The High Fives gang, also called the Christian Gang, was a group of Oklahoma outlaws that committed numerous crimes in the American Southwest.
The gang robbed banks, stores, trains and stagecoaches along with stealing horses and cattle. Led by William "Black Jack" Christian, their crimes ranged across Arizona, New Mexico and Texas through the 1890s.[1]
Gang members and their aliases
edit- The leader, William "Black Jack" Christian. (202, Ed Williams).[2]
- His brother, Robert "Bob" Christian (Tom Anderson).[1]
- Bob Hayes (John West, Sam Hassells).[1]
- George Musgrave (Jeff Davis, Bill Johnson, Jess Johnson, Jesse Miller, Bob Steward, Jesse Williams).[1]
- Cole "Code" Young (Cole Estes, Bob Harris).[1]
History
editIn the summer of 1895, the gang was jailed in Guthrie Oklahoma for murdering a police officer. After breaking out of jail that year, [3] they fled to Arizona. The gang continued to commit crimes there for the next two years.[2] A $500 reward was posted for their capture.
Following a failed bank robbery, Sheriff Bob Leatherwood of Tucson Arizona to track down the gang. However, the outlaws evaded them and took refuge in Mexico.
In 1897, law enforcement learned that the gang had returned to Arizona. A posse was sent to Black Jack Canyon to ambush them.[1] On April 27, 1897, the posse surprised the gang outside of Clifton, Arizona. During the gun battle, William Christian was shot and killed while the rest of the gang escaped. On returning to Clifton, the posse paraded Williams' body around town on a lumber wagon.[4]
Aftermath
editThe gang split up after Christian's death. Bob Christian went to Mexico and was never hear from again. Musgrave was later captured and tried for his murder of Texas Ranger George Parker. After his acquittal, Musgrave moved to Paraguay, where he became known as the "Gringo cattle rustler". He died there at age 70.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Smith, Roberta Barr. Wild West. Dec2000, Vol. 13 Issue 4, p34. 6p. 6 Black and White Photographs
- ^ a b O'Neal, Bill (1979). Encyclopedia of western gunfighters (1st ed.). Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-1508-4. OCLC 4593264.
- ^ Nash, Robert; Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen & Outlaws; Da Capo Press; New York, NY, 1994.
- ^ References Wild West. Dec2000, Vol. 13 Issue 4, p34. 6p. 6 Black and White Photographs
- ^ Tanner, Karen and John D.; Last of the Old-Time Outlaws: The George West Musgrave Story, University of Oklahoma Press, 2002