Jennings Gang
Encyclopedia
The Jennings Gang was a gang of outlaw
s in the closing days of the Old West, notable in that one member was a former Wild Bunch
gang member, Richard "Little Dick" West, and the leader of the gang, Al Jennings, ran for Oklahoma
Governor
in 1914.
The gang originated in Oklahoma, following the downfall of the Wild Bunch at the hands of three Deputy US Marshals, Heck Thomas
, Bill Tilghman
, and Chris Madsen
. Following the killing of outlaw and Wild Bunch leader Bill Doolin
, by Heck Thomas in 1896, "Little Dick" West joined up with Al and Frank Jennings, and Morris and Pat O'Malley, to form what would be known as the Jennings Gang. However, the gang was less than successful. They conducted a series of failed train robbery
attempts, one of their last being a case where they blew up an entire train car, only to find that there was no money in the trains safe. Another time, they robbed a general store
, receiving only $15 for their troubles. Less than a year after they were formed, they broke up. Al and Frank Jennings, as well as both O'Malley brothers, were captured and sentenced to prison
. "Little Dick" West eluded capture until later in 1898, when he was killed by Deputy US Marshal Madsen, in Oklahoma. In 1914 Al Jennings ran for Oklahoma Governor, but was soundly defeated.
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 Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
s in the closing days of the Old West, notable in that one member was a former 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 member, Richard "Little Dick" West, and the leader of the gang, Al Jennings, ran for Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
in 1914.
The gang originated in Oklahoma, following the downfall of the Wild Bunch at the hands of three Deputy US Marshals, Heck Thomas
Heck Thomas
Henry Andrew "Heck" Thomas was a lawman on theAmerican frontier, most notably in Oklahoma.-Biography:Thomas was born in 1850 in Athens, Georgia, the youngest of five children of Lovick Pierce Thomas, I and Martha Fulwood Bedell.At the beginning of the American Civil War, at age 12, he accompanied...
, Bill Tilghman
Bill Tilghman
William Matthew "Bill" Tilghman was a lawman in the American Old West.-Early life :Bill Tilghman was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on July 4, 1854. He became a buffalo hunter at age 15 and claimed he killed over 1000 bison over his five years of activity...
, and Chris Madsen
Chris Madsen
Chris Madsen was a lawman of the Old West who is best known as being one of The Three Guardsmen, the name given to Madsen and two other Deputy US Marshals who were responsible for the apprehension and/or killing of several outlaws of that era...
. Following the killing of outlaw and Wild Bunch leader Bill Doolin
Bill Doolin
William "Bill" Doolin was an American bandit and founder of the Wild Bunch, an outlaw gang that specialized in robbing banks, trains and stagecoaches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas during the 1890s.- Early life :...
, by Heck Thomas in 1896, "Little Dick" West joined up with Al and Frank Jennings, and Morris and Pat O'Malley, to form what would be known as the Jennings Gang. However, the gang was less than successful. They conducted a series of failed train robbery
Train robbery
Train robbery is a type of robbery, in which the goal is to steal money or other valuables being carried aboard trains.-History:Train robberies were more common in the past than today, and often occurred in the American Old West. Trains carrying payroll shipments were a major target...
attempts, one of their last being a case where they blew up an entire train car, only to find that there was no money in the trains safe. Another time, they robbed a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
, receiving only $15 for their troubles. Less than a year after they were formed, they broke up. Al and Frank Jennings, as well as both O'Malley brothers, were captured and sentenced to prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. "Little Dick" West eluded capture until later in 1898, when he was killed by Deputy US Marshal Madsen, in Oklahoma. In 1914 Al Jennings ran for Oklahoma Governor, but was soundly defeated.