Great Stagecoach Robberies of the Old West

By (author) R. Michael Wilson

Publication date:

01 January 2007

Length of book:

200 pages

Publisher

TwoDot

ISBN-13: 9780762741274

Stagecoach robbers evolved as a consequence of the discovery of gold or silver, or some other mineral treasure, and a town would "spring forth from the earth" overnight. Roads were soon built and stage lines began operating. A "pitching Betsy" would take out bullion and dust and bring in payrolls, always through country that was rough and isolated. The temptation to get rich quickly was too great for some, and the demand, "Hold! Throw out that treasure box!" was heard all too often in the Old West. Most robberies were never solved, but many robbers were caught, indicted, tried, convicted, and sentenced. This book includes a collection of 15-20 of the most thrilling stagecoach robberies from 1875-1905.

Introduction; 1. The First Stagecoach Robbery in the West; 2. Baldy Green--The Jehu; 3. Robbery at Point Nine; 4. Stephan Venard; 5. The Innocents; 6. The Boise Bandits; 7. The Showdown; 8. The Man Who Swallowed a Wagon Wheel; 9. The Iron-Clad Stagecoach; 10. A Sharp Nevada Road Agent; 11. A Texas Badman in Colorado; 12. A Lynchin' Bee; 13. Robbery at Spearfish; 14. Arizona's Petticoat Bandit; 15. Gold at the End of the Rainbow; 16. The Last Stagecoach Robbery in the West; Bibliography

In 1856 Thomas J. Hodges, who would become infamous by his alias Tom Bell—the first man to rob a stagecoach, under circumstances that would have made lying improbable and of no purpose, disclosed that he was just twenty-six years old. He had been a bar room brawler in his earlier days, and in one affray had his nose crushed so badly that it was nearly flat with his face except for a small protrusion that had a deep dent in the tip. This made his appearance decidedly repulsive, very distinctive, and gave him the appearance of being much older than his years.