Blue Duck (outlaw)
Encyclopedia
Blue Duck, sometimes referred to as Bluford Duck, (1858? - 1895) was an outlaw
of the Old West, probably best known for a photograph taken of him around the mid-1880's, in which he posed with Belle Starr
, a famous Old West female outlaw and prostitute.
, with the name of Sha-con-gah. By the early 1870s he was riding with gangs across the Oklahoma Territory
committing armed robberies and acts of cattle rustling. Blue Duck became involved romantically with Belle Starr
along that time. When she married outlaw Sam Starr, she and her husband formed their own gang, which Blue Duck joined. He is believed to have ridden with that gang through most of the latter part of the 1870s, although his involvement with them was off and on. Though it has sometimes been said that his affair with Belle Starr continued after she married, there is nothing to confirm that.
On June 23, 1884, while riding drunk in the Flint District of the Cherokee Nation, and in the company of outlaw William Christie, the two men came upon a farmer named Samuel Wyrick. For no apparent reason, the two outlaws opened fire on the farmer, emptying their revolver
s into him, killing him. They then reloaded and fired on a young Cherokee boy who'd witnessed the murder
, missing him but shooting his horse
from beneath him. Both he and Christie were captured by Deputy US Marshal
Frank Cochran
, and taken before Judge
Isaac Parker
, known as the "Hanging Judge", in Fort Smith, Arkansas
.
Both were convicted, although Christie was later cleared of the charge and released. Blue Duck was sentenced to hang
, but later his sentence was reduced to life in prison. He was sent to Menard Penitentiary in Chester, Illinois
as Inmate # 2486. Blue Duck was assisted in an unsuccessful appeal
by Belle Starr. In 1895, when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis
and given only a short time to live, he was granted a pardon
and released. He died shortly thereafter in Catoosa, Oklahoma
, where he is buried.
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 Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
of the Old West, probably best known for a photograph taken of him around the mid-1880's, in which he posed with Belle Starr
Belle Starr
Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr , better known as Belle Starr, was a notorious American outlaw.-Early life:...
, a famous Old West female outlaw and prostitute.
Biography
Duck was born in the Cherokee NationCherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
, with the name of Sha-con-gah. By the early 1870s he was riding with gangs across the Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
committing armed robberies and acts of cattle rustling. Blue Duck became involved romantically with Belle Starr
Belle Starr
Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr , better known as Belle Starr, was a notorious American outlaw.-Early life:...
along that time. When she married outlaw Sam Starr, she and her husband formed their own gang, which Blue Duck joined. He is believed to have ridden with that gang through most of the latter part of the 1870s, although his involvement with them was off and on. Though it has sometimes been said that his affair with Belle Starr continued after she married, there is nothing to confirm that.
On June 23, 1884, while riding drunk in the Flint District of the Cherokee Nation, and in the company of outlaw William Christie, the two men came upon a farmer named Samuel Wyrick. For no apparent reason, the two outlaws opened fire on the farmer, emptying their revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
s into him, killing him. They then reloaded and fired on a young Cherokee boy who'd witnessed the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, missing him but shooting his horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
from beneath him. Both he and Christie were captured by Deputy US Marshal
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
Frank Cochran
Frank Cochran
Frank Cochran was a 19th century Old West Deputy US Marshal in the service of Judge Isaac Parker, known as the "Hanging Judge", operating out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.-Biography:...
, and taken before Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
Isaac Parker
Isaac Parker
Isaac Charles Parker served as a U.S. District Judge presiding over the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas for 21 years and also one-time politician. He served in that capacity during the most dangerous time for law enforcement during the western expansion...
, known as the "Hanging Judge", in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
.
Both were convicted, although Christie was later cleared of the charge and released. Blue Duck was sentenced to hang
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
, but later his sentence was reduced to life in prison. He was sent to Menard Penitentiary in Chester, Illinois
Chester, Illinois
Chester is a city located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,400 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County and is located south of St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
as Inmate # 2486. Blue Duck was assisted in an unsuccessful appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
by Belle Starr. In 1895, when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and given only a short time to live, he was granted a pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
and released. He died shortly thereafter in Catoosa, Oklahoma
Catoosa, Oklahoma
Catoosa is a river city in Rogers and Wagoner counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 7,159 at the 2010 census compared to 5,449 at the 2000 census. This was a 31.2 percent increase during the decade.Catoosa is an Inland seaport...
, where he is buried.