In the annals of the American Old West, few figures embody the blurred lines between justice and lawlessness quite like Mysterious Dave Mather. This intriguing character, renowned as much for his stoic demeanor as for his prowess with a six-gun, carved a complex legacy across the untamed frontier, navigating the dangerous roles of both lawman and outlaw. Born David Allen Mather on August 10, 1851, he inherited a heritage steeped in law enforcement from a long line of seafaring officers in Massachusetts, setting the stage for a life that would ironically defy easy categorization.
Mather was a man of quiet intensity, whose reserved nature earned him the enduring moniker, “Mysterious Dave.” Small in stature with square, albeit frail, shoulders, piercing dark eyes, and a distinguishing mustache, he was rarely verbose, preferring actions to words. His pride in his English ancestry was evident, as he often donned royal blue and red attire, a vibrant contrast to the dusty landscapes he traversed. While his initial aspirations pointed towards a career in law enforcement, the harsh realities and fluid morality of the Old West frequently saw Mather operating on both sides of the legal divide.
The Early Wanderer and Shifting Allegiances
Tragedy struck Mather young; by the age of 16, both his parents had passed away, prompting him and his brother, Josiah, to seek their fortunes out West. Around 1873, Dave Mather first dipped his toes into illicit activities, becoming involved in cattle rustling in Sharp County, Arkansas. A year later, in 1874, he made his initial appearance in the infamous Dodge City, Kansas – a town he would frequently return to, alternating between the roles of a peacekeeper and a man outside the law. During this period, Mather was also a familiar, yet silent, presence in the bustling saloons of Denver, Colorado, always equipped with twin Colt revolvers conspicuously bulging beneath his coat. He was a keen observer of the gambling tables, watching games of faro, blackjack, and poker with intense focus, yet notably never indulging in gambling himself.
By 1878, Mather’s wanderings led him to Mobeetie, Texas, where he reportedly crossed paths with the legendary Wyatt Earp. Suspicious accounts suggest that the two might have engaged in a con game, peddling fraudulent “gold” bricks to unsuspecting citizens, further clouding Mather’s moral compass. The following year, he aligned himself with the notorious outlaw Dutch Henry Born, a leader of a formidable horse-stealing ring that terrorized a vast territory spanning Kansas, eastern Colorado, New Mexico, and the Texas Panhandle. Mather’s association with Born led to his arrest, though he was later released. He was subsequently implicated in a train robbery near Las Vegas, New Mexico, but managed to secure an acquittal. Surprisingly, after these brushes with the law, Mather was appointed as a Deputy Las Vegas Marshal, quickly becoming an integral part of the infamous Dodge City Gang, which exerted a reign of terror over Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The Las Vegas Gunfight and Subsequent Escapades
January 22, 1880, marked a pivotal and violent chapter in Mather’s life. T.J. House, James West, John Dorsey, and William Randall, four men spoiling for trouble, entered the Close & Patterson Variety Hall. When Marshal Joe Carson requested they check their firearms, they vehemently refused, sparking a ferocious gunfight. Carson was killed instantly. Deputy Mysterious Dave Mather, demonstrating his lethal skill, swiftly killed Randall and wounded West. Though wounded, Dorsey and House managed to escape the chaotic scene.
The pursuit of Dorsey and House culminated on February 5, when they were located at the home of Juan Antonio Dominguez in Buena Vista, 30 miles north of Las Vegas. A posse, including notable figures like J.J. Webb and Dave Rudabaugh, surrounded the residence. Dorsey and House surrendered under the assurance of protection from the citizens of Las Vegas. However, this promise proved hollow; vigilantes soon seized the prisoners from the Old Town Jail, intending to hang them at the Plaza’s windmill. It was Mrs. Carson, the slain Marshal’s widow, who intervened by opening fire on the mob, inadvertently saving the two men from immediate lynching. Following Marshal Carson’s death, Mather briefly assumed the role of Las Vegas Marshal. His tenure was short-lived, however, as accusations of “promiscuous shooting” in his capacity as marshal soon led to his departure. He then served briefly as Assistant Marshal in El Paso, Texas, but after sustaining a minor wound in a brothel altercation, he once again gravitated back to Dodge City, where he was hired as Assistant City Marshal.
Dodge City’s Feuds and Nixon’s Demise
Upon Mather’s return to Dodge City, the town was embroiled in the
