Ben Kilpatrick
Encyclopedia
Ben Kilpatrick was an American
outlaw
during the closing days of the American Old West. He was a member of the Wild Bunch
gang led by Butch Cassidy
and Elzy Lay
. He was arrested for robbery and served about 10 years of his 15 year sentence. Upon his release from prison he returned to crime and was killed by a hostage during a train robbery.
-born farmer, George Washington Kilpatrick (or "Killpatrick"), by his wife, Mary, a native of South Carolina
, according to the 1880 Federal Census.
He worked as a cowboy
for a time in Texas
and became acquaintances with Tom and Sam Ketchum and Bill Carver.
Kilpatrick is thought to have become involved with a female member of the gang, Laura Bullion through Pinkerton informant Bill Cheeney.
He and Bullion made their way to Nashville, Tennessee
, where they met up with Kid Curry and his girlfriend Della Moore
. Moore was arrested shortly thereafter for passing money traced back to one of the gangs robberies.
. Kilpatrick received a fifteen year sentence.
. Prior to their demise, Kilpatrick may have participated in several train robberies outside of Memphis in November 1911 and February 1912 and several other small robberies in West Texas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
during the closing days of the American Old West. He was a member of the Wild Bunch
Wild Bunch
The Wild Bunch, also known as the Doolin–Dalton Gang or the Oklahombres, was a gang of outlaws based in the Indian Territory that terrorized Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma Territory during the 1890s—robbing banks and stores, holding up trains, and killing lawmen. They were...
gang led by Butch Cassidy
Butch Cassidy
Robert LeRoy Parker , better known as Butch Cassidy, was a notorious American train robber, bank robber, and leader of the Wild Bunch Gang in the American Old West...
and Elzy Lay
Elzy Lay
William Ellsworth "Elzy" Lay was an outlaw of the Old West best known as being a member of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch, gang, operating out of the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass in Johnson County, Wyoming...
. He was arrested for robbery and served about 10 years of his 15 year sentence. Upon his release from prison he returned to crime and was killed by a hostage during a train robbery.
Early life
Kilpatrick was born in Coleman County, Texas, in 1874, the third of nine children of a TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
-born farmer, George Washington Kilpatrick (or "Killpatrick"), by his wife, Mary, a native of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, according to the 1880 Federal Census.
He worked as a cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
for a time in 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...
and became acquaintances with Tom and Sam Ketchum and Bill Carver.
Outlaw life
After Cassidy's release from prison, he and Lay organized the Wild Bunch gang, and the gang began the most successful train robbing career in history. Kilpatrick is thought to have been a friend of Lay, but he may have had minimum or no involvement with crimes involving Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid. Kilpatrick became involved with Kid Curry, but it is uncertain where or how they met.Kilpatrick is thought to have become involved with a female member of the gang, Laura Bullion through Pinkerton informant Bill Cheeney.
Escape
As was their trait, the gang would commit their robberies, then break up heading in several different directions, meeting up some time later in the Hole in the Wall hideout in Wyoming.He and Bullion made their way to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, where they met up with Kid Curry and his girlfriend Della Moore
Della Moore
Della Moore , also known as Annie Rogers or Maude Williams, was a prostitute during the closing years of the Old West, best known as being the girlfriend of outlaw Harvey Logan , who rode with the Wild Bunch gang....
. Moore was arrested shortly thereafter for passing money traced back to one of the gangs robberies.
Arrest
Kilpatrick was captured on November 5, 1901, in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Kilpatrick received a fifteen year sentence.
Death
He was released from prison in June 1911. On March 12, 1912, Kilpatrick and outlaw Ole Hobek were killed by hostage David Trousdale while robbing a train near Sanderson, TexasSanderson, Texas
Sanderson is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Terrell County, Texas, United States. The population was 861 at the 2000 census. Sanderson was created in 1882 as a part of neighboring Pecos County...
. Prior to their demise, Kilpatrick may have participated in several train robberies outside of Memphis in November 1911 and February 1912 and several other small robberies in West Texas.