The Dalton Gang

From 1848 to 1890, the land west of the Mississippi river was known as the American West. Much of that land now makes up the remainder of the mainland US states like California and New Mexico. This era in American history has been known to many people in the modern era as the wild west, filled with gold mining, cowboy shoot outs, Native Americans, saloons with pianists and showgirls and just about anything that can be seen in old Hollywood films that aren't about some medieval Europe fantasy or a historic person's spiced up for interest's life.

It was during this period when Missouri based outlaw gang the Dalton Gang were in their element within what is now the State of Oklahoma. The Dalton Gang were outlaws, known for robberies in banks and on trains. In terms of their Irish originated name, only four of the nine members were brothers Bob, Gratton who was known as Grat, Emmett and Bill whose real name was Mason. While Bill would act as their informant and spy, Grat, Emmett and Bob would commit the robberies. Essentially, Bill would wait for the moment to attack (or rob in this case) and give the Dalton Gang the order to do so. The Dalton Gang were doing well for themselves until they reached Coffeyville, Kansas (yes, the same Kansas that Dorothy Gale from the Wizard of Oz is from). It was in Coffeyville where on 5 October 1892, they tried to rob the town but they were attacked by the town. When it was over only Emmett and Bill were left. Bill joined a gang of thieves called the Wild Bunch who pinched the name from a group Butch Cassidy had after the members were caught and killed over a period of 3 years. It was Emmett Dalton who ended up living the longest after he was pardoned from a lifetime prison sentence after 14 years and he went on to become a writer and actor in early Hollywood before dying in 1937.

The 4 brothers appeared in the 1954 Lucky Luke comic book Hors-la-loi by Belgian cartoonist Morris where they are depicted almost as accurate as they were in history apart from their height and were killed off at the end. Regretting the decision, Morris teamed up with Asterix co-creator Rene Goscinny to create a new Dalton Gang, this time as comic book exclusive cousins to the real life Daltons called Averell, William, Jack and Joe Dalton who debuted in the 1958 Lucky Luke comic book Les Cousins Dalton. Coincidentally enough, when Morris died on 16 July 2001 at the age of 77, he had died 3 days after the death anniversary of Emmett Dalton who died on 13 July 1937.