Outlaws of the Old West - The Dalton Gang Coffeyville Kansas

These outlaws were part of the Dalton Gang that was wiped out in Coffeyville Kansas on October 5th 1892 during their daylight robbery of two banks. The Dalton Gang was notoriously famous in Oklahoma for holding up trains and many murders. They successfully evaded authorities for a year and a half which led to a bit too much self confidence.

On October 5th 1892 they attempted a daylight robbery of the First National and Condon Banks in their old hometown of Coffeyville at the same time. Two of the Dalton brothers-Bob and Emmett-headed for the First National, while Grat Dalton led Dick Broadwell and Bill Powers in to the Condon Bank. One of the townspeople recognized a member of the gang, and while the gang split up to rob both of the banks the townspeople surrounded both banks at the front & back entrances and shot them as they attempted to escape.

Every member except for Emmett Dalton was shot and killed. Emmett was wounded and sentenced to life in prison but after 14 years he won parole. He eventually landed a role as a screenwriter in Hollywood, CA leveraging his experience in the Wild West. He died at the age of 66 in 1937.

Outlaws were shot and killed in the Old West then put on display as a sort of 'crime deterrent'. Taking photographs of dead outlaws was a common practice: My own great-grandfather, whose father was a Marshall, had many of these types of photos in his family album.