John Kinney (outlaw)
Encyclopedia
John Kinney was an outlaw
of the Old West, who formed the John Kinney Gang
.
Kinney was born in Hampshire County, Massachusetts
around 1847. His family later moved to Iowa
, and in 1865, after the Civil War
ended, Kinney enlisted in the US Army. At the rank of sergeant
, Kinney was mustered out of the army in 1873. He settled in Dona Ana County, New Mexico
, and for reasons unknown organized a gang, which began committing acts of robbery
and cattle rustling. Jesse Evans was one of the early members. On December 31, 1875, Kinney, Evans, Jim McDaniels and Pony Diehl
entered a saloon in Las Cruces, New Mexico
, where they became involved in a brawl with Cavalry soldiers from Fort Seldon
. The outlaws were beaten badly, and thrown out of the saloon. They returned shortly thereafter and opened fire, killing two soldiers and wounding one civilian, and wounding two other soldiers and one civilian.
Not long afterwards, Evans broke away from the gang to form the Jesse Evans Gang. Kinney enlisted his gang in the El Paso Salt War. Then, both gangs were later enlisted by the "Murphy-Dolan Faction" at the outset of the Lincoln County War
, and it would be Jessie Evans and members of his gang who killed John Tunstal, which spurred Billy the Kid
and his "Regulators" into action. During the battle and siege of the McSween house, Billy the Kid shot a bullet that hit Kinney's face, but he survived. In 1878, Kinney was arrested for the murder
of Ysabel Barela, but was acquitted.
In 1883 Kinney was arrested for cattle rustling, and sentenced to prison. Released in 1886, he did not return to his outlaw life. By that time all the members of his former gang were either dead, in prison, or had disappeared. He served in the US Army during the Spanish American War, and was successful as a miner
in Chapparral Gulch, Arizona before retiring to Prescott
, where he died on August 25, 1919.
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 Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...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, who formed the John Kinney Gang
John Kinney Gang
The John Kinney Gang, also known as the Rio Grande Posse, was an outlaw gang of the old West, which operated during the mid-1870s into the mid-1880s....
.
Kinney was born in Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Hampshire County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile...
around 1847. His family later moved to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, and in 1865, after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
ended, Kinney enlisted in the US Army. At the rank of sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, Kinney was mustered out of the army in 1873. He settled in Dona Ana County, New Mexico
Doña Ana County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.1% White*1.7% Black*1.5% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.0% Two or more races*18.5% Other races*65.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, and for reasons unknown organized a gang, which began committing acts of robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and cattle rustling. Jesse Evans was one of the early members. On December 31, 1875, Kinney, Evans, Jim McDaniels and Pony Diehl
Pony Diehl
Charles "Pony" Diehl was an Old West outlaw who crossed paths and associated with some of the most famous western characters in American history. His origins are unknown, although he is believed to have been part Cherokee....
entered a saloon in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
, where they became involved in a brawl with Cavalry soldiers from Fort Seldon
Fort Seldon
Fort Selden was a US Cavalry fort named in honor of Henry R. Selden, and located in Doña Ana County, 12 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The fort was in operation from 1865 through 1891, and through its years it garrisoned numerous units of the famed Buffalo Soldiers. General Douglas...
. The outlaws were beaten badly, and thrown out of the saloon. They returned shortly thereafter and opened fire, killing two soldiers and wounding one civilian, and wounding two other soldiers and one civilian.
Not long afterwards, Evans broke away from the gang to form the Jesse Evans Gang. Kinney enlisted his gang in the El Paso Salt War. Then, both gangs were later enlisted by the "Murphy-Dolan Faction" at the outset of the Lincoln County War
Lincoln County War
The Lincoln County War was a 19th-century range war between two factions during the Old West period. Numerous notable figures of the American West were involved, including Billy the Kid, aka William Henry McCarty; sheriffs William Brady and Pat Garrett; cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and...
, and it would be Jessie Evans and members of his gang who killed John Tunstal, which spurred Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
and his "Regulators" into action. During the battle and siege of the McSween house, Billy the Kid shot a bullet that hit Kinney's face, but he survived. In 1878, Kinney was arrested for 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...
of Ysabel Barela, but was acquitted.
In 1883 Kinney was arrested for cattle rustling, and sentenced to prison. Released in 1886, he did not return to his outlaw life. By that time all the members of his former gang were either dead, in prison, or had disappeared. He served in the US Army during the Spanish American War, and was successful as a miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
in Chapparral Gulch, Arizona before retiring to Prescott
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, where he died on August 25, 1919.