John M. Larn
Encyclopedia
John M. Larn was a western American
lawman and later outlaw
who, with gunfighter John Selman
, operated a cattle rustling ring in Shackelford County, Texas
for over a year.
Born in Mobile, Alabama
, Larn traveled to Colorado
as a teenager where he found work as a ranch hand until murdering his employer during an argument over a horse. Fleeing to New Mexico
, Larn killed a local sheriff he had thought was tracking him. After settling in Fort Griffin, Texas, Larn once again was employed by local rancher Bill Hays as a trail boss. It was also around this time, while traveling to California, that Larn had supposedly murdered two Mexicans after an argument and had their bodies dumped in the Pecos River
.
Deciding to stay in Fort Griffin, Larn eventually married the daughter of Bill Hays and within several years had become a well known citizen of Shackelford County. After years of service with the local vigilante committees, Larn was elected county sheriff in April 1876. Shortly after becoming elected, Larn agreed to a contract with the local territorial garrison to deliver three steers of cattle per day. Larn however, began planning with longtime friend and recently deputized John Selman to rustle cattle from neighboring ranchers in place of his own. Suspicions were soon raised as ranchers noticed while their herds were slowly shrinking, Larn's remained the only ranch unaffected and, after discovering the scheme, Larn was eventually forced to resign on March 7, 1877.
No charges were brought against him however; Leslie continued to live in Shackelford County until June 1878 when Larn wounded a local ranched by the name of Treadwell (who had reportedly uncovered the cattle rustling). Larn was soon arrested by Sheriff William Cruger on June 22, 1878 and taken to Albany where Cruger ordered the local blacksmith to shackle Larn to the floor of the jail house as to prevent a breakout by Larn's supporters. However, when vigilantes from Fort Griffin arrived the following night, finding they could not lynch Larn they instead shot him as he was still shackled in his cell.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawman and later outlaw
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...
who, with gunfighter John Selman
John Selman
John Selman was an outlaw and sometimes lawman of the Old West. He is best known as the man who shot outlaw John Wesley Hardin in the Acme Saloon in El Paso, Texas on August 19, 1895.-Early life, service with the Confederacy:...
, operated a cattle rustling ring in Shackelford County, Texas
Texas
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...
for over a year.
Born in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, Larn traveled to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
as a teenager where he found work as a ranch hand until murdering his employer during an argument over a horse. Fleeing to 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...
, Larn killed a local sheriff he had thought was tracking him. After settling in Fort Griffin, Texas, Larn once again was employed by local rancher Bill Hays as a trail boss. It was also around this time, while traveling to California, that Larn had supposedly murdered two Mexicans after an argument and had their bodies dumped in the Pecos River
Pecos River
The headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
.
Deciding to stay in Fort Griffin, Larn eventually married the daughter of Bill Hays and within several years had become a well known citizen of Shackelford County. After years of service with the local vigilante committees, Larn was elected county sheriff in April 1876. Shortly after becoming elected, Larn agreed to a contract with the local territorial garrison to deliver three steers of cattle per day. Larn however, began planning with longtime friend and recently deputized John Selman to rustle cattle from neighboring ranchers in place of his own. Suspicions were soon raised as ranchers noticed while their herds were slowly shrinking, Larn's remained the only ranch unaffected and, after discovering the scheme, Larn was eventually forced to resign on March 7, 1877.
No charges were brought against him however; Leslie continued to live in Shackelford County until June 1878 when Larn wounded a local ranched by the name of Treadwell (who had reportedly uncovered the cattle rustling). Larn was soon arrested by Sheriff William Cruger on June 22, 1878 and taken to Albany where Cruger ordered the local blacksmith to shackle Larn to the floor of the jail house as to prevent a breakout by Larn's supporters. However, when vigilantes from Fort Griffin arrived the following night, finding they could not lynch Larn they instead shot him as he was still shackled in his cell.
Further reading
- Holden, Frances Mayhugh. Lambshead Before Interwoven: A Texas Range Chronicle, 1848-1878, College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1982.
- Metz, Leon C. John Selman New York: Hastings House, 1966; 2d ed., Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1980.
- Rister, Carl Coke. Fort Griffin on the Texas Frontier, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1956.
- Rye, Edgar. The Quirt and the Spur: Vanishing Shadows of the Texas Frontier, Chicago: Conkey, 1909; facsimile ed., Austin: Steck-Vaughn, 1967).
- Sonnichsen, C. L. I'll Die Before I Run: The Story of the Great Feuds of Texas, New York: Devin-Adair, 1962.