Western Outlaws

Western Outlaws: The "Good Badman" in Fact, Film, and Folklore

By Kent Ladd Steckmesser

The author earned a PhD at the University of Chicago.

The author examines the Robin Hood legend, and then compares the legends of several western outlaws: Joaquin Murrieta, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, and Pretty Boy Floyd.

Newspapermen and authors had a huge role in the legend of Jesses James, starting even before his death. It is interesting to note that many more books were published on the life of Jesses James than on the lives of all the Missouri governors combined.

Billy the Kid had faded into obscurity before he was resuurected by enterprising authors.

Butch Cassidy had no historical importance until 1969 when the film with Paul Newman catapulted the character into the public's view.

The author enumerates several points that differentiate a good outlaw from a bad one, thus allowing the outlaw to obtain the status of legend.

1) Serves a higher law. The author points out that the infamous Harpe brothers fail on this criteria. As do Bonnie & Clyde.

2) Generosity. Steal from the rich and give to the poor.

3) Redeeming personality traits. Sense of humor. Polite. Loyal.

4) Victim of circumstances. Bad breaks. Persecution drove them to crime.

5) Trickster. Intelligent. Clever.

6) Die in action. Or at least avoid life in prison.

Overall, the book is a fascinating study in the power of journalism to distort history.