Richard West, famously known as “Little Dick” West, carved a short but violent path through the American Old West as a notorious outlaw. This diminutive figure became an integral part of the infamous Doolin Gang, or “Oklahombres,” terrorizing the Oklahoma Territory during a turbulent period of frontier history. Richard West‘s story is one of a man deeply entangled in the lawlessness that defined much of late 19th-century America.
The Enigmatic Beginnings of an Outlaw
Born around 1860 in the rugged expanse of Texas, the early life of Richard West remains largely shrouded in mystery. Legend has it that as a young child, he was discovered wandering alone on the vast open ranges of North Texas, ultimately to be raised by those who found him. This elusive start foreshadowed a life lived largely on the fringes of society. As he grew, West’s physical stature was notably small, standing barely 5 feet, 1 inch tall. It was this distinctive characteristic that earned him the moniker “Little Dick,” a name that would follow him throughout his criminal career and into the annals of Old West history.
His migration to the Oklahoma Territory marked a pivotal turning point. Initially working as a hired hand on grueling trail drives, West eventually secured employment as a cowboy on the sprawling Halsell Ranch. It was within this environment, amidst the dusty cattle trails and nascent settlements, that fate intervened. Here, he crossed paths with the charismatic and dangerous outlaw, Bill Doolin, a meeting that would irrevocably alter the course of Richard West‘s life. By 1892, West had fully embraced the outlaw lifestyle, formally joining Doolin’s formidable gang.
The Oklahombres and the Southwest City Robbery
The Doolin Gang, also infamously known as the Oklahombres, was a formidable force of desperadoes operating with impunity across the Oklahoma Territory. Richard West quickly integrated himself into this notorious group, participating in their daring train and bank robberies. One of the gang’s most notable, and ultimately tragic, exploits occurred in Southwest City, Missouri, where they targeted a local bank. West was an active participant in this heist, a brutal encounter that exemplified the inherent violence of outlaw life.
As the gang attempted to make their escape, mounting their horses with their ill-gotten gains, an alarm was raised, shattering the fragile peace of the frontier town. A ferocious gunfight erupted, transforming the quiet street into a chaotic battlefield. In the ensuing melee, two innocent bystanders tragically fell victim to the indiscriminate gunfire; one succumbed to their wounds, while the other was severely injured. Amidst the chaos, Richard West himself sustained a gunshot wound. Despite his injury, he proved resilient, surviving the encounter and continuing his tenure with the Doolin Gang, remaining a loyal member until the death of Bill Doolin in 1896, which severely weakened the gang’s operations and leadership.
A New Chapter: The Jennings Gang’s Bungled Attempts
The demise of Bill Doolin left a vacuum in the outlaw landscape, and for some, it signaled an opportunity to forge new paths. In the year following Doolin’s death, 1897, Richard West sought to continue his life of crime by helping to establish a new group: the Jennings Gang. He joined forces with the notorious brothers Al and Frank Jennings, hoping to replicate the ‘success’ of Doolin’s earlier ventures. However, this new collaboration proved to be a far less successful endeavor, characterized by a string of remarkably inept and bungled robbery attempts.
The Jennings Gang quickly gained a reputation not for their daring, but for their consistent failures. Their attempts to rob trains in Edmond, Bond Switch, and Chickasaw, Oklahoma, were all met with frustration and thwarted efforts. A planned bank robbery in Minco, Oklahoma, similarly ended in failure, demonstrating a distinct lack of planning or execution prowess. After these repeated, humiliating failures, the Jennings Gang quickly disintegrated. While Al and Frank Jennings, along with two other members, were apprehended and sentenced to jail in 1897, Richard West, ever elusive, managed to evade capture, remaining a fugitive for another year, further cementing his status as a persistent, albeit unlucky, outlaw.
The “Three Guardsmen” and West’s Demise
The authorities, particularly the famed “Three Guardsmen” – legendary lawmen Bill Tilghman, Heck Thomas, and Chris Madsen – were relentless in their pursuit of outlaws like Richard West. These seasoned marshals had made it their mission to rid the territories of lawlessness, and West, despite his string of failures with the Jennings Gang, remained a wanted man. The lawmen’s tireless efforts eventually paid off. Through persistent tracking and intelligence, they finally cornered him near Guthrie, Oklahoma, in the spring of 1898.
On April 13, 1898, the inevitable confrontation occurred. When Deputy Marshals Heck Thomas and Bill Tilghman approached Richard West, demanding his surrender, the outlaw, perhaps out of desperation or a defiant refusal to be taken alive, chose to resist. What followed was a swift and brutal gunfight, a common end for many men who chose the path of crime in the Old West. In the exchange of gunfire, Richard West was killed, bringing a definitive end to his outlaw career. His life of crime concluded much like it began – with violence and a touch of grim anonymity. He was subsequently buried in Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma, a resting place he shares with his former leader, Bill Doolin, a somber testament to their shared history.
Conclusion: The Legacy of a Minor Outlaw
Richard West, “Little Dick” West, remains a secondary but significant figure in the complex tapestry of the American Old West. His story, though not as celebrated or sensationalized as some of his more prominent contemporaries, serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities and volatile nature of life on the frontier. From his mysterious origins in Texas to his violent end in Oklahoma, West’s journey was marked by a commitment to the outlaw life, first with the formidable Doolin Gang and then with the less fortunate Jennings Gang. His relatively short life was a testament to the brief and often brutal careers of many who chose to defy the law. Ultimately, Richard West‘s tale underscores the relentless efforts of lawmen like the Three Guardsmen who tirelessly worked to bring order to the chaotic territories, ensuring that even minor figures like “Little Dick” could not escape the long arm of frontier justice. His grave in Guthrie stands as a silent monument to a life lived, and lost, on the wrong side of the law.
