suggests that Pickett may have possessed a genuine desire to contribute to the maintenance of law and order, even after having spent time on the other side of the law.
In his later years, Pickett was forced to have his leg amputated due to complications from his earlier wound. He returned to northern Arizona, where he lived out the remainder of his days. On May 14, 1934, at the age of 76, Tom Pickett passed away in Winslow, Arizona, succumbing to the effects of old age. His life, a blend of outlawry and law enforcement, reflects the complex realities of the American West.