Jessie Evans Gang
Encyclopedia
The Jesse Evans Gang, also known as The Boys, was a gang of rustlers and robbers led by outlaw
and gunman Jesse Evans, which lasted from 1876 until 1880. The gang was formed after Evans broke with the John Kinney Gang
. After breaking away he brought Billy Morton, Frank Baker, Tom Hill, Dolly Graham, George Davis, Jim McDaniels, Buffalo Bill Spawn, Bob Martin, Manuel "Indian" Segovia and Nicholas Provencio.
and cattle rustling from 1876 through 1880, most committed in New Mexico
. Sometime in the spring of 1876 Evans and other gang members killed Pancho Cruz, Roman Mes and Tomas Cuerele at Shedd's ranch at San Augustin, Dona Ana County
. They then shifted their domain to Lincoln County, New Mexico
. They raided John Chisum's
ranch, whom Evans had once worked for, and the Mescalero Apache reservation. Sometime around the 1877 mark it is believed that Billy the Kid
rode with them.
", to harass the latter's opposition in Lincoln County, New Mexico
. They began by rustling the cattle and horses of the Tunstall-McSween Faction. In February 1878, a posse
was dispatched by Sheriff Brady
to arrest rancher John Tunstall
. That posse included Jesse Evans, William Morton, Frank Baker, Tom Hill and Dolly Graham, all members of Evans' gang. They ambushed and murdered Tunstall on February 18, 1878, which ignited the Lincoln County War
. Several days later, on March 9, 1878, the Lincoln County Regulators
, a vigilante
posse formed by Tunstall and McSween supporters and at the time led by Dick Brewer
caught Morton and Baker, and executed both men. On that same day Jesse Evans was injured and Tom Hill was killed while attempting to raid a ranch near Tularosa. Evans was arrested but managed to break out of jail. Evans returned and was present at the five day siege at McSween's house, known as the Battle of Lincoln.
, but Texas Rangers
began pursuing them relentlessly, and killed several gang members including Dolly Graham. The Rangers caught up with the gang, including Evans, in Presidio del Norte, Mexico
, on July 3, 1880. The gunfight that followed would mark the end of the Jesse Evans Gang.
The Rangers engaged them in a shootout, during which Evans shot and killed Ranger George Bingham, and Ranger D.T. Carson was wounded by other gang members. In turn, Ranger Carson and Ranger Ed Sieker shot and killed gang member George Davis, and shot and wounded gang member John Gross. The remaining members were captured. Gross was sentenced to a long prison term, but spent less than four years. Evans was sentenced to ten years, but while on work release he escaped, and disappeared from history. His whereabouts after that are a mystery, as he never surfaced again.
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
and gunman Jesse Evans, which lasted from 1876 until 1880. The gang was formed after Evans broke with the John Kinney Gang
John Kinney Gang
The John Kinney Gang, also known as the Rio Grande Posse, was an outlaw gang of the old West, which operated during the mid-1870s into the mid-1880s....
. After breaking away he brought Billy Morton, Frank Baker, Tom Hill, Dolly Graham, George Davis, Jim McDaniels, Buffalo Bill Spawn, Bob Martin, Manuel "Indian" Segovia and Nicholas Provencio.
Early history
The gang initiated numerous acts of robberyRobbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and cattle rustling from 1876 through 1880, most committed in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. Sometime in the spring of 1876 Evans and other gang members killed Pancho Cruz, Roman Mes and Tomas Cuerele at Shedd's ranch at San Augustin, Dona Ana County
San Augustin Mountains
The San Augustin Mountains are a small mountain subrange at the southern terminus of the San Andres Mountains east of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Organ lies at the southwest foothills; the townsite, White Sands, NM lies to the southeast at the southwest of the Tularosa Valley.-Description:The San...
. They then shifted their domain to Lincoln County, New Mexico
Lincoln County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.1% White*0.5% Black*2.4% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*9.1% Other races*29.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. They raided John Chisum's
John Chisum
John Simpson Chisum was a wealthy cattle baron in the American West in the mid-to-late 19th century. Born in Hardeman County, Tennessee, Chisum's family moved to Texas in 1837, with Chisum finding work as a building contractor...
ranch, whom Evans had once worked for, and the Mescalero Apache reservation. Sometime around the 1877 mark it is believed that Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
rode with them.
Lincoln County War
The gang was hired in late 1877 by the "Murphy-Dolan FactionLawrence Murphy
Lawrence Murphy was an Irish-American businessman of the Old West, and a main instigator of the Lincoln County War.-Early life:...
", to harass the latter's opposition in Lincoln County, New Mexico
Lincoln County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.1% White*0.5% Black*2.4% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*9.1% Other races*29.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. They began by rustling the cattle and horses of the Tunstall-McSween Faction. In February 1878, a posse
Posse comitatus (common law)
Posse comitatus or sheriff's posse is the common-law or statute law authority of a county sheriff or other law officer to conscript any able-bodied males to assist him in keeping the peace or to pursue and arrest a felon, similar to the concept of the "hue and cry"...
was dispatched by Sheriff Brady
William J. Brady
William J. Brady was the sheriff of Lincoln County during the Lincoln County Wars in New Mexico, United States. He was killed in an ambush, aged 48, in which Billy the Kid took part.-Early life:...
to arrest rancher John Tunstall
John Tunstall
John Henry Tunstall , born in England, became a rancher and merchant in New Mexico, where he became a prominent figure and was the first man killed in the Lincoln County War, an economic and political conflict perhaps compounded by ethnic rivalries.-Early life and education:John Henry Tunstall was...
. That posse included Jesse Evans, William Morton, Frank Baker, Tom Hill and Dolly Graham, all members of Evans' gang. They ambushed and murdered Tunstall on February 18, 1878, which ignited the Lincoln County War
Lincoln County War
The Lincoln County War was a 19th-century range war between two factions during the Old West period. Numerous notable figures of the American West were involved, including Billy the Kid, aka William Henry McCarty; sheriffs William Brady and Pat Garrett; cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and...
. Several days later, on March 9, 1878, the Lincoln County Regulators
Lincoln County Regulators
The Lincoln County Regulators was a deputized posse in Lincoln County, New Mexico during the Lincoln County War, consisting of a dozen or so members who wanted revenge for the killing of their boss, John Tunstall...
, a vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
posse formed by Tunstall and McSween supporters and at the time led by Dick Brewer
Richard Brewer
Richard M. "Dick" Brewer , was an American cowboy and outlaw. He was the first leader of what historically is referred to as Billy the Kid's band, although Billy never led them.-Early life:...
caught Morton and Baker, and executed both men. On that same day Jesse Evans was injured and Tom Hill was killed while attempting to raid a ranch near Tularosa. Evans was arrested but managed to break out of jail. Evans returned and was present at the five day siege at McSween's house, known as the Battle of Lincoln.
After the Lincoln County War
After the war he and Billy Mathews are said to have attempted to make peace with Billy The Kid, but the two killed lawyer Huston Chapman, putting them on the run from law enforcement. The gang fled down to TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, but Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
began pursuing them relentlessly, and killed several gang members including Dolly Graham. The Rangers caught up with the gang, including Evans, in Presidio del Norte, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, on July 3, 1880. The gunfight that followed would mark the end of the Jesse Evans Gang.
The Rangers engaged them in a shootout, during which Evans shot and killed Ranger George Bingham, and Ranger D.T. Carson was wounded by other gang members. In turn, Ranger Carson and Ranger Ed Sieker shot and killed gang member George Davis, and shot and wounded gang member John Gross. The remaining members were captured. Gross was sentenced to a long prison term, but spent less than four years. Evans was sentenced to ten years, but while on work release he escaped, and disappeared from history. His whereabouts after that are a mystery, as he never surfaced again.
Known Members
This is a list of all the known members of the Jesse Evans gang:- Jesse Evans, disappeared after escaping prison.
- William Morton, killed by the Regulators on March 9, Agua Negra Canyon, New Mexico.
- Frank Baker, killed by the Regulators on March 9, 1878, Agua Negra Canyon, New Mexico.
- Tom Hill, killed by a sheep herder on March 9, 1878, near Tularosa, New MexicoTularosa, New MexicoTularosa is a village in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. It shares its name with the Tularosa Basin, in which the town is located. To the east, Tularosa is flanked by the western edge of the Sacramento Mountains. The population was 2,864 at the 2000 census...
. - George Davis, killed by Texas Rangers on July 3, 1880, Chinati MountainsChinati MountainsThe Chinati Mountains of Texas are a small range in the high desert of far West Texas near the city of Presidio. There is a pass through the mountains on Ranch to Market Road 2810, also known as Pinto Canyon Road, which connects to Farm to Market Road 170 at Ruidosa, Texas...
, Texas. - Manuel "Indian" Segovia, killed by the Regulators on May 19, 1878, Seven Rivers, New Mexico.
- Jimmy McDaniels, died of old age around 1950.
- Dick Lloyd, killed in Arizona in early 1880s.
- Charles "Pony" Diehl, went to Tombstone, ArizonaTombstone, ArizonaTombstone is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, founded in 1879 by Ed Schieffelin in what was then Pima County, Arizona Territory. It was one of the last wide-open frontier boomtowns in the American Old West. From about 1877 to 1890, the town's mines produced USD $40 to $85 million...
and played a prominent role during the ClantonIke ClantonJoseph Isaac Clanton was born in Callaway County, Missouri. He is best known for being a member of group of outlaw Cowboys that had ongoing conflicts with lawmen Wyatt, Virgil, Morgan Earp and Wyatt's friend Doc Holliday. The Clantons repeatedly threatened the Earps because they interfered with...
-EarpWyatt EarpWyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...
feud. - Jack Long, went to Arizona and disappeared.
- George "Buffalo Bill" Spawn, nothing known of life after Lincoln County War.
- Nicholas Provencio, nothing known of life after Lincoln County War.
- Bob Martin, convicted of armed robbery in El Paso, TexasEl Paso, TexasEl Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
in 1878, and migrated to Cochise County, ArizonaCochise County, Arizona-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*78.5% White*4.2% Black*1.2% Native American*1.9% Asian*0.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.0% Two or more races*9.6% Other races*32.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. - William "Curly Bill" Brocius, aka William Bresnaham, convicted of armed robbery in El Paso, TexasEl Paso, TexasEl Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
in 1878, and migrated to Cochise County, ArizonaCochise County, Arizona-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*78.5% White*4.2% Black*1.2% Native American*1.9% Asian*0.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.0% Two or more races*9.6% Other races*32.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. - Roscoe Burrell, nothing known of life after Lincoln County War.
- Serafin Aragon, nothing known of life after Lincoln County War.
- Ponciano Domingues, nothing known of life after Lincoln County War.
- Billy Campbell, nothing known of life after Lincoln County War.