Bank Robbery Myth?

[Fox Creek Kid]

http://www.unpopulartruth.com/2009/04/myths-of-old-west.html


http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/the-non-existent-frontier-bank-robbery#axzz2s3kWdXvJ

[Cliff Fendley]

Lot of interesting info there. Thanks for posting.

[River City John]

Great stuff FCK!

RCJ

[Kent Shootwell]

There's a good read in the book "Colorado Gunsmoke" by Ken Jessen about three bank robberies by Tom McCarty. The first in Denver (March 30 1889) then Telluride (June 24 1889) and last in Delta (September 7 1893) this one has all the elements of a movie. Three men ride up the ally leave one holding the horses then enter the front and during the robbery shot the cashier. Grabbing some loot they go out the back door and as they try to get away Ray Simpson from the hardware store hearing the shooting grabs his Sharps and kills two of the robbers. Tom got away but the photos of his head shot kin are in the book. Notes and sources are given.

[Shotgun Franklin]

He writes the book then uses the book as his source for the article. It must be true.

[Kent Shootwell]

Amongst sources are other books and he uses the Rocky Mountain News ( a news paper of the time) so it's up to you if his work seems credible.

[Shotgun Franklin]

'Before 1900 there were no successful bank robberies in any of the major towns in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, or New Mexico, and only a pair of robberies in California and Arizona.' - Richard Shenkman

'about three bank robberies by Tom McCarty. The first in Denver (March 30 1889) then Telluride (June 24 1889) and last in Delta (September 7 1893) this one has all the elements of a movie.' - Kent Shootwell


Someone's sources appear to be wrong.

[flyingcollie]

'Before 1900 there were no successful bank robberies in any of the major towns in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho . . .

Hyperbole to support a "revisionist" point of view. Unless the author's "wiggle room" hinges on semantics, e.g., "major towns", the statement is patently false. Butch and the Boys most definitely cleaned out the bank in Montpelier, Idaho in 1896, to mention but one "non existent" bank robbery.

In general, I would agree that the "wild west" was not quite as bloody and criminally infested as the movies would have us believe, but who wants a story about the hum-drum tedium that pioneer life most certainly was ? More to the point, then as now, you were far safer from violent criminal activity in Dodge City in 1870 than you were in New York City at the same time . . .

[Fox Creek Kid]

The author(s) said, and I quote:

There were probably fewer than a dozen bank robberies in the entire period from 1859 through 1900 in all the frontier West...

Here's some facts on the 1893 Delta, CO robbery mentioned:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=22541&GRid=8288872&

http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=9927f29e-c085-4f79-aee1-a8df9ad13506

http://www.truewestmagazine.com/jcontent/history/history/classic-gunfights/3006-a-dust-up-in-delta

[Tsalagidave]

Good stuff. I've always said that the accounts of Laura Ingles Wilder presented a more accurate portrayal of typical western life than Hollywood ever did.  With few exceptions like Los Angeles during the early 1850s, the old west was nowhere near what it is portrayed to be by post 20th century media. Its interesting how widespread private gun ownership coupled with a strong social emphasis on defined moral conduct and the proactive mentality that American society generally had to meeting crisis situations then actually reduced crime on the frontier rather than provoke it. (Who'd have thought.)

Although the heavily armed impressions for CAS shooting are a stretch of historic accuracy if not a fabrication, I personally turn a blind eye to it for this reason. I'm just grateful that so many come together to celebrate our 2nd amendment rights and try to portray the American gun culture in a positive light. That being said, I always promote the practical applications of firepower in my living history impressions as is appropriate to what has been actually documented.

-Dave

[Shotgun Franklin]

A lot like today, there were folks who never frequented a Cat House or Saloon, never robbed a bank, never stole cattle nor were ever in an occupation that concerned itself with policing those that did. Then, like now, there were those that lived a quite live and those that didn't. People are generally more interested in the lives of those that lived the wild and woolly life that those that didn't.

[Fox Creek Kid]

However, there was violence. Usually it was in mining towns like Bodie, CA and in cattle towns before they were incorporated.

[Mean Bob Mean]

However, there was violence. Usually it was in mining towns like Bodie, CA and in cattle towns before they were incorporated.

People poo-poo the Kansas cow town violence but there seems to have been quite a bit of violence period and I think it was magnified because everyone was so enthralled with the frontier life.  Like watching mob movies today, or TV shows about cops--you get the impression a cop can't walk his dog without shooting someone.  Hell, if that were true, I'd be a cop!

[GunClick Rick]

Reckon it's more wild now than ever,just come hang around my town fer a bit,we have a shooting dang near ever day,didn't used to be that way.

[Mean Bob Mean]

Reckon it's more wild now than ever,just come hang around my town fer a bit,we have a shooting dang near ever day,didn't used to be that way.

Whereabouts is that Rick?

[GunClick Rick]

Visalia,Ca.

[Mean Bob Mean]

Visalia,Ca.

Checking the data, you guys do seem to exceed the average for murders and crime total.

[GunClick Rick]

I don't like to say this,but my cousins son just wacked a guy two weeks ago I say hang the little 19 year old puke!

[Mean Bob Mean]

I don't like to say this,but my cousins son just wacked a guy two weeks ago I say hang the little 19 year old puke!

Jesus, the world is falling apart aint it?

[Shotgun Franklin]

When the justice system fails good citizens used to band together and clean out the trash, now they move to a gate community and think that they are safe.