News – Sheridan Media
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One-hundred and twenty-eight years ago this month, an outlaw named George Cassity was released from the Wyoming State Penitentiary after serving 18 months of a two-year sentence for horse stealing.
The Sundance Gazette, January 24, 1896
George Cassidy was an alias for Butch Cassidy, whose real name was Robert LeRoy Parker. As Butch Cassidy, he ran an outlaw band called “The Wild Bunch,” that stole livestock, robbed trains and generally made trouble throughout Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. One of his favorite hide-outs was the Hole-In-The-Wall country near Kaycee, Wyoming. He served time in the Wyoming Territorial Prison in Laramie from 1894 to 1896, for grand larceny, or horse stealing. Cassidy was released early and pardoned in January 1896.
According to several sources, Cassidy was well-liked by many of the citizens in the area, except for those whose cattle he stole, and the lawmen who tried several times to catch him.
We can see this in this story in the Wyoming Tribune (Cheyenne), January 21, 1896 – Convict Pardoned. Governor Richards Issued a Pardon to George Cassidy Yesterday. George Cassidy, a convict who was sentenced from Fremont County to serve two years in the state penitentiary for horse stealing, was yesterday granted a pardon by Governor Richards. Cassidy had but six months of his term to serve and the pardon was Issued largely for the purpose of restoring his citizenship. The petition was a very strong one and was signed by all the prominent and leading citizens of Fremont County, who are satisfied that Cassidy will make a good citizen. Governor Richards only granted the pardon after a careful study of the cue and a consultation with the judge who sentenced him and who was also a signer of the petition for a pardon. Cassidy will return to his old home in Fremont County and will engage in business.
A later article said that Cassidy only had two more months to serve, rather than six. The articles did not say what type of business he was going to pursue.
Photo of Cassidy at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site.
That was the only time that Cassidy spent in jail, although the authorities tried to catch him for many years afterward.
Cheyenne Daily Leader, June 11, 1905 – Butch Cassidy is in Town. Notorious Outlaw Believed to Be in Hiding in Cheyenne. Peace Officers On a Still Hunt Last Night. But No Trace of Their Man Was Found. – Butch Cassidy is in town. Or at least he was here yesterday if Dame Rumor can be believed. And the old woman sometimes speaks the truth. That Cassidy was here there can be very little doubt, and last night the stillest of still hunts was in progress, with all grades of officer, from special agents to the police, on the trail.
The wily outlaw had dropped from sight, however, and even with the closest surveillance over persons supposed to be his friend, and practically every resort was visited by one officer or another, but no trace of the notorious desperado was found.
The fact that Cassidy was coming to Cheyenne to confer with a friend leaked out ten days ago. When two of his former gang of outlaws were in the city. The presence of those men here was not known at the time, but it leaked out after their departure, else they would have, been arrested, as they are wanted only less badly than their leader. There is good grounds for the belief that Cassidy carried out his intention of coming to the city yesterday, and also that he saw the man he came to see, although the latter was closely shadowed, it is said. Whether or not he is still in the city is a matter of speculation. If he is, he is lying mighty low, and his hiding place is well-selected.
“Butch” Cassidy, who led the most desperate gang of horse thieves, train robbers and cut throats whoever resorted to in that day criminal infested poor little Wyoming has not operated for a number of years, and has been variously reported in England, Europe, Central America, South America and Siberia.
A dozen or more rewards are outstanding for his arrest and the peace officers that can make him put up his hands and behave will become a hero throughout the entire Rocky Mountain Region. If you want to make some easy money, lay for Cassidy and make him reach for the stars.
But be careful that he doesn’t reach for his gun instead, for a lead diet has never proven healthful to any man; and especially not so when injected with a .41 caliber Colt’s syringe.
Hole-In-The-Wall Bar that Cassidy often frequented. Hot Springs County Museum, Thermopolis, Wyoming.
This story tells about the rewards offered, which was a lot of money in 1898. It also gives a description of Cassidy.
Rawlins Semi-Weekly Republican, April 16, 1898 – Reward Offered for the Capture of the Desperadoes. Fifteen Thousand Dollas is the Total Amount of the Rewards Now Offered for Butch Cassidy. If the outlaws who Infest “Robber’s Roost” desire to earn $4,500 as easily as falling off a log, they will at once break into the nearest strong jail and claim for themselves the reward that Governor Wells has offered for their capture, says the Salt Lake Herald. In the governor’s announcement, the names and personnel of twelve felons are mentioned, making the executive’s bounty at the rate of $4,500 per dozen.
The reward notice proclaimed by Governor Wells was issued in pursuance of lawful authority and in the hope that the rewards would be earned by minions of the law or others in the interest of peace and order in Southeastern Utah, and for the wellbeing of the lives and property rights of the people. The text of the governor’s reward offer is as follows: I hereby offer the following rewards for the apprehension, and delivery to a safe jail of the following described outlaws: $500 for Butch Cassidy, alias Parker, alias Ingerfleld; weight, 165 pounds; height,5 feet 8 inches; features regular; small, blue, deep set eyes; two cut scars on back of head; small red scar under left eye; red mark on left side of back, small brown mole on calf of leg; good build; light brown hair. Wanted for robbery of Paymaster Carpenter of the Pleasant Valley Coal company at Castle Gate in April,1897, and other crimes.
The story went on to describe several other outlaws that had a bounty on their heads.
When things got too hot for Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, some of them emigrated to Argentine to become cattlemen. Supposedly.
The Laramie Republican, February 28, 1910 – Sauce for the Gander — Word comes from Argentina that a group of our own dear bandits and train robbers has located in that country. “Butch Cassidy, Sun Dance Kid and Kid Curry” are said to be now living In the southern republic, alternately raising cattle and running off the cattle of other folk. What gives the story an air of verisimilitude is the statement that so far the government has been quite unable to deal with them. This also accords with experience. But one wonders how the Argentines there abouts look upon the “Americans of the North.”
We deal in lots of nonsensical talk here about the criminal foreigner. It would be worthwhile to know the sentiments of the country where the worst criminal foreigners are our own countrymen. We wonder whether the papers of Buenos Ayres are discussing ways and means of keeping out the”scum” that is threatening them from North America, and how many colleges of grave and learned professors have issued warnings that the open door policy will flood their land with”degenerates”from the “effete” and “worn-out” republic up at the top of the western world. It is just possible that a literal translation of some Argentine words Just now would make for modesty in this good land.
“You fellows needn’t twit me,” an exile-American is reported to have said to two of his countrymen, in a cafe in Buenos Ayres. “I maybe the last of our little bunch, but I know that there are at least three states that I can go back to without having the sheriff after me, and that’s more than either of you can say.”—Sheridan Enterprise
For all his crimes with his gang, The Wild Bunch, the only time that Cassidy served in jail was the 18 months in the Wyoming Territorial Prison, which still stands in Laramie, Wyoming. It is now a state historical site and has a display about Cassidy’s life and crimes.
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Last modified: January 18, 2025