The Dodge City Gang of Las Vegas, New Mexico

The Dodge City Gang

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On January 22, 1880, T.J. House, James West, John Dorsey, and William Randall were parading about town sneering, laughing, and looking for trouble. When they entered the Close & Patterson Variety Hall, Marshal Joe Carson asked them to check their guns, they refused. A wild gunfight ensued and Carson was killed immediately, while Deputy "Mysterious" Dave Mather killed Randall and dropped West. John Dorsey, though wounded, and T.J. House managed to escape. On February 5th, the Dodge City Gang learned that Dorsey and House were hiding out at the home of Juan Antonio Dominguez in Buena Vista, thirty miles north of Las Vegas. A posse comprised of J.J. Webb, Dave Rudabaugh, and five other men, surrounded the house and called for the men to surrender.

Las Vegas, New Mexico Saloon

Old Saloon in Las Vegas, New Mexico , courtesy

Denver Public Library

Dorsey and House complied after assurance of protection from the citizens of Las Vegas was given. However, this assurance would be prove to be false, as within hours of the men being placed in the Old Town Jail, vigilantes relieved the jailers of the prisoners. Taking them to the windmill on the Plaza to hang, Mrs. Carson opened fire on the men, ending their lives before they could be strung up.

Soon after Carson’s death, "Mysterious" Dave Mather would be named marshal and J.J. Webb, a policeman. While none of these crimes were laid at the door of J.J. Webb, as an associate of the Dodge City Gang, his complicity in the matters was widely suspected. The people were up in arms over the killings, thefts, and general rowdiness of their fair city. Two more killings would occur before the Dodge City Gang would head for safer climates. On March 2, 1880, Hyman Neill learned that a freighter by the name of Mike Kelliher was carrying about $1,900 on his person. The Ford County Globe of March 9, 1880, reprinted the report from Las Vegas Daily Optic:

About four o'clock this morning, Michael Kelliher, in company with William Brickley and another man, entered Goodlet [a member of the Dodge City Gang] & Roberts' Saloon and called for drinks. Michael Kelliher appeared to be the leader of the party and he, in violation of the law, had a pistol on his person. This was noticed by the officers, who came through a rear door, and they requested that Kelliher lay aside his revolver. But he refused to do so, remarking, "I won't be disarmed – everything goes," immediately placing his hand on his pistol, no doubt intending to shoot. But officer Webb was too quick for him. The man was shot before he had time to use his weapon. He was shot three times–once in each breast and once in the head. . . Kelliher had $1,090 [$1,900] on his person when killed.

Though it was Webb who was arrested, Hoodoo Brown was said to have taken the money.

Shortly thereafter, the citizens of Las Vegas had finally had enough, assembled a party of vigilantes and posted this notice in the Las Vegas Optic on April 8, 1880:

To Murderers, Confidence Men, Thieves:

The citizens of Las Vegas have tired of robbery, murder, and other crimes that have made this town a byword in every civilized community. They 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. 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. The flow of blood must and shall be stopped in this community, and the good citizens of both the old and new towns have determined to stop it, if they have to HANG by the strong arm of FORCE every violator of the law in this country. "

Vigilantes

Soon afterwards Hyman G. "Hoodoo Brown," "Mysterious" Dave Mather, and the rest fled Las Vegas.

Dodge City Gang Members

Dutch Henry Borne - Henry Born, more often called Dutch Henry was an outlaw and one of the most prevalent horse thieves of the Old West. He eventually was sent to prison for stealing mules in Arkansas. When he was released, he lived a clean life, marrying and becoming a father. He died of pneumonia on January 10, 1921, at Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

Hyman G. "Hoodoo Brown" Neill, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace – From New Mexico , Neill fled to Texas then Kansas, before arriving in Leadville, Colorado, where he was allegedly killed in a gambling dispute.

Selim K. "Frank" Cady - Unknown

Joe Carson, Las Vegas City Marshall – Carson was killed in a gunfight at the Close & Patterson Variety Hall, in Las Vegas, New Mexico on January 22, 1880.

"Mysterious Dave” Mather, U.S. Marshal and Las Vegas Marshal – Mather returned to Dodge City Kansas where he served as Assistant City Marshall, before moving on again to Canada. In Vancouver, he served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, where he was still seen in the royal blue and red as late as 1920.

William P. "Slap Jack Bill" Nicholson - Unknown

Tom Pickett - Pickett was arrested with Billy the Kid and Dirty Dave Rudabaugh on December 30, 1880. He was released on $300 bail and soon drifted to Arizona where he worked with the Hashknife Outfit. Later he would serve a short stint as a U.S. Deputy Marshal. He died of old age at Winslow, Arizona on May 14, 1934.

John "Bull Shit Jack" Pierce - Unknown

"Dirty Dave" Rudabaugh - Rudabaugh escaped with J.J. Webb from the Las Vegas Old Town jail in late 1881.Rudabaugh and Webb raced to Texas and then to Mexico where Webb disappeared. On February 18, 1886, Rudabaugh was shot two men in a dispute over a card game in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. Later he was jumped, decapitated, and his severed head carried around on a pole for the next several days.

"Six Shooter” Bill Smith, aka: John Henry Jankins, California Jim (1856?-1882) - A gunman and petty outlaw who enjoyed wounding people without killing them. He was killed in a gunfight in Cibolo, Texas in August, 1882.

John Joshua (J.J.) Webb - Webb Along with Dave Rudabaugh broke out of jail in Las Vegas, New Mexico late in 1881. Rudabaugh and Webb raced to Texas and then to Mexico where Webb disappeared. Later Webb returned to Kansas, where he took the name "Samuel King." He died in Winslow, Arkansas of smallpox in 1882.

Jordan L. Webb (no relation to J.J.) - Unknown

Las Vegas Plaza, 1900, courtesy Denver Public Library

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