Law enforcement in the old Wild West was spotty at best, and the line between lawman and outlaw often blurred.
Peacekeepers were frequently paid very little or nothing and needed to have a regular (full-time) job to eat and put a roof over their heads. For this reason—and others—those in charge of upholding the law often didn’t do so themselves. “Three-Fingered” Jack Gallager is a prime example. He was both a deputy sheriff and an outlaw. His double dealing ways didn’t last long, because a group of vigilantes put an end to his duplicitous life—permanently.
On account of the low—or in many cases, no—pay, it was hard to find honest lawmen. However, there were a few in the history books who didn’t bounce back and forth between lawman and outlaw; John Armstrong, John Hicks Adams, John Reynolds Hughs, and Heck Thomas were a few of the good ones.
In one extremely lawless town (Las Vegas, NM), the citizens were fed up with the murders, thievery, and other lawlessness. Las Vegas, NM was considered the worst of the worst.
To rid themselves of the lawless scourge, the townsfolk put a notice in the April 8, 1880 edition of the The Las Vegas Optic addressed to “…murders, confidence men, and thieves” warning them to change their ways or leave town. Part of this notice read:
“All such characters are therefore, hereby notified, that they must either leave this town or conform themselves to the requirements of law, or they will be summarily dealt with.”
Basically, leave town or start following the law. Did they truly believe this would work? And what did they plan to do if these ne’er-do-wells didn’t leave?
“They [the good citizens of Las Vegas] have resolved to put a stop to crime, if in attaining that end they have to forget the law and resort to a speedier justice than it will afford.”
And signed by “Vigilantes.”
Apparently, these “good-citizen” vigilantes weren’t above a little law breaking to rid their town of the unsavory characters.
So did it work?
Apparently. Most of the criminals departed to places that were a bit less resistant to their wild ways. At least the showier criminals who tended to have gunfights in the middle of the street and such. Those who carried on their nefarious activities behind the scenes continued in the shadows.
It was interesting to research about Wild West lawmen and to find out that many of them were former outlaws or still outlaws or flip-flopped between the two, depending on the situation and how they felt that day. I chose to have true good guys be the peacekeepers in Kamola. So Deputy Montana, the hero in The Débutante’s Secret, is a law abiding lawman.
With all the craziness that went on in the old West, I’m glad I live in modern times.
Bestselling, award-winning novelist MARY DAVIS has over thirty titles in both historical and contemporary themes. She is a member of ACFW and has led critique groups for more than two decades. Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of thirty-seven years and one cat. She has three adult children and three adorable grandchildren. She enjoys playing board and card games, rain, and cats. She would enjoy gardening if she didn’t have a black thumb. Her hobbies are quilting, porcelain doll making, sewing, crafts, crocheting, and knitting.
THE DÉBUTANTE’S SECRET
Will Geneviève open her heart to a love she never imagined?
Washington State 1894
Geneviève Marseille has one purpose in coming to Kamola—stopping her brother from digging up the past. Deputy Montana has lived a simple life. But when a fancy French lady steps off the train and into his arms, his modest existence might not be enough anymore. A nemesis from Aunt Henny’s past arrives in town threatening her with jail. Will she flee as she’d done all those years ago, or stand her ground in the town she’s made her home? When secrets come out, will the lives of Geneviève, Montana, and Aunt Henny ever be the same?
