Gratton Hanley "Grat" Dalton (March 30, 1861 – October 5, 1892) was an American
outlaw
An outlaw, in its original and legal meaning, is a person declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, all legal protection was withdrawn from the criminal, so that anyone was legally empowered to persecute or kill them ...
in the
American Old West
The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...
. He was one of three brothers in the
Dalton Gang
The Dalton Gang was a group of outlaws in the American Old West during 1890–1892. It was also known as The Dalton Brothers because four of its members were brothers. The gang specialized in bank and train robberies. During an attempted double ...
, led by his younger brother
Bob Dalton
Robert Rennick Dalton (May 13, 1869 – October 5, 1892), better known as Bob Dalton, was an American outlaw in the American Old West. Beginning in 1891, he led the Dalton Gang, whose varying members included three of his brothers. They were kn ...
. Both brothers were killed during a shootout in an ill-fated raid on two banks in
Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville is a city in southeastern Montgomery County, Kansas, Montgomery County, Kansas, United States, located along the Verdigris River in the state's Southeast Kansas, southeastern region. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...
. Their brother Emmett Dalton survived to be convicted and imprisoned for fourteen years.
Short career as lawman
Their older brother
Frank Dalton
John Franklin "Frank" Dalton (June 8, 1859 – November 27, 1887) was a Deputy US Marshal of the Old West under Judge Isaac Parker (the hangin' judge), for Oklahoma Territory, as well as the older brother to the members of the Dalton Gang, in addi ...
served as a
Deputy US Marshal. By all accounts the strongest of the brothers, he always kept his brothers in line. Grat and his younger brothers idolized Frank. On Nov 27, 1887 Frank and another deputy marshal, Jim Cole, went across the river from their base at
Fort Smith to arrest three whiskey bootleggers. As they approached the camp, the bootleggers began to shoot at them. After Dalton shot and killed two, his gun jammed, and he was killed by the remaining bootlegger. His deputy abandoned him after being shot. Frank Dalton is buried in
Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville is a city in southeastern Montgomery County, Kansas, Montgomery County, Kansas, United States, located along the Verdigris River in the state's Southeast Kansas, southeastern region. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...
.
After Frank's death, brothers Grat and Bob took over his job as Deputy U.S. Marshal at
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the third-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 89,142. It is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas–Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Are ...
. Bob soon hired Emmett under him to guard prisoners. After Bob killed a man in the line of duty, which he claimed was in self defense, he began to drink heavily and become restless.
He was assigned to organize a police force in the
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation ( ) ( Osage: 𐓁𐒻 𐓂𐒼𐒰𐓇𐒼𐒰͘ ('), "People of the Middle Waters") is a Midwestern Native American tribe of the Great Plains. The tribe developed in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys around 700 BC along ...
, Indian Territory, and took Emmett with him as a deputy. Grat stayed at Fort Smith. Emmett and Bob kept good reputations in the Osage Nation until July 1890, when they began stealing horses. Eventually stockmen organized to capture them, forcing the Daltons to flee. Hiding out in the bluffs on the
Canadian River
The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River in the United States. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and Oklahoma. The drainage area is about .[Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Kingfisher is a city in and the county seat of Kingfisher County, Oklahoma,. The population was 4,903 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the former home and namesake of Kingfisher College. According to the ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History ...]
, they sent to Grat for help.
Grat tried to get them food, horses, and ammunition but was caught and jailed at Fort Smith, where he had formerly worked. After two weeks Grat was released, as lawmen hoped he would lead them to his brothers. Bob and Emmett took a train to California, and stayed with their brother
William "Bill" Dalton at his ranch near
San Miguel, San Luis Obispo County, California
San Miguel (Spanish for " St. Michael") is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in San Luis Obispo County, California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,336. San Miguel was founded by the Spanish in 1797, when Mission San Miguel ...
.
Discredited as lawmen, the Daltons would soon form their first gang.
Organizing the Dalton Gang
Grat returned to California to meet Emmett and Bob at their brother Bill's ranch in January 1891. They worked there for about a month while playing poker games and getting in bar fights in San Luis Obispo County, spending most of the money they had made from horse stealing. At this time
Bob Dalton
Robert Rennick Dalton (May 13, 1869 – October 5, 1892), better known as Bob Dalton, was an American outlaw in the American Old West. Beginning in 1891, he led the Dalton Gang, whose varying members included three of his brothers. They were kn ...
began making plans to rob a train with the help of Emmett and Grat. Their brothers Cole, Littleton (Lit), and Bill unsuccessfully tried to dissuade them.
On the night of February 6, 1891 a
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific (or Espee from the railroad initials- SP) was an American Class I railroad network that existed from 1865 to 1996 and operated largely in the Western United States. The system was operated by various companies under the ...
passenger train was held up by two masked men carrying only 44-calibre revolvers near the town of Alila (present day
Earlimart, California
Earlimart is an unincorporated community in Tulare County, California, United States. At the 2010 census, the CDP population was 8,537, up from 6,583 at the 2000 census. For statistical purposes, the Census Bureau defines Earlimart as a census-de ...
). No money was taken; however, during the crossfire the expressman accidentally killed the fireman. The outlaws wore masks during the Alila robbery.
Many years later, Littleton Dalton said that his brothers, Bob and Emmett, had told him many times that they robbed that train. Grat had not joined the heist as he had spent all his money on drinking and gambling in
Tulare, California
Tulare ( ) is a city in Tulare County, California. The population was 68,875 at the 2020 census. It is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, eight miles south of Visalia and sixty miles north of Bakersfield. The city is named for th ...
, and did not have a horse.
Sheriff Gene Kay of
Tulare County
Tulare County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 473,117. The county seat is Visalia. The county is named for Tulare Lake, once the largest freshwater lake west of the Great Lakes. ...
and his posse tracked the outlaws to San Luis Obispo County, near
San Miguel, California
San Miguel (Spanish for " St. Michael") is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in San Luis Obispo County, California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,336. San Miguel was founded by the Spanish in 1797, when Mission San Miguel ...
. They found the remnants of a saddle at the ranch of
Bill Dalton; it was missing a leather strap that had been found at the scene of the hold up. Finding out what they could about the brothers, Sheriff Kay's posse learned that Bob, Emmett and Grat had spent the past few days drinking, gambling, and following the Southern Pacific pay car as it made its monthly journey down the
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley ( ; es, Valle de San Joaquín) is the area of the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California that lies south of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and is drained by the San Joaquin River. It comprises seven c ...
. By this time their reputation as horse thieves in Oklahoma was also known in California.
On March 17, 1891 the Tulare County Grand Jury indicted brothers Bob, Emmett, Grat, and Bill Dalton for the Alila robbery. A few days later Grat and Bill were arrested and placed in the Tulare County jail. A $3000 bounty was placed for the capture of Bob and Emmett, but Bill had already helped them escape from California before he was arrested. The two were on their way back to Oklahoma Territory. Bill soon secured bondsmen and was released. He quickly hired attorneys to defend Grat. Grat was held in jail in
Visalia
Visalia ( ) is a city in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley of California. The population was 141,384 as per the 2020 census. Visalia is the fifth-largest city in the San Joaquin Valley, the 42nd most populous in California, and 192nd in ...
.
Bob and Emmett borrowed money and supplies from brothers Cole and Lit, and made their way east across the Mojave Desert. After their horses were discovered at
Ludlow
Ludlow () is a market town in Shropshire, England. The town is significant in the history of the Welsh Marches and in relation to Wales. It is located south of Shrewsbury and north of Hereford, on the A49 road which bypasses the town. The t ...
, Sheriff Kay pursued them with his deputy, Jim Ford. He discovered that the brothers were making their way to Utah to throw him off, and tracked them to the town of
Ogden. Bob and Emmett escaped again by train. Sheriff Kay continued to track them throughout the Southwest for several months, but never caught up.
Eventually the brothers returned to the Dalton home near
Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Kingfisher is a city in and the county seat of Kingfisher County, Oklahoma,. The population was 4,903 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the former home and namesake of Kingfisher College. According to the ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History ...
, where the family had many friends willing to hide them. Sheriff Kay returned to California for Grat's trial. Realizing they were no longer being pursued, Bob and Emmett robbed a train at Whorton, now
Perry, Oklahoma
Perry is a city in, and county seat of, Noble County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,126, a 2.0 percent decrease from the figure of 5,230 in 2000. The city is home of Ditch Witch construction equipment. ...
, in May 1891. They began forming what would be known as the Dalton Gang.
Even though much of the evidence showed that Grat was in
Fresno, California
Fresno () is a major city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley region. It covers about and had a population of 542,107 in 2020, makin ...
the night of the Alila robbery, including the testimony of several witnesses, the influence of the powerful
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific (or Espee from the railroad initials- SP) was an American Class I railroad network that existed from 1865 to 1996 and operated largely in the Western United States. The system was operated by various companies under the ...
resulted in his having an unfair trail. Grat's lawyer was corrupt. Neither the defense nor prosecution noted that the fireman had been killed accidentally by the expressman. The Dalton brothers had thought that Emmett had killed the fireman. Grat was convicted on murder charges and sentenced to life imprisonment.
On September 3, 1891 a train was robbed near
Ceres, California
Ceres is a city in Stanislaus County, California. Its population was 49,302 at the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 45,417 at the 2010 U.S. Census. It is part of the Modesto metropolitan statistical area.
Ceres is located in the San Joaquin Valley a ...
, but the attempt was unsuccessful and no money was lost. The elements were similar to the robbery at Alila. Sheriff Kay suspected
Bill Dalton, and arrested him and an associate, named Riley Dean. Kay found Dalton and Dean at an abandoned overland stage station where they looked as if they were either planning a robbery or to break Grat from jail. Both Dalton and Dean had a clear alibi but Kay held Bill in the Tulare County Jail to await trial for his part in the Alila robbery.
On September 21, Grat was brought into court to face sentencing, but this was instead postponed to October 6. On the night of September 27th, Grat and two other men escaped from the County Jail in Visalia while Sheriff Kay was in
San Francisco, California
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
. Someone on the outside gave them a saw, and they got through the bars. Bill Dalton had remained in his cell and was found in the morning, playing a guitar, joking about how the boys had left him. Bill was acquitted and released on October 15. He sold the lease to his ranch in San Luis Obispo County, moved his family to his wife's parents in
Livingston, California
Livingston is a city in Merced County, California, United States. Livingston is located west-northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 131 feet (40 m). According to the 2020 census, the city population was 14,172, up from 13,058 in 2010. Living ...
, and left for Kingfisher. After arresting the two other men that had escaped with Grat, Sheriff Kay learned that Grat was helped by Riley Dean and that they were both hiding on the summit of a steep mountain close to the Kings River near
Sanger, California
Sanger is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 26,617 at the 2020 census, up from 24,270 at the 2010 census and 18,731 at the 2000 census. Sanger is located east-southeast of Fresno, at an elevation of 371 f ...
. This would be known as Dalton Mountain.
On Christmas Eve 1891, the posses of both Sheriff Kay of Tulare County and Sheriff Hensley of Fresno County ascended the mountain to Daltons camp. They ambushed the outlaws on their way back from a boar hunt. Grat managed to escape, firing at the lawmen with his
Winchester rifle
Winchester rifle is a comprehensive term describing a series of lever action repeating rifles manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Developed from the 1860 Henry rifle, Winchester rifles were among the earliest repeaters. The Mo ...
and stealing a horse from a nearby ranch, but Riley Dean was captured. Grat rode to a friends near
Livingston, California
Livingston is a city in Merced County, California, United States. Livingston is located west-northwest of Atwater, at an elevation of 131 feet (40 m). According to the 2020 census, the city population was 14,172, up from 13,058 in 2010. Living ...
and stayed for several weeks before escaping back to Oklahoma with the help of his brother Cole.
Bob and Emmett had meanwhile been busy in Oklahoma forming their gang. After their unsuccessful career in California they decided they could do much better in their home country and, unlike their first attempts, they began carefully planning their robberies. With Bob as the leader they recruited mostly men who had grown up with them in Oklahoma. First recruited were
George "Bitter Creek" Newcomb and
"Blackfaced" Charlie Bryant, Bryant received his nickname because of a gunpowder burn on one cheek. This resulted in the first robbery at Whorton, May 1891, where the gang stole $1200. Joined afterwards were
Bill Doolin
Bill(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States)
* Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature
* Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer
* Bill, a bird or animal's beak
Plac ...
, Dick Broadwell, Bill Powers, and
Charley Pierce
Charley Pierce (c. 1866 – May 2, 1895) was an American outlaw in the American Old West who rode with both the Dalton Gang and the Doolin Dalton Gang during the 1890s. He and "Bittercreek" Newcomb were killed by friends, the Dunn brothers, ...
. The gang was also assisted by Bob's lover Eugenia Moore, known by her aliases "Tom King" and "Miss Mundays", who acted as their informant but was also a notorious horse thief and outlaw.
In August 1891, Bryant was spotted in
Hennessey, Oklahoma
Hennessey is a town in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,131 at the 2010 census, up from 2,058 in 2000.
History
Hennessey is named after Pat Hennessey, an Irish freighter who was killed at the present townsite in ...
after leaving the gangs hideout to visit his mother. The locals who identified him notified a Deputy Marshal named Ed Short. He arrested Bryant and took him on a train to be committed to the jail at
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County, Kansas, Sedgwick County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 397,532. The Wichita metro area had ...
without a guard or notifying Marshal Grimes at Fort Smith. After the train left Hennessey and was approaching the stop at
Waukomis, Oklahoma
Waukomis is a town in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,286 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.0 percent from 1,261 in 2000.
References
External linksWaukomis Public Schools
{{authority control
Towns in Garfi ...
, Short noticed a group of mounted men that looked as if they were trying to beat the train and feared it was the Dalton Gang coming to free Bryant. Short put the baggage man in charge of Bryant giving him his revolver while he went to the rear platform with his rifle. The baggageman carelessly stuck the revolver into a
Pigeon-hole messagebox
A pigeon-hole messagebox (commonly referred to as a ''pigeon-hole'' or ''pidge'', a ''cubbyhole'' (often shortened to "cubby") or simply as a ''mailbox'' in some academic or office settings) is an internal mail system commonly used for communica ...
and went to work at the other end of the car. Bryant secured the revolver and ordered the baggageman to go back to work. He opened the door to the rear platform and, while Short had his attention to the mounted men, shot him in the back. Short turned and they both shot each other to death.
The second train robbery by the Dalton Gang in Oklahoma was at a small station called Lelietta on September 15, 1891, about four miles north of
Wagoner, Oklahoma
Wagoner is a city in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 8,323 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census,CensusViewer: Population of the City of Wagoner, Oklahoma. Retrieved March 16, 201/ref> c ...
. Here they secured $19,000, which Bob spent mostly on women and gambling. Bill Doolin complained that he was not dividing the money fairly and quit the gang along with Newcomb and Pierce. Grat returned to Oklahoma in the spring of 1892. The three dissatisfied members also returned and new plans began to formulate. Bill had also returned several months earlier living at his mothers near Kingsfisher. Even though he did not participate in any of the hold ups with his brothers he acted as a spy and advisor.
On June 1, 1892, the gang robbed the Santa Fe train at
Red Rock, Oklahoma
Red Rock ( iow, Chína Ino Šúje pronounced , meaning "Rock Red town") is a town in northern Noble County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 283 at the 2010 census, a decline from 293 at the 2000 census. The headquarters of the Otoe-M ...
securing about $50,000. Here the Santa Fe had found out about the Daltons plans and attempted to set up a trap for the gang filling the train with heavily armed officers. However they made the mistake of leaving the train dark which made Bob suspicious and the gang allowed the train to go by robbing the next train a few minutes later. The $50,000 however came out to only $1800 after draft and securities had been thrown out. It was soon necessary to rob another train.
The next robbery was at
Adair, Oklahoma
Adair is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 790 at the 2010 census, compared to the figure of 704 recorded in 2000. Named for two prominent Cherokee brothers, the town was established in 1883. It opened a Cheroke ...
, near the
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...
border on July 14. At the station the gang took what they could find in the express and baggage rooms. They sat to wait for the next train on a bench on the platform, talking and smoking, with their
Winchester rifle
Winchester rifle is a comprehensive term describing a series of lever action repeating rifles manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Developed from the 1860 Henry rifle, Winchester rifles were among the earliest repeaters. The Mo ...
s across their knees. When the train came in at 9:45 p.m., they backed a wagon up to the express car and unloaded all the contents. The eight armed guards on the train all happened to be at the back of the train when it pulled in. They fired at the bandits through the car windows and from behind the train. In the gun fight, 200 shots were fired. None of the Dalton gang was hit. Doctors W. L. Goff and Youngblood were sitting on the porch of the drug store near the depot. Both men were hit several times by stray shots; Dr Goff was fatally wounded. Also wounded were captains Kinney and LaFlore, but they recovered. The gang secured about $18,000. They were also accused of robbing a bank in
El Reno, Oklahoma
El Reno is a city in and county seat of Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 16,989, marking a change of 1.55% from 16,729, recorded in the 2010 census. The city was begun shortly after the 1 ...
on July 28, however this was based on little evidence as no one saw any members of the gang.
Downfall of the gang
![Law enforcement officers hold up the bodies of Bob and Grat Dalton](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Law_enforcement_officers_hold_up_the_bodies_of_Bob_and_Grat_Dalton.jpg)
By that time, by later accounts from Emmett Dalton,
Deputy US Marshal Heck Thomas was on the trail of the Dalton Gang. His relentless pursuit had pushed them to make one large score, then lie low for a time. Grat Dalton thought Coffeyville would be an excellent opportunity for that score. For reasons unknown, Grat Dalton dismissed gang members "Bittercreek" Newcomb and Charley Pierce, telling them their services were no longer needed. It would prove to be a blessing in disguise for Pierce and Newcomb.
The robbery attempts would be a colossal mistake. On October 5, 1892, the gang entered Coffeyville, simply riding in, then splitting into two teams. The brothers were recognized as soon as they rode into town. They entered the two banks in two separate teams, intent on having only so much time to finish the robberies and flee. By the time they were ready to make their escape, the townspeople had armed themselves and set up to cover all escape routes from the town. A fierce shootout erupted, and by the time it was over, gang members Grat Dalton, Bob Dalton, Dick Broadwell, alias "Texas Jack" Moore, and Bill Power, alias Joseph Evans, were dead, and Emmett Dalton had been shot 23 times, but would survive. Four townspeople, Town Marshal Charles T. Connelly, bank clerk Lucius M. Baldwin,
cobbler
Cobbler(s) may refer to:
*A person who repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes
Places
* The Cobbler, a mountain located near the head of Loch Long in Scotland
* Mount Cobbler, Australia
Art, entertainment and media
* ''The Cobbler'' (1923 film) ...
Charles J. Brown, and
merchant
A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...
George W. Cubine were dead. Bank cashier Thomas G. Ayers was shot in the groin; although seriously wounded, he survived, while townspeople T.A. Reynolds and Louis Dietz were wounded, but not seriously.
The gun-battle ended the Dalton Gang. Their outlaw career would prove to have been short and ultimately non productive . However, the legend of the gang and the notoriety they received due to the Coffeyville shootout made them famous. That fame helped drive their brother Bill Dalton in efforts to become more famous than his brothers, and helped spawn the Doolin Dalton Gang, with Bill Dalton, Bill Doolin, "Bittercreek" Newcomb, and Charley Pierce all having their start with the Dalton Gang.
In popular culture
The western actor
Gregg Palmer
Palmer Edwin Lee (January 25, 1927 – October 31, 2015), known by his stage name Gregg Palmer, was an American film and television actor.
Born in San Francisco, California, Palmer served in the United States Army Air Corps as a cryptographer i ...
, then twenty-five, portrayed Gratton Dalton in the 1952 film ''
The Cimarron Kid
''The Cimarron Kid'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Audie Murphy and Beverly Tyler.
Plot
Bill Doolin (Audie Murphy) is released from jail and is going home on the train when it is held up by his boyhoo ...
''. Thereafter, in 1954,
Fess Parker
Fess Elisha Parker Jr. (born F. E. Parker Jr.;Weaver, Tom.Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde: Interviews with 62 Filmmakers p. 148 (McFarland 2012). August 16, 1924 – March 18, 2010),(March 18, 2010Daniel Boone Actor Fess Parker Dies at 85" ''CBS ...
played Grat in an episode of
Jim Davis's
syndicated series ''
Stories of the Century
''Stories of the Century'' is a 39-episode Western historical fiction television series starring Jim Davis that ran in syndication through Republic Pictures between 1954 and 1955.
Synopsis
Jim Davis, who became famous decades later as the p ...
''.
Jim Davis portrayed Grat Dalton in the 1963 episode "Three Minutes to Eternity" of the syndicated western series, ''
Death Valley Days
''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program ...
''.
In 1975 Grat Dalton was played by the actor
Richard Jaeckel
Richard Hanley Jaeckel (October 10, 1926 – June 14, 1997) was an American actor of film and television. Jaeckel became a well-known character actor in his career, which spanned six decades. He received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominatio ...
in the TV movie western ''The Last Day''.
References
External links
Grat DaltonDalton Gang Wiped Out
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalton, Gratton
Outlaws of the American Old West
People from Lawrence, Kansas
1861 births
1892 deaths
Dalton Gang
People from Coffeyville, Kansas
Deaths by firearm in Kansas