Frank Jackson (outlaw)
Encyclopedia
Frank Jackson was a 19th century cowboy and later outlaw who became a close associate of bank robber Sam Bass
while a member of his gang during its final years. He was the sole surviving member of the gang after being ambushed at Round Rock, Texas
in July 1878.
, Jackson was orphaned at a young age and, by 1874, he was working as a tinner
for Jim Murphy in Denton, Texas
when he became acquainted with Sam Bass
. Two years later, Jackson killed horse thief Henry Goodall. The following year, Jackson reluctantly joined Bass and his gang in a number of bank robberies holding up a stage near Fort Worth on December 22 and again on January 28, 1878. Within several weeks, Jackson and the others began robbing trains stopping at Houston & Texas Central express near Allen, Texas
on February 22 and near Hutchins, Texas
on March 18. He became a close associate of Bass over the course of the next year and, at one point, he was able to intervene on behalf Jim Murphy when he was suspected of being an informant saving his life when Bass and the others had wanted Murphy killed.
Leaving Denton, Texas in July, Jackson and the others were camped outside Round Rock, Texas
several days later preparing to rob the local bank the following morning. One of the gang members, Jim Murphy, informed the authorities of the robbery and the area was by then under heavy surveillance by local police. On July 19, Jackson and the others rode into town to take a look at the bank one last time. Murphy slipped away making an excuse of buying corn for the horses while he continued with Seaborn Barnes and Bass to buy some tobacco to the Koppel general store.
While in the store, the three were approached by deputy sheriff Ellis Grimes and Morris Moore. When Grimes put his hand on Barnes and asked if he were armed, the outlaws panicked turning around and gunning both men down. Forced to fight their way through Texas Rangers
and local residents, they managed to get to their horses but not before Seaborn Barnes was killed by Texas Ranger Dick Ware and Bass being shot several times by Texas Ranger George Harrell. Bass managed to ride only a hundred yards before falling off and Jackson went back to rescue him. Although escaping their pursuers as night approached, Bass was unable to ride and Jackson bandaged Bass's wounds and left him under a tree outside of town. Bass was picked up by a posse the next morning but refused to reveal any information about Jackson and died the next day.
According to Murphy in a letter to Texas Ranger John B. Jones
, he was contacted by Jackson soon after the incident at Round Rock. He asked, if he were to surrender himself, for a reprieve in exchange for hunting down former gang member and wanted outlaw Henry Underwood. However, Murphy apparently lost contact with Jackson and the deal never went any further. Although Jackson was reportedly seen in Denton County for a brief time, claims of his whereabouts placed him in various places including Texas, New Mexico
, California
and, according to Sheriff Charlie Siringo
, as far away as Montana
.
An extensive search for Jackson was made and, according to a Canadian newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba, two Texas officers were searching the area "for the renouned bandits, Jackson and Underwood during the summer of 1879. Other reports placed him in other parts of Canada and Brazil
.
Subsequently, his whereabouts and activities after this time are unrecorded and, as writer Jack Davis
wrote, Jackson seemed to "vanish from the face of the Earth". As late as the 1960s, New York-based "Wild West" magazines claimed that the Texas Rangers "continue to maintain an open file on the Sam Bass gang - Jackson has never been caught". During the 1980s, it was also incorrectly claimed by these same magazines that Jackson's file was still open in the Texas Department of Public Safety
however this file was officially closed by Texas Ranger Captain Frank Hamer
.
Around 1920, the Texas Rangers began receiving tentative contacts including writer Eugene Manlove Rhodes
on behalf of "an old bandit" who "wanted to get square with the law" during his last years. Interviewed by Hamer, the man was reportedly a highly successful rancher and businessman living in New Mexico
. By this time, he was considered a folk hero by Texans for his rescue of Sam Bass and, while urged by Texas law enforcement officials to clear his name, he refused to return to Texas. As late as 1927 however, attempts had been made to convince authorities in Williamson County
to drop the criminal charges against him for the murders of the two deputy sheriffs in Round Rock.
Sam Bass
Sam Bass was a nineteenth-century American train robber and outlaw.-Early life:Bass was orphaned at the age of 10. For the next five years, he and his siblings lived with an abusive uncle. In 1869, he set out on his own and spent the next year in Mississippi...
while a member of his gang during its final years. He was the sole surviving member of the gang after being ambushed at Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
in July 1878.
Biography
Born Llano County, TexasLlano County, Texas
Llano County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 19, 301. Its county seat is Llano, and the county is named for the Llano River....
, Jackson was orphaned at a young age and, by 1874, he was working as a tinner
Tinsmith
A tinsmith, or tinner or tinker or tinplate worker, is a person who makes and repairs things made of light-coloured metal, particularly tinware...
for Jim Murphy in Denton, Texas
Denton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
when he became acquainted with Sam Bass
Sam Bass
Sam Bass was a nineteenth-century American train robber and outlaw.-Early life:Bass was orphaned at the age of 10. For the next five years, he and his siblings lived with an abusive uncle. In 1869, he set out on his own and spent the next year in Mississippi...
. Two years later, Jackson killed horse thief Henry Goodall. The following year, Jackson reluctantly joined Bass and his gang in a number of bank robberies holding up a stage near Fort Worth on December 22 and again on January 28, 1878. Within several weeks, Jackson and the others began robbing trains stopping at Houston & Texas Central express near Allen, Texas
Allen, Texas
Allen is a city in Collin County, Texas, United States, a northern suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 census the city had a total population of 84,246.-Geography:According to the City of Allen, the city has a total area of...
on February 22 and near Hutchins, Texas
Hutchins, Texas
Hutchins is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,805 at the 2000 census.Union Pacific's Dallas Intermodal Terminal is located partly in the city of Hutchins and partly in the city of Wilmer . The shipping facility, was built by AUI Contractors LP, Prime Rail Interests...
on March 18. He became a close associate of Bass over the course of the next year and, at one point, he was able to intervene on behalf Jim Murphy when he was suspected of being an informant saving his life when Bass and the others had wanted Murphy killed.
Leaving Denton, Texas in July, Jackson and the others were camped outside Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
several days later preparing to rob the local bank the following morning. One of the gang members, Jim Murphy, informed the authorities of the robbery and the area was by then under heavy surveillance by local police. On July 19, Jackson and the others rode into town to take a look at the bank one last time. Murphy slipped away making an excuse of buying corn for the horses while he continued with Seaborn Barnes and Bass to buy some tobacco to the Koppel general store.
While in the store, the three were approached by deputy sheriff Ellis Grimes and Morris Moore. When Grimes put his hand on Barnes and asked if he were armed, the outlaws panicked turning around and gunning both men down. Forced to fight their way through Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
and local residents, they managed to get to their horses but not before Seaborn Barnes was killed by Texas Ranger Dick Ware and Bass being shot several times by Texas Ranger George Harrell. Bass managed to ride only a hundred yards before falling off and Jackson went back to rescue him. Although escaping their pursuers as night approached, Bass was unable to ride and Jackson bandaged Bass's wounds and left him under a tree outside of town. Bass was picked up by a posse the next morning but refused to reveal any information about Jackson and died the next day.
According to Murphy in a letter to Texas Ranger John B. Jones
John B. Jones
John B. Jones was a Confederate army officer and Texas Ranger captain. Born in Fairfield, South Carolina, his family moved to the Republic of Texas in 1838....
, he was contacted by Jackson soon after the incident at Round Rock. He asked, if he were to surrender himself, for a reprieve in exchange for hunting down former gang member and wanted outlaw Henry Underwood. However, Murphy apparently lost contact with Jackson and the deal never went any further. Although Jackson was reportedly seen in Denton County for a brief time, claims of his whereabouts placed him in various places including Texas, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, 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, according to Sheriff Charlie Siringo
Charlie Siringo
Charles Angelo Siringo , was an American lawman, detective, and agent for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency during the late 19th century and early 20th century.-Early life:...
, as far away as Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
An extensive search for Jackson was made and, according to a Canadian newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba, two Texas officers were searching the area "for the renouned bandits, Jackson and Underwood during the summer of 1879. Other reports placed him in other parts of Canada and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Subsequently, his whereabouts and activities after this time are unrecorded and, as writer Jack Davis
Jack Davis
Jack Davis may refer to:* Jack Davis * Jack Davis * Jack Davis , Olympic hurdler* Jack Davis * Jack Davis...
wrote, Jackson seemed to "vanish from the face of the Earth". As late as the 1960s, New York-based "Wild West" magazines claimed that the Texas Rangers "continue to maintain an open file on the Sam Bass gang - Jackson has never been caught". During the 1980s, it was also incorrectly claimed by these same magazines that Jackson's file was still open in the Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Department of Public Safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and vehicle regulation. The Public Safety Commission oversees the DPS. Its five members are appointed by the Governor of Texas and confirmed by the...
however this file was officially closed by Texas Ranger Captain Frank Hamer
Frank Hamer
Francis Augustus Hamer was a Texas Ranger, known in popular culture for his involvement in tracking down and killing the criminal duo Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934...
.
Around 1920, the Texas Rangers began receiving tentative contacts including writer Eugene Manlove Rhodes
Eugene Manlove Rhodes
Eugene Manlove Rhodes was a writer who was nicknamed the "cowboy chronicler".Rhodes was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska. He moved to New Mexico with his parents in 1881 and "fell in love" with the state. By age sixteen, he was an accomplished stonemason and road builder...
on behalf of "an old bandit" who "wanted to get square with the law" during his last years. Interviewed by Hamer, the man was reportedly a highly successful rancher and businessman living in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. By this time, he was considered a folk hero by Texans for his rescue of Sam Bass and, while urged by Texas law enforcement officials to clear his name, he refused to return to Texas. As late as 1927 however, attempts had been made to convince authorities in Williamson County
Williamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
to drop the criminal charges against him for the murders of the two deputy sheriffs in Round Rock.
Further reading
- Walters, Lorenzo D. Tombstone's Yesterday. Glorieta, New Mexico: Rio Grande Press, 1968.