Outlaw Tales of Colorado: True Stories of Colorado's Notorious Robbers, Rustlers, and Bandits

This rather slim book recounts the life stories of about 12 outlaws who plied their nefarious trades within the confines of Colorado. Of course, the world famous cannibalman Albert Packer is here as is the almost as well-renown con man Soapy Smith; both of these men have entered the realm of legend in Colorado. Other subjects include gunslinger Jack Slade (mentioned by Mark Twain in ROUGHING IT), Telluride lawman-gone-bad Jim Clark, the horse-thieving Stockton brothers and Musgrove gang, and the most notorious gang in the state, known for its savage killings, the Espinosas. Lou Blonger, Denver swindler, is of more recent vintage, and there is a final chapter on a few ladies of the night and a husband killer (who went free). Needless to say, most of these characters ended up at the end of a rope (some like Lee Musgrove, vigilante style), shot, or in jail. The rendering of these outlaw tales is definitely on the brief side, though fairly well told. Factually, it's accurate, though in small details it falters (Murphy refers to Ft. Fetterman as being near Cheyenne, which is off by about 125 miles). As a short introduction to some of Colorado's more infamous personalities, the book is good.