Page 70 - All About History - Issue 56-17

Lawmen of the Frontier

Us marshaLs Bill Tilghman was known for
his fast hand and keen eye

years active: 1789-present jUrisdiction: nationwide
inFamoUs coLLars: ‘curly’ bill brocius, the mason-henry gang, the purdy
gang, crawford ‘cherokee bill’ goldsby
The US Marshals Service is the Cowboys. Virgil lost the use
America’s oldest law enforcement of one arm. Morgan died.
body, founded during George Earp began his ‘Vendetta
Washington’s presidency. Ride’, during which he killed the
Many marshals have become Cowboys he believed responsible:
legends, including Wyatt Earp, Frank Stilwell, Florentino Cruz,
his brothers Virgil and Johnny Barnes and ‘Curly’
Morgan, Doc Holliday, Bill Brocius. Afterwards,
Bat Masterson, Dallas he left Arizona and law
Stoudenmire and enforcement forever.
Bass Reeves. At a Another group
time when frontier of marshals, Heck
justice frequently Thomas, Bill Tilghman
involved a bullet or and Chris Madsen
a noose, it was their became known as
job to force law on the Three Guardsmen.
the lawless. They policed what was
Dodge City, Wyatt Earp’s early life then the vast Oklahoma
Tombstone, Abilene, has been bowdlerised Territory, which included
to make his story
Deadwood and many more family friendly the Cookson Hills and all about the bass
other towns saw the Seminole Nation,
justice served with six-shooters home to many outlaws like Deputy US Marshal Bass Reeves isn’t it has been argued Reeves may have
and shotguns. Unlike state and Jesse James, the Cook brothers, as well remembered as Wyatt Earp, been the basis for the Lone Ranger.
local police, the US Marshals Crawford ‘Cherokee Bill’ Goldsby but he was equally remarkable. However, as a pioneering figure
had national jurisdiction and and the Doolin Gang. Decades Reeves worked mainly in Arkansas during an era of endemic racism,
any state or county without its later, the Hills were home to and the Indian Territory. He had Reeves deserves to be a legend in
own lawmen could request one. 1930s gangster Charles ‘Pretty learnt to speak several Native his own right.
Feared by outlaws, they often Boy’ Floyd. American languages
enforced the law using Frank The Three Guardsmen while hiding out
Hamer’s methods — with a .45 handled the Doolin Gang simply among several tribes
in the gut. and brutally. Members who as a fugitive slave.
The most famous marshal is surrendered were arrested — After abolition,
undoubtedly Earp, whose feud those who resisted died. The Reeves joined the US
with Arizona’s notorious Cowboys Cook brothers also fell before Marshals in 1875 and
gang and their gunfight at the the marshals while Goldsby was worked with them
OK Corral have become a part of hanged at Fort Smith, Arkansas, for 32 years.
American folklore. However, Earp in March 1896, aged only 20. He’s credited
wasn’t the clean-cut, all-American Defiant to the end, his last with over 3,000
hero you might expect. Working words were, “I came here to arrests and
as bouncer, pimp and gambler die, not make a speech.” 14 kills during his
before becoming a marshal, Earp Goldsby might have long career. Reeves
crossed the line between lawman died along with many even brought his
and vigilante after his brothers other outlaws, but the own son to justice
Virgil and Morgan were shot by US Marshals live on. for murder, allegedly
demanding he be
the one to do it.
A 19th century caricature of the
Cherokee nation being destoryed As a skilled
by the US marshals, who did the detective and
bidding of the US government
marksman, who
could converse with
Native Americans
and — according
Reeves was the first
to contemporary
black marshal west of
accounts — rode a the Mississippi River
white horse,