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Billy the Kid (1859–1881) -

Henry McCarty, better known as "Billy the Kid," was a well-known figure in the American Old West. He sometimes went by the name William H. Bonney. He lost his life at the young age of 21, after killing eight men. Billy the Kid's story has often been portrayed in Western popular culture. Pictured here is an untouched, original photograph of Bonney from around 1880.

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Jesse James (1847–1882) -

Jesse Woodson James, a renowned figure from that time period, was the head of the James-Younger Gang, a band of criminals operating in Missouri. Known as one of the most feared and most wanted outlaw groups on the American frontier, their activities were widely publicized. However, James' criminal journey came to an abrupt halt in 1882 when he was fatally shot.

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Frank James (1843–1915) -

Alexander Franklin James, his elder brother, was also a part of the James-Younger gang. Frank James took part in at least four robberies where bank employees or citizens were killed. However, he lived a long life into peaceful retirement, passing away at the age of 72. The James brothers are still remembered as two of the most famous criminals of the Old West.

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Bob Younger (1853–1889) -

Bob Younger, along with his brothers Cole, Jim, and John, were also part of the infamous James-Younger Gang with Frank and Jesse James. Over the course of nearly ten years, their gang committed numerous robberies, targeting banks, trains, and stagecoaches in Kansas and Missouri. However, their criminal spree came to an end during a failed bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota on September 7, 1876. The brothers were all convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, where Bob succumbed to tuberculosis.

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Cole Younger (1844–1916) -

Thomas Coleman Younger was one of the rare outlaws from the Old West who managed to survive into his old age. The elder brother of Jim, John, and Bob Younger, Cole took part in the infamous Northfield, Minnesota bank raid for which all four siblings were jailed for life. Cole and Jim were paroled in 1901. Jim died in 1902. Cole became a Christian and repented of his criminal past. He died in 1916 aged 72.

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Richard Liddil (1852–1901 -

Liddil started out stealing horses before he encountered Jesse James and became a member of his group of criminals in 1879. He participated in a series of bank heists, but eventually had a falling out with the James brothers. In 1882, he surrendered himself alongside Robert Ford, who would later assassinate Jesse James. Liddil testified against Frank James in return for a pardon. After gaining his freedom, he became a prosperous horse proprietor and passed away from a heart attack at the racetrack in 1901.

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Robert Newton Ford (1862–1892) -

Renowned for his role in the demise of gang leader Jesse James in 1882, Robert Ford anticipated receiving a reward and amnesty for his prior offenses upon eliminating the notorious outlaw. Contrarily, he and his brother Charles were indicted for first-degree murder. Thankfully, both siblings were swiftly exonerated. Robert Ford met his own demise in Kansas on June 8, 1892, falling victim to a fatal gunshot wound.

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Belle Starr (1848–1889) -

Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr started spending time with criminals when she was in her late teens, even associating with Jesse James. She became known as a horse thief and an excellent shooter. She also had an interest in fashion and would often be seen riding sidesaddle, looking elegant in her black velvet attire. Starr was tragically shot while returning home from a neighbor's house, and her murder remains unsolved.

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Butch Cassidy (1866–1908) -

Robert LeRoy Parker, also known as Butch Cassidy, earned his livelihood by committing bank robberies and train heists. He was a part of the notorious "Wild Bunch" gang, which consisted of fellow outlaws Ben Kilpatrick, Will Carver, Harvey Logan, and Harry A. Longabaugh, famously known as the "Sundance Kid." The exploits of this gang were immortalized in the film 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' in 1969.

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Sundance Kid (1867–1908) -

Harry A. Longabaugh gained the nickname the "Sundance Kid" while he was in jail for horse theft in Sundance, Wyoming. In 1896, he met Butch Cassidy. Together, they carried out numerous successful bank and train robberies as part of the "Wild Bunch." As law enforcement closed in on them, both men fled to South America. According to reports, they met their demise in a shootout in Bolivia. The image here shows members of the "Wild Bunch," with Harry A. Longabaugh, Ben Kilpatrick, and Robert Leroy Parker in the front row, with Will Carver and Harvey Logan standing behind them.

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Black Jack (1863–1901) -

Tom Edward Ketchum, a former cowboy, gained the nickname "Black Jack" for his involvement in a train robbery in New Mexico Territory in 1892. He was associated with Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch Gang and later the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Black Jack's train robberies continued until his arrest in 1899, ultimately leading to his execution by hanging.

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Laura Bullion (1876–1961) -

Laura Bullion, at the age of 13, had already encountered two individuals from the notorious "Wild Bunch" gang. During the early 1890s, she began riding alongside Butch Cassidy's crew and even developed a romantic relationship with Ben Kilpatrick. As a result of her involvement in a train robbery, Bullion was apprehended and imprisoned, eventually obtaining her release in 1905. She subsequently relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, where she passed away in 1961. Remarkably, she held the distinction of being the final surviving member of the infamous Wild Bunch Gang.

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Tom Horn (1860–1903) -

Tom Horn, a professional hitman, had various roles as a scout, range detective, and Pinkerton agent. Later on, he secured a steady job as a hired gunman to protect cattle. Officially, he is thought to have ended the lives of 17 individuals. However, he faced allegations of murdering a 14-year-old boy, which ultimately resulted in his execution in 1902. Historians still debate Horn's involvement in the crime, and he has since become an unlikely folk hero of the Old West.

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Sam Bass (1851-1878) -

Sam Bass was involved in a gang that carried out a robbery on the Union Pacific Railroad's gold train in Big Springs, Nebraska in 1877. The gang successfully stole an impressive sum of US$60,000, which would be equivalent to US$1.4 million today. However, Sam Bass's luck ran out in July 1878, when he was pursued by Texas Rangers and Pinkerton detectives and was ultimately shot and killed at Round Rock.

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Billy Clanton (1862–1881) -

On October 26, 1881, William Harrison Clanton, along with his brothers Tom and Frank McLaury, lost their lives in a gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. This incident occurred amid a longstanding dispute with lawmen Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan Earp. It's regarded as one of the most well-known shootouts in the American Old West. Pictured is Tombstone in 1881.

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Johnny Ringo (1850–1882) -

John Peters Ringo committed his first murder during the Mason County War, a period of cattle rustling. However, it was his involvement in the attempted murder of Virgil Earp and the ambush that claimed the life of Morgan Earp in 1882 that caught the attention of law enforcement officials. Shortly thereafter, Ringo's life came to an end, as he was discovered deceased with a gunshot wound to his head.

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Bob Dalton (1869–1892) -

Robert Rennick Dalton, alongside his brothers Emmet and Gratton, as well as outlaws Bill Powers and Richard Broadwell, arrived in Coffeyville, Kansas on October 5, 1892. Their intention was to carry out the daring feat of robbing not one, but two banks at the same time. Unfortunately for them, the locals quickly identified the gang and notified the authorities. This led to a fierce gun battle, resulting in the deaths of Bob, Gratton, Powers, and Broadwell. Astonishingly, Emmet managed to survive despite sustaining 23 gunshot wounds.

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Bill Doolin (1858–1896) -

William Doolin was part of the Dalton Gang before he created his own gang, known as the "Oklahombres." The gang did a series of successful bank and train robberies. However, law enforcement and bounty hunters were hot on their trail, resulting in the gradual elimination of the members. Eventually, a US Marshal apprehended Doolin in Lawson, Oklahoma Territories, and fatally shot him.

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John Wesley Hardin (1853–1895) -

John Wesley Hardin claimed to have killed 42 men, with his first kill at age 15. In 1877, he was given a 24-year prison sentence for murder. Hardin was eventually released in 1894 but met his end in an El Paso saloon. Despite attracting controversy, he has become a folk icon, with Bob Dylan even naming his 1967 album 'John Wesley Harding' after the outlaw, even though he used a different spelling of the name.

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Dan Bogan (1860– after 1889) -

Bogan, a native of Alabama, was employed as a cowboy until he faced blacklisting in 1884 due to his involvement in a strike. Subsequently, he turned to cattle rustling as a means of livelihood, earning himself a feared reputation as a skilled gunman. His conviction for murder in 1887 resulted in a death sentence, but he managed to escape from jail, resulting in an extensive pursuit. Despite efforts, Bogan's whereabouts remain unknown, leaving behind an unsolved mystery.

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Black Bart (1829–1888) -

Charles Earl Boles, also known as "Black Bart," gained infamy as a stagecoach thief, targeting over 28 carriages in northern California from 1875 to 1883. Notably, he would leave behind poems at the scenes of his crimes, which contributed to his image as a refined and cultured bandit. After being captured, Boles spent six years incarcerated before ultimately disappearing from the public eye.

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Rufus Buck Gang -

The Rufus Buck Gang, a multi-racial group consisting of individuals of African American and Muscogee descent, gained notoriety for their violent crimes and robberies throughout the Indian Territory between 1895 and 1896. Their spree of attacks was marked by extreme brutality. Eventually, law enforcement managed to apprehend the gang and all members were sentenced to death by hanging. In the photograph, from left to right, are Maoma July, Sam Samson, Rufus Buck, Lucky Davis, and Lewis Davis.

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Pearl Hart (c. 1871– after 1955) -

Pearl Hart, originally named Pearl Taylor, was born in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada. She became well-known for her involvement in one of the final stagecoach robberies in the United States, which occurred in Arizona on May 30, 1899. To carry out the heist, Hart altered her appearance by cutting her hair and donning men's attire. She was acquitted of the crime, although she later faced imprisonment for mail fraud. Following her release, Hart lived a peaceful existence alongside her spouse until her passing at the age of 79 in 1955.

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Marion Hedgepeth (1856–1909) -

Marion Columbus Hedgepeth, known by his real name, was a man who exuded the appearance of a refined gentleman. Allan Pinkerton, an authority from the National Detective Agency, described him as "a deadly killer and one of the fastest guns in the West." Hedgepeth not only took the lives of at least two individuals but was sought after for crimes such as train robbery and theft. Following a fourteen-year sentence, he met his demise during a failed attempt to rob a saloon in Chicago.

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Jim Miller (1861–1909) -

Jim Miller, also known as "Killer Miller," gained his notoriety as a merciless hit man in the Wild West. This professional assassin is said to have taken the lives of 12 individuals through gunfights—an unparalleled feat during that period. However, his reign of terror came to a close when he was lynched alongside three other men by an enraged mob. This punishment came after he murdered a former US deputy marshal.

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Tiburcio Vásquez (1835–1875) -

Vásquez, born in Monterey, Alta California, Mexico (now California), formed a gang of bandits with infamous members like Juan Soto and Procopio Bustamante. They targeted stores, homes, and highways for robbery. Unfortunately, Vásquez's own family member betrayed him, leading to his execution in San José jail. The well-known Vásquez Rocks in California, where he would hide to escape capture, were named in his honor.

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Big Nose George (1834–1881) -

George Parrott, a Frenchman known as "Big Nose," was primarily a highwayman and thief. However, his actions took a sinister turn when he and his gang unintentionally killed two officers while attempting a train robbery. Subsequently, a bounty was placed on Parrott's head, leading to his gruesome demise. A furious mob lynched him, turning his skin into a pair of shoes and repurposing part of his skull as an ashtray.

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Soapy Smith (1860–1898) - Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith was a well-known swindler, renowned for his cunning in the Old West. He devised a scheme called the "prize soap racket," whereby he would sell bars of soap containing hidden dollar bills in some of the packaging, aiming to boost sales. However, he cleverly ensured that only his gang members would purchase the fortunate "prize" soap. Unfortunately, this fraudulent scheme had a short lifespan, and "Soapy" met his demise in a shootout in Skagway, Alaska. He relocated there to seek his fortune during the Klondike Gold Rush. The photograph captures him standing at a bar in a Skagway saloon in 1898.

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Clay Allison (1841–1887) -

Robert Clay Allison, a notorious gunslinger, gained a fierce reputation due to his involvement in multiple vigilante jail break-ins and lynchings. Not only did he pose a threat to others, but his erratic behavior sometimes got him in trouble too. In a fit of violent anger, Allison astonishingly managed to shoot himself in the foot. Sadly, his life came to an end when a wagon wheel tragically crushed his neck, ultimately resulting in his demise.

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Frank Reno (1837–1868) -

In 1864, Frank Reno and his brother John established the Reno Gang. The gang’s numbers grew with the addition of siblings Simeon, William, and Clint Reno. Dubbed the first "Brotherhood of Outlaws," the Reno Gang instilled fear across the Midwest by committing robberies, murders, and bank raids. December 11, 1868, marked the day when Frank, Simeon, William, and other gang members were lynched by an angered mob. In Elvis Presley’s inaugural film, 'Love Me Tender' (1956), he portrayed the character of Clint, one of the renowned Reno Brothers.

See also: Cannibalism and massacres: the dark history of the Oregon Trail

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