In the untamed expanses of 19th-century Texas, few figures embody the paradox of law and lawlessness as starkly as John M. Larn. Initially hailed as a respected vigilante in the rough-and-tumble settlement of Fort Griffin, Larn’s election to sheriff marked a turning point, transforming a community’s hope for order into a harrowing saga of betrayal and terror. His name, John M. Larn, would forever be etched in the annals of the Old West not as a keeper of peace, but as a cunning orchestrator of crime.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, on March 1, 1849, Larn’s early life offered few hints of the path he would forge. As a teenager, he ventured to Colorado, finding work as a ranch hand. However, a fatal dispute over a horse around 1869 saw Larn commit his first documented killing, compelling him to flee to New Mexico. There, he allegedly killed a local sheriff, believing he was being trailed, further cementing his violent tendencies. He then continued into Texas, settling in Fort Griffin, where by 1871, he was working as a trail boss for rancher Bill Hays. While on a cattle drive to Trinidad, Colorado, more blood was spilled, with Larn implicated in the deaths of two Mexicans and a sheepherder. Despite this dark past, he managed to marry Mary Jane Matthews from a prominent local family, becoming a seemingly well-regarded citizen of Shackelford County.
The Rise of the Fort Griffin Vigilante
By 1873, whispers of John M. Larn‘s involvement in cattle rustling began to circulate. Ironically, that same year, Larn himself secured warrants for the arrest of every member of Bill Hays’ cattle outfit on rustling charges. He accompanied a posse of 13 soldiers from Fort Griffin, leading them to ambush and kill every member of the outfit near Bush Knob, Texas. This brutal act, ostensibly in the name of justice, demonstrated Larn’s ruthless efficiency.
His reputation as a stern, effective enforcer grew, leading him to join the infamous Tin Hat Brigade in Fort Griffin in 1874. This vigilante group was notorious for its swift, often lethal, brand of justice, typically dispensed from the end of a rope for horse thieves. Larn quickly gained respect within these ranks, which ultimately led to his election as sheriff of Fort Griffin in April 1876. The Tin Hat Brigade continued its work under his watch, hanging a horse thief from a pecan tree that very month, leaving a grim warning for others. Over the next three months, the vigilantes shot two more horse thieves and hanged six others, illustrating the harsh realities of law enforcement in the frontier town.
Sheriff Larn: A Reign of Corruption
Shortly after assuming the sheriff’s position, Larn secured a private contract with the local territorial garrison to deliver three steers of cattle daily. This seemingly legitimate venture, however, quickly morphed into a scheme for personal enrichment. Larn partnered with his longtime friend and recently deputized John Selman, planning to rustle cattle from neighboring ranchers rather than sourcing his own. Instead of curbing crime, Sheriff Larn and Selman began to control the vigilantes themselves, transforming them into an instrument of their own criminal enterprise. They rustled cattle, terrorized the county, and their herds mysteriously swelled while others’ diminished.
Suspicions mounted as ranchers observed the strange prosperity of Larn’s operations. His sudden wealth allowed him to build a substantial house at Camp Cooper Ranch on Cedar Fork in Lambshead, Texas. Yet, his reign as sheriff was short-lived. Larn resigned on March 7, 1877, less than a year after his election, replaced a month later by his deputy, William Cruger.
From Sheriff to Outright Outlaw
Freed from the veneer of law enforcement, Larn and Selman escalated their cattle rustling operations. In a move that further solidified their control over the illicit trade, they were appointed as deputy hide inspectors for Shackelford County in March 1877. These positions provided them with the perfect cover, allowing them to inspect all cattle herds entering and leaving the county, as well as supervise butchers – effectively legitimizing their stolen livestock. John M. Larn also continued to supply Fort Griffin with beef, ensuring a steady market for their ill-gotten gains.
As cattle continued to vanish and complaints grew louder, the scale of their criminal empire became undeniable. A wave of violent acts swept the county, with a band of men, allegedly led by Larn and Selman, ambushing ranchers, stealing cattle, shooting horses, and firing upon the homes of terrified citizens. The reign of terror escalated, leaving the community fearful and desperate for justice.
Confrontation, Capture, and a Violent End
Finally, in February 1878, a group of determined civilians secured a warrant to search the river behind Larn’s house. Their efforts bore fruit when six hides bearing brands other than Larn’s were recovered, providing undeniable evidence of his rustling activities. Larn was arrested, but frustratingly, later released, and the violence continued unabated.
The tide turned decisively in June 1878, when Larn wounded a local rancher named Treadwell, who had reportedly uncovered more of his cattle rustling operations. The Albany court issued a warrant for Larn’s arrest, and the task fell to Sheriff William Cruger, Larn’s former deputy. On June 22, 1878, Cruger successfully arrested his predecessor and, understanding the loyalty Larn commanded, had the local blacksmith shackle John M. Larn to the floor of his cell in the Fort Griffin jail, hoping to prevent any attempted breakout by his supporters.
However, the very next night, the tables turned completely. The Tin Hat Brigade, the same vigilante group that had elevated Larn to sheriff, stormed the jail, no longer seeking justice for the community, but for the wrongs committed against it by one of their own. Unable to lynch the shackled man, they shot John M. Larn in his cell. His body was subsequently returned to Camp Cooper Ranch, where he was buried beside his infant son, a tragic end to a tumultuous life.
The Continuing Shadow of John Selman
With Larn dead, John Selman fled to the lawless Lincoln County, New Mexico, where he formed a vicious gang known as Selman’s Scouts. For two months, these outlaws terrorized the area, stealing horses and cattle, murdering innocent men and boys, and pillaging businesses and homes. Their rampage finally ended when Governor Lew Wallace issued a proclamation threatening martial law.
Selman eventually returned to Texas, where he was captured by Texas Rangers in 1880 and taken to Shackelford County to stand trial for his previous crimes. He soon escaped, however, making his way to Chihuahua, Mexico, where he lived until 1888. The Texas charges were eventually dropped, and he relocated to El Paso, where he remarried and made a living as a gambler and, at times, a City Constable. His violent past continued to haunt him; on April 5, 1894, he killed former Texas Ranger Baz (Bass) Outlaw during a saloon fight. The following year, on August 19, 1895, Selman killed the notorious gunman John Wesley Hardin in the Acme Saloon. Though charged with murder, his trial resulted in a hung jury. While out on bond, he encountered Marshal George Scarborough, a dispute escalated, and Scarborough shot Selman four times. Selman died on April 6, 1896, bringing an end to another life inextricably linked to the dark side of the Old West.
Conclusion: A Legacy Forged in Contradiction
The story of John M. Larn is a vivid illustration of the blurred lines between law and outlaw in the American frontier. His transformation from a respected vigilante to a corrupt sheriff and ruthless cattle rustler highlights the moral ambiguities and stark challenges of establishing order in a chaotic land. Larn’s tale, entwined with that of figures like John Selman, serves as a cautionary reminder of how easily power can corrupt and how swiftly a community’s trust can be betrayed, leaving behind a legacy of violence and a community forever changed by its ill-fated choice of a sheriff.
