To many area locals, the robbery and trial were an embarrassing  disgrace to the town and its people, and to talk about it about might offend friends or neighbors, or bring shame upon the colony. Therefore, the robbery was not publicized to the extent of other large robberies of the time. However; quietly, locals were said to have referred to the robbers as "Latter-Day Robin Hoods."  

It is thought that Gilbert Webb used the vast majority of the money to pay off debts, forgive the debts of other colony members, and pay for the attorneys for himself and the other accused men. The year after the trial, he was elected as a delegate to the Territorial Democratic Convention. However, sometime later, he was  indicted for defrauding the Pima school district of $160. He soon left the area, winding up in Mexico.

In the meantime, Major Joseph Washington Wham, as the commanding officer, was held accountable for the loss of the money, but was later absolved of any guilt.

Two of the Buffalo Soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their part in the gun battle with the bandits.  Although shot in the abdomen, Sergeant Benjamin Brown continued the fight until he was further wounded in both arms. Corporal Isaiah Mays also received the Medal of Honor, as near the end of the gun battle, though shot in the legs, he "walked and crawled two miles to Cottonwood Ranch and gave the alarm." Brown and Mays were the only black infantrymen to receive the Medal of Honor for bravery in the frontier Indian Wars.

Other Buffalo Soldiers cited for bravery in the incident received the Certificate of Merit. These included Hamilton Lewis, Squire Williams, George Arrington, James Wheeler, Benjamin Burge, Thomas Hams, James Young, and Julius Harrison of the 10th Cavalry and 24th Infantry.

U.S. Deputy Marshal Meade, who would bring in the bandits, would say of the soldiers, "I am satisfied a braver or better defense could not have been made under like circumstances."

Questions of the bandits’ guilt or innocence, as well as the final outcome of the loot, remain unanswered today. Throughout the years, the robbery has created a number of various treasure tales, suggesting that some of the coins are still hidden in the area somewhere. However; with all of the suspects set free, this would seem doubtful.   

© Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated March, 2010.