Unveiling the Renegades: A Definitive A-List of Notorious Old West Outlaws

The wild expanse of the American Frontier gave birth to an era defined by daring exploits and lawlessness, where the legends of Old West outlaws etched themselves into the annals of history. These figures, often driven by post-Civil War upheaval, economic hardship, or a simple thirst for adventure, became symbols of an untamed land. The fascination with these iconic frontier criminals continues to captivate audiences, with their stories passed down through generations. From the desolate plains of Texas to the rugged mountains of New Mexico, the lives of these individuals, both infamous and obscure, contributed to the rich tapestry of the American West.

The Enduring Myth of Frontier Lawlessness

The post-Civil War landscape of America created a unique environment ripe for the emergence of Old West outlaws. Many former soldiers, hardened by conflict and often dispossessed, found themselves drawn to a life outside the law. This era, characterized by rapid expansion and often sparse law enforcement, provided fertile ground for individuals to commit daring acts of robbery, cattle rustling, and even murder. While Eastern newspapers and “dime novels” sensationalized these exploits, turning mere criminals into legendary figures, the reality for many was a harsh existence often ending in violence or imprisonment.

These tales of gunfighters, desperate bandits, and the lawmen who pursued them resonated deeply with a public hungry for adventure. The exaggerated accounts fueled the mystique, creating larger-than-life characters whose names became synonymous with the romanticized, yet brutal, American Frontier. Over a century later, the allure of these figures remains undiminished, serving as a powerful reminder of a tumultuous period in U.S. history.

Notorious Outlaws of the Old West: The ‘A’ List

Our journey into the rogues’ gallery of the Old West outlaws begins with those whose surnames commence with the letter ‘A’. This collection features a diverse group, from hardened killers and cattle rustlers to individuals caught in the brutal crossfire of frontier feuds and wars.

Infamous ‘A’ Surnames and Their Deeds

• Carl Adamson: Known for riding alongside the notorious Jim Miller, Adamson was implicated in the controversial killing of Pat Garrett on February 28, 1908, in New Mexico. His association with such prominent figures underscores the interconnected world of frontier crime.

• Epeminto Aguelari: A New Mexico outlaw responsible for the murder of Jose A. Samora in Wallace on April 20, 1884, illustrating the swift and often violent nature of frontier disputes.

• Ceberiano Aguilar: A participant in the violent Horrell War of Lincoln County, New Mexico, in 1874, where he ultimately met his end. This conflict was one of many localized feuds that plagued the region.

• Donaciano Aguilar: Faced a lengthy sentence for his crimes, receiving life imprisonment in New Mexico on November 24, 1909.

• Reymundo Aguilar: Another individual involved in the turbulent Lincoln County War in 1874, a conflict that defined a significant portion of New Mexico’s frontier history.

• Felix Aguillan: A lesser-known but active member of the feared Castillo Gang, contributing to the widespread banditry of the era.

• Jermin Aguirre (d. 1875): A member of the Mes Gang, rivals to the John Kinney Gang in New Mexico. Aguirre, along with other Mes Gang members, was ambushed and killed by the Kinney Gang and Jesse Evans near the San Augustin Ranch on August 8, 1875. His death highlights the brutal gang rivalries of the time.

• Alamosa Bill: Allegedly associated with Billy the Kid, this outlaw’s life ended in El Paso, Texas, in April 1888, a fate shared by many on the wrong side of the law.

• Eugenio Alarid: A complex figure, Alarid served as a crooked lawman on the Las Vegas, New Mexico police force while simultaneously being a member of Vicente Silva’s formidable White Caps Gang. He, along with other corrupt officers, lynched Patricio Maes on October 22, 1892. Though initially gaining power through illicit means, Alarid was eventually arrested and sentenced to life in prison, demonstrating that even those who blurred the lines often faced justice.

• Nasario Alarid: A New Mexico outlaw who was finally apprehended and sentenced to 99 years in prison on September 17, 1906, a testament to the persistence of law enforcement.

• John Alexander (d. 1874): A horse thief in Texas, Alexander was shot and killed by a mob in Belton on May 25, 1874, after being caught attempting to steal horses. Vigilante justice was a harsh reality in many frontier communities.

• William Alexander: Convicted of murdering his business partner in 1889, Alexander famously escaped the hanging gallows at Fort Smith, Arkansas, due to a shrewd lawyer, ultimately walking free—a rare outcome for those tried in Judge Parker’s court.

• Bill Allen: A Texas outlaw and robber who occasionally rode with the notorious Jesse Evans Gang, involved in various criminal enterprises across the state.

• “Bladder” Allen: An outlaw operating in Lincoln County, New Mexico, Allen was jailed for a stabbing incident in White Oaks, highlighting the local violence prevalent in smaller settlements.

• Charles Allen: Responsible for robbing and killing a group of people in Virginia City, Montana, Allen was subsequently hanged by vigilantes, reflecting the swift and often severe community responses to crime.

• Charles Allen, aka Big Time Charlie: After the turn of the century, Big Time Charlie established one of Denver, Colorado’s most illicit prostitution rings, showcasing how some outlaws adapted to urban environments.

• James Allen: Killed James Moorehead in Las Vegas, New Mexico, on March 2, 1880, reportedly over a dispute about eggs. He escaped prison but was later killed by a pursuing posse, a common narrative of captured Old West outlaws.

• Joseph Allen (d. 1909): A gunfighter involved in a bitter feud in Ada, Oklahoma. He was arrested for murder and, on April 19, 1909, was dragged from jail with Jim Miller, Jesse West, and D.B. Burrell by a vigilante mob of 150-200 men. All four were hanged in an abandoned barn, a stark example of frontier justice taking precedence over legal process.

• Malachi Allen (d. 1889): Wanted for gunning down two men in the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, in July 1888. After a vicious gunfight where he was wounded, Allen was taken to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where his arm was amputated before he was hanged on April 19, 1889. His story illustrates the brutality of both the crimes and the punishments.

• Charles Allison: A lawman turned outlaw, Allison was initially a deputy sheriff in Conjos County, Colorado. He soon organized a gang, robbing stages between Colorado and New Mexico. Captured by Sheriff Matt Kyle in 1881, he served time and was released in 1890, a rare second chance for an outlaw.

• Jack “Red Jack” Almer, aka Jack Averill (d. 1883): The leader of the Red Jack Gang, who terrorized Arizona stagecoaches in the early 1880s. After a robbery near Globe on August 10, 1883, he was pursued and killed in a gunfight, marking the end of his short but violent career.

• Wade Alsup: A Texas outlaw who was lynched by 15 masked men in Blue, Texas, on June 27, 1877, indicating the prevalence of extra-legal enforcement.

• Juan Alvarid: A vicious Mexican outlaw, Alvarid was lynched in Socorro, New Mexico, on August 16, 1882, for the heinous crime of raping an 8-year-old girl. This act underscores the darker, more abhorrent crimes committed during the era.

• Leonard Alverson: A thief and smuggler, Alverson was wrongly accused of robbing a post office in Steins Pass, New Mexico, in 1897. Though guilty of other crimes, he was imprisoned for this one until Thomas “Black Jack” Ketchum confessed to it in 1899, leading to Alverson’s release. A rare instance of justice prevailing, albeit slowly.

  

• Burton Alvord (1866-1910): An Arizona lawman who tragically turned outlaw in the 1890s due to heavy drinking. His descent from law enforcement to lawbreaker is a poignant example of the pressures and moral compromises of the era.

• Martin Amador: A New Mexico outlaw who was hanged for murder in Deming on January 13, 1908, serving as a reminder of the ultimate penalty for severe crimes.

• Fred Amos: A California outlaw and highwayman in the late 1860s. Captured and sentenced to ten years for holdup, legend has it he gambled double-or-nothing with the judge and lost, increasing his sentence to 20 years in San Quentin. An entertaining, if possibly apocryphal, tale of an outlaw’s audacity.

• David L. Anderson, aka William “Billy” Wilson, Buffalo Bill (1862-1918): More widely known as “Billy Wilson,” he was a member of Billy the Kid’s Gang of rustlers before later becoming the sheriff of Terrell County, New Mexico. His trajectory from outlaw to lawman exemplifies the fluid nature of roles in the Old West.

• James “Jim” Anderson: Brother to the infamous William “Bloody Bill” Anderson, Jim rode with Quantrill’s Raiders during the Civil War and subsequently with the James-Younger Gang, cementing his status among the most dedicated of Old West outlaws.

• Hank Andrews: A New Mexico outlaw who was lynched by vigilantes near Tularosa in February 1884, another victim of extra-legal justice.

• Justin Anjo: A California outlaw lynched on July 12, 1877, for shooting a man to death.

• Ernest Anthony: A horse thief jailed in Springer, New Mexico, in March 1885. He was pardoned, captured twice more, escaping both times, then changed his name and moved to Wyoming, showing a persistent evasion of justice.

• Henry Antrim: Better known as William Bonney, or the legendary Billy the Kid, one of the most famous figures in frontier history.

• Apache Kid (1867-1894?): Wrongly accused of murder, the Apache Kid fled and became a symbol of resistance, blamed for virtually every unsolved crime in Arizona. His story is a tragic example of injustice driving an individual to a life of outlawry.

• Maximo Apodaca (d. 1885): Convicted of murdering the Nesmith family in White Sands, New Mexico, Apodaca committed suicide in prison in 1885, meeting a grim end.

• Bill Applegate: Led a gang of rustlers in New Mexico during the 1870s, contributing to the prevalent issue of cattle theft on the frontier.

• Nicholas Aragon: An outlaw who sometimes rode with Billy the Kid, involved in cattle rustling and murder. He shot Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff Jasper Corn in 1884 and Deputy Sheriff John Hurley in 1885 before finally surrendering after being wounded. Convicted of murder, he received a life sentence, demonstrating the consequences of his violent spree.

• Doroteo Arango Arámbula, aka Francisco “Pancho” Villa (1877-1923): A Mexican revolutionist and formidable outlaw, Pancho Villa conducted numerous successful raids along the U.S. border. He was assassinated in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1923, leaving a complex legacy as both a bandit and a national hero.

• James Arcine (or Arcene) (d. 1885): A Cherokee Indian, Arcine, along with William Parchmeal, murdered Henry Feigel in Indian Territory in 1872. They were arrested 13 years later, convicted, and hanged at Fort Smith, Arkansas, on June 26, 1885, under Judge Parker’s stringent court.

• Thomas Archer (d. 1886): The leader of the Archer Brothers Gang, which terrorized Indiana in the mid-1880s. He and three of his brothers were captured and hanged, ending their reign of terror.

• William Arnett (d. 1862): Arnett, along with two other men, was caught in Goldcreek, Montana, with stolen horses from Idaho gold camps. When confronted, Arnett chose to engage in a shootout and was killed on August 21, 1862. Legend states he was buried clutching his cards, a symbol of his gambler’s defiance.

• David Arguello: Legally hanged in Raton, New Mexico, on May 25, 1906, after being convicted of murdering Colorado peace officer Francisco Garcia in 1905, showing the reach of justice across state lines.

• “Arizona Jack”: A gunman and teamster who was lynched at Wagon Bed Springs, Kansas Territory, for shooting another teamster to death, an example of the often-brutal justice meted out in remote territories.

• Jack Armstrong: An outlaw from Las Vegas, New Mexico, who murdered a bartender over a dispute about the price of a drink, highlighting the petty yet deadly origins of some frontier violence.

• Willis Arrington: A Texas outlaw charged with cattle rustling in 1881, a crime that was rampant and a major economic threat in the Old West.

• George Ashby: A prolific horse thief operating in Texas and Montana, Ashby was responsible for killing a sheriff near the Powder River in Montana, marking him as a particularly dangerous criminal.

• Joe Asque (d. 1877?): An outlaw cattle rustler captured near Hillsboro, New Mexico, who was lynched around 1877. In a remarkable turn of events, he managed to cut himself down from the hangman’s noose and escape, becoming one of the few to cheat death by hanging.

• David Atkins (d. 1964): A member of the infamous Black Jack Ketchum gang, Atkins participated in train robberies across New Mexico, West Texas, and Arizona. He broke from the gang in 1898 but was arrested in Montana two years later for a Texas murder. He escaped bail, was recaptured in 1911, and, incredibly, received only five years for murder. He died in 1964, spending his last 32 years in a mental institution, a long and complex end to an outlaw’s life.

• Harris Austin (d. 1890): A murderer in the Chickasaw Nation of Indian Territory, Austin was captured by U.S. Deputy William Carr and executed at Fort Smith, Arkansas, on January 16, 1890, a typical end for those brought to Judge Parker’s court.

  

• James Averell (or Averill) (1851-1889): An alleged Wyoming cattle rustler, Averell was actually innocent of the charges. He was brutally hanged, along with “Cattle Kate” Watson, by a cattle baron faction in 1889. His lynching was a significant incident contributing to the infamous Johnson County War, a brutal conflict between large cattle owners and smaller ranchers. His tragic story underscores the dangerous power dynamics and corruption that sometimes overshadowed justice in the Old West.

The Unforgettable Legacy of Old West Outlaws

The lives of these Old West outlaws, from the well-known figures like Billy the Kid to the lesser-documented cattle rustlers and highwaymen, paint a vivid picture of a turbulent era. Their stories, filled with violence, desperation, fleeting triumphs, and inevitable downfalls, are more than just accounts of crime; they are reflections of the societal pressures, lawless frontiers, and stark choices faced by individuals in a rapidly expanding nation. Whether glorified in “dime novels” or remembered through official records, these notorious figures continue to shape our understanding and fascination with the American West. Their legacy reminds us that while justice often prevailed, sometimes it was swift and brutal, and at other times, elusive and corrupt, making the history of these renegades forever an essential part of America’s compelling narrative.