The notorious Dalton Gang, a name synonymous with audacious frontier crime, met their dramatic and bloody end in an ill-fated bank robbery attempt in Coffeyville, Kansas, on October 5, 1892. This desperate gamble for riches turned into one of the Old West’s most infamous shootouts, forever sealing the gang’s place in history as a cautionary tale of outlaw ambition. The events of that day, as chronicled by contemporary newspapers like the Galveston Daily News, painted a vivid picture of a town transformed into a battlefield, where lawmen and citizens alike rose up against the daring bandits.
As the Galveston Daily News reported on October 6, 1892, with dramatic flair: “The Dalton Gang has been exterminated — wiped off the face of the earth.” This bold declaration, while largely true for most of the gang, underscored the ferocity of the encounter. Six members of the gang rode into Coffeyville that morning, intent on robbing two banks simultaneously, a feat unprecedented in its audacity. However, unbeknownst to them, the town was more prepared than they anticipated, setting the stage for a tragic confrontation that claimed the lives of both outlaws and brave citizens.
The Audacious Double Bank Heist Unfolds
Rumors of a potential raid by the Dalton Gang had circulated in Coffeyville for weeks. While vigilance had initially been high, a false report of the gang’s demise in New Mexico had temporarily lulled the town into a false sense of security. Yet, some residents remained wary, and when the gang rode into town around 9:00 AM on October 5, 1892, their recognizable faces quickly triggered an alarm. The gang, split into two groups of three, stealthily approached their targets: the First National Bank and the private bank of C.M. Condon & Co.
Robert “Bob” Dalton, the gang’s notorious leader, along with his brother Emmett, targeted the First National Bank. Meanwhile, the other four outlaws, led by Richard “Dick Broadwell” (also known as “Texas Jack”), headed for Condon’s bank. As they began their robberies, City Marshal Charles T. Connelly was swiftly alerted. Recognizing the dire threat, Marshal Connelly wasted no time assembling an impromptu posse of armed citizens, including men like Jim Spears, a skilled shot, George Cubine, a merchant, and Charles Brown, a shoemaker. These brave individuals strategically positioned themselves around the town square, ready to confront the bandits.
Inside the Banks: Delays and Desperation
At Condon’s bank, Dick Broadwell’s group encountered an unexpected obstacle. Cashier Ball explained that the vault was controlled by a time lock and could not be opened for another 20 minutes. Impatiently, Broadwell chose to wait, only taking the money from the teller drawers, which amounted to less than $2,300. Unbeknownst to the outlaws, the vault was actually already unlocked, a critical oversight that further delayed their escape.
Across the square, Bob and Emmett Dalton had more immediate success at the First National Bank. They quickly intimidated Cashier Ayers, his son Albert, and Teller W. H. Sheppard, forcing them to empty the safe and cash drawers into a sack. Fearing an immediate alarm, the Daltons marched the bank officers out, intending to use them as human shields during their getaway. This critical error brought them directly into the sights of the waiting posse.
The Battle of Death Alley
As the Dalton brothers emerged from the First National Bank, they instantly spotted the armed citizens converging in the square. Dropping their captives, they made a desperate dash for their horses, which were tied in a nearby alley. Jim Spears, a crack shot, was the first to fire. His rifle barked, and Bob Dalton, the infamous leader, fell dead instantly, struck in the temple. Emmett Dalton, witnessing his brother’s demise, dodged behind the bank and ran toward the alley, narrowly escaping Spears’ immediate aim.
The sound of gunfire alerted Broadwell’s group inside Condon’s bank. Rushing to the windows, they saw Bob Dalton’s lifeless body. They fired a volley into the square, wounding several citizens, including Cashier Ayers and shoemaker Charles Brown, both of whom later died. Marshal Connelly, hearing the escalating gunfight, rallied more men and rushed to the scene. As Broadwell’s gang emerged from Condon’s bank, a chaotic fusillade erupted. Spears, with incredible accuracy, dropped two more outlaws, Joseph Evans and Dick Broadwell, both shot through the head. The remaining outlaws, including Grat Dalton, were caught in the intense crossfire and fatally wounded. Marshal Connelly, George Cubine, and L.M. Baldwin also tragically lost their lives during the fierce battle.
Emmett Dalton’s Survival and Allie Ogee’s Mistake
The newspaper initially reported that Emmett Dalton had also died from his wounds, stating he “died late this afternoon” after making an “anti-mortem statement.” However, this was incorrect. Miraculously, Emmett, despite being shot 23 times, survived the encounter. He was captured and sentenced to prison, eventually serving 14 years before being released. He later wrote a book about the fateful day, detailing the gang’s history and the Coffeyville tragedy. Another persistent rumor, also reported in the Galveston Daily News, claimed a sixth robber, Allie Ogee, had escaped. This too was proven false; Ogee later wrote an indignant letter to the editor, confirming he was working in Wichita at the time of the raid.
After the battle, the stolen money, amounting to approximately $15,000 from the First National Bank and the lesser sum from Condon’s, was recovered from the bodies of the dead outlaws. The town was left reeling, but also with a sense of grim victory. The bodies of the fallen citizens were taken to their homes, while the deceased members of the Dalton Gang lay where they fell until the coroner arrived, attracting hundreds of curious onlookers from surrounding towns. The public sentiment was clear: the gang had met their deserved end, fulfilling an Old West prophecy that they would “die with their boots on.”
The Dalton Legacy: From Lawmen to Outlaws
The story of the Dalton Gang is deeply rooted in the tumultuous post-Civil War American frontier. The brothers—Bob, Grat (Grattan), and Emmett—along with their older siblings, initially found themselves on both sides of the law. Several of them, including Bob and Grat, even served as deputy U.S. marshals in the Indian Territory. However, their law enforcement careers were often marred by accusations of corruption and a growing attraction to the lucrative world of outlawry. This transition from lawmen to notorious criminals began with cattle rustling and petty crimes.
Their depredations escalated, leading them to train and stagecoach robberies, first in California, then returning to their old stomping grounds in the Indian Territory. Key to their success during this period were their well-planned train robberies, targeting the Santa Fe, Missouri Pacific, and ‘Frisco lines. The Wharton robbery was particularly brutal, with a station operator shot dead without warning. With each successful heist, the legend of the Dalton Gang grew, as did the reward for their capture. Their notoriety reached its peak with the audacious plan to rob two banks simultaneously in Coffeyville, Kansas, a town where they were once known and where they ultimately met their tragic fate, bringing an end to their reign of terror and solidifying their legend in the annals of the Old West.
