Emmett Dalton
Encyclopedia
Emmett Dalton was an American outlaw, train robber and member of the Dalton Gang
in the American Old West
. Part of the ill-fated Dalton raid on two banks in Coffeyville, Kansas
, he survived despite receiving 23 gunshot wounds. After serving 14 years in prison for the crime, Dalton capitalized on his notoriety to author books and become an actor in Hollywood.
The Dalton Gang's criminal enterprise was ended on October 5, 1892 when they attempted to rob two banks at once in Coffeyville, Kansas
. Four of the gang were killed in the ensuing gun fight. Emmett Dalton survived the raid but received 23 gunshot wounds (as referenced on Q102). He was given a life sentence in the penitentiary in Lansing, Kansas
and pardoned after fourteen years. He moved to California
and became a real estate agent, author and actor, dying at the age of sixty-six. He was married to Julia Johnson Dalton, who survived him. They had no children.
In 1918, he portrayed himself in the movie version of his book Beyond the Law.
In 1931, he published When the Daltons Rode, which was later made into a 1940 movie
starring Randolph Scott
. Emmett Dalton was portrayed by Frank Albertson
.
played Emmett Dalton in the episode "The Dalton Gang" of the syndicated
western
television series, Stories of the Century
, starring Jim Davis
as fictitious Southwestern Railroad detective
Matt Clark. The actor Tyler MacDuff
portrayed Emmett Dalton in the 1957 episode of the CBS
documentary
drama series You Are There entitled "The End of the Dalton Gang (October 5, 1892)."
A caricature of Dalton appeared in the 1954 Lucky Luke
album Hors-la-loi where he's depicted as the tallest of the Dalton brothers. In the album the disastrous double bank robbery of Coffeyville, Kansas is depicted but different to what took place, Emmett Dalton is seen killed along with his brothers which also include Bill Dalton
who actually never took part in the raid. Emmet's grave is pictured in the final panel of the story alongside his brothers and a sign that says "The Daltons died without taking their boots off" Each grave has the hat of the respective owner placed on the Crucifix with Bob Dalton's being shredded with bullet holes. Emmett reappears on a wanted poster in Les Cousins Dalton
his character of tallest of the Dalton Brothers being taken over by Averell Dalton
In a mid eighties interview with spirou magazine author Maurice De Bevere Also known as Morris
admitted that reading Emmett's book "When the Daltons rode" was his inspiration to create the comic version of the Dalton Brothers.
Dalton Gang
The Dalton Gang, also known as The Dalton Brothers, was a family of both lawmen and outlaws in the American Old West during 1890-1892. They specialized in bank and train robberies. They were related to the Younger brothers, who rode with Jesse James, though they acted later and independently of...
in the American Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
. Part of the ill-fated Dalton raid on two banks in Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,295...
, he survived despite receiving 23 gunshot wounds. After serving 14 years in prison for the crime, Dalton capitalized on his notoriety to author books and become an actor in Hollywood.
Early life and career
Dalton was born to Lewis and Adeline Dalton and was the youngest of the Dalton brothers.The Dalton Gang's criminal enterprise was ended on October 5, 1892 when they attempted to rob two banks at once in Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,295...
. Four of the gang were killed in the ensuing gun fight. Emmett Dalton survived the raid but received 23 gunshot wounds (as referenced on Q102). He was given a life sentence in the penitentiary in Lansing, Kansas
Lansing, Kansas
Lansing is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Leavenworth County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,265...
and pardoned after fourteen years. He moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and became a real estate agent, author and actor, dying at the age of sixty-six. He was married to Julia Johnson Dalton, who survived him. They had no children.
In 1918, he portrayed himself in the movie version of his book Beyond the Law.
In 1931, he published When the Daltons Rode, which was later made into a 1940 movie
When the Daltons Rode
When the Daltons Rode is a 1940 western film starring Randolph Scott as a family friend who tries to dissuade the Daltons from turning outlaw...
starring Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott
Randolph Scott was an American film actor whose career spanned from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of genres, including social dramas, crime dramas, comedies, musicals , adventure tales, war films, and even a few...
. Emmett Dalton was portrayed by Frank Albertson
Frank Albertson
Frank Albertson was an American character actor who made his debut in a minor part in Hollywood at age 13....
.
In popular culture
In 1954, the actor Robert BrayRobert Bray
Robert E. Bray was an American film and television actor probably best remembered for his role as the forest ranger Corey Stuart in the long-running CBS series Lassie.-Life and career:...
played Emmett Dalton in the episode "The Dalton Gang" of the syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
television series, Stories of the Century
Stories of the Century
Stories of the Century is a Western television series that ran in syndication through Republic Pictures between January 23, 1954, and March 11, 1955.-Synopsis:...
, starring Jim Davis
Jim Davis (actor)
Jim Davis was an American actor, best known for his role as Jock Ewing in the CBS prime-time soap Dallas, a role which he held up until his death in April 1981.-Biography:...
as fictitious Southwestern Railroad detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
Matt Clark. The actor Tyler MacDuff
Tyler MacDuff
Tyler MacDuff, born Tyler Glenn Duff, Jr. , was an American actor, primarily on television westerns and dramas who was cast as Billy the Kid in The Boy from Oklahoma.-Biography:...
portrayed Emmett Dalton in the 1957 episode of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
drama series You Are There entitled "The End of the Dalton Gang (October 5, 1892)."
A caricature of Dalton appeared in the 1954 Lucky Luke
Lucky Luke
Lucky Luke is a Belgian comics series created by Belgian cartoonist, Maurice De Bevere better known as Morris, the original artist, and was for one period written by René Goscinny...
album Hors-la-loi where he's depicted as the tallest of the Dalton brothers. In the album the disastrous double bank robbery of Coffeyville, Kansas is depicted but different to what took place, Emmett Dalton is seen killed along with his brothers which also include Bill Dalton
William M. Dalton
William Marion Dalton , called Bill Dalton, was an American outlaw in the American Old West. He was the co-leader of the Wild Bunch gang and he was the brother of the founders of the Dalton Gang, Gratton, Bob and Emmett....
who actually never took part in the raid. Emmet's grave is pictured in the final panel of the story alongside his brothers and a sign that says "The Daltons died without taking their boots off" Each grave has the hat of the respective owner placed on the Crucifix with Bob Dalton's being shredded with bullet holes. Emmett reappears on a wanted poster in Les Cousins Dalton
Les Cousins Dalton
Les Cousins Dalton is a Lucky Luke comic written by Goscinny and Morris. It is the twelfth album in the Lucky Luke Serie. The comic was printed by Dupuis in 1958....
his character of tallest of the Dalton Brothers being taken over by Averell Dalton
In a mid eighties interview with spirou magazine author Maurice De Bevere Also known as Morris
Morris (comics)
Maurice De Bevere , better known as Morris, was a Belgian cartoonist and the creator of Lucky Luke. His pen name is an alternate spelling of his first name.-Biography:...
admitted that reading Emmett's book "When the Daltons rode" was his inspiration to create the comic version of the Dalton Brothers.