Roy Daugherty
Encyclopedia
Roy Daugherty, also known as Arkansas Tom Jones, (1870 - August 16, 1924) was an outlaw
of the Old West, and a member of the Wild Bunch
gang, led by Bill Doolin
.
Born into a staunchly religious family in Missouri
, his two brothers became preachers. However, Daugherty rebelled, and left Missouri for Oklahoma Territory
at only 14 years of age. He called himself "Arkansas Tom Jones", claiming to have been from there. For a number of years he worked as a cowboy
, which was how he met Bill Doolin. He joined Doolin's gang around 1892. He was involved in several robberies
, but was one of the first of the gang to fall, being captured after the Battle of Ingalls
, in Ingalls, Oklahoma
on September 1, 1893. He killed Deputy Marshal Thomas Hueston during that shootout, and was captured after Deputy Marshal Jim Masterson
threw dynamite
into where Jones was making his stand, stunning him. Deputy Marshal Hueston, whom Jones killed, along with Ford County, Kansas
Sheriff
Chalkey Beeson had killed Wild Bunch gang member Oliver Yantis
the year before.
Daugherty was sentenced to fifty years in prison
, but due to his two preacher brothers campaigning on his behalf, he was parole
d in 1910. For two years he ran a restaurant
in Drumright, Oklahoma
, but became bored and moved to Hollywood, California, hoping to act in western films. However, that did not work out, and he committed a bank robbery
in 1917 in Neosho, Missouri
, and was again captured. Released in 1921, he robbed another bank in Asbury, Missouri
that same year. He remained on the run from law enforcement until tracked to Joplin, Missouri
and killed during a gunfight with lawmen on August 16, 1924.
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 Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...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, and a member of the 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, led by 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 :...
.
Born into a staunchly religious family in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, his two brothers became preachers. However, Daugherty rebelled, and left Missouri for 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...
at only 14 years of age. He called himself "Arkansas Tom Jones", claiming to have been from there. For a number of years he worked as a cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
, which was how he met Bill Doolin. He joined Doolin's gang around 1892. He was involved in several robberies
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....
, but was one of the first of the gang to fall, being captured after the Battle of Ingalls
Battle of Ingalls
The Battle of Ingalls was a gunfight on September 1, 1893 between United States Marshals and the Doolin-Dalton Gang, during the closing years of the Old West era, in Ingalls, Oklahoma. The Doolin-Dalton Gang had been involved in a number of train robberies and bank robberies, beginning around 1891...
, in Ingalls, Oklahoma
Ingalls, Oklahoma
Ingalls is a small community in Payne County, Oklahoma, about 10 miles east of Stillwater. The town was settled out of the "Unassigned Lands" in 1889, and had a post office from January 22, 1890, until October 31, 1907. It was named for Senator John J. Ingalls of Kansas.Ingalls was the site of a...
on September 1, 1893. He killed Deputy Marshal Thomas Hueston during that shootout, and was captured after Deputy Marshal Jim Masterson
James Masterson
James Masterson, also known as Jim Masterson, was a lawman of the American West and the brother of gunfighters and lawmen Bat Masterson and Ed Masterson.-Lawman career:...
threw dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
into where Jones was making his stand, stunning him. Deputy Marshal Hueston, whom Jones killed, along with Ford County, Kansas
Ford County, Kansas
Ford County is a county located in southwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 33,848. The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County. Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City. The county is named in...
Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Chalkey Beeson had killed Wild Bunch gang member Oliver Yantis
Oliver Yantis
Oliver Yantis, known as Oliver "Ol" Yantis was an outlaw of the Old West, best known for being a member of the Doolin Dalton Gang....
the year before.
Daugherty was sentenced to fifty years in 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...
, but due to his two preacher brothers campaigning on his behalf, he was parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
d in 1910. For two years he ran a restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
in Drumright, Oklahoma
Drumright, Oklahoma
Drumright is a city in Creek and Payne counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 2,905 at the 2000 census.-History:The town sprang up nearly overnight in 1912 after wildcatter Tom Slick struck oil on the farm of Frank Wheeler, causing a rush of speculators, oilfield workers, and...
, but became bored and moved to Hollywood, California, hoping to act in western films. However, that did not work out, and he committed a bank robbery
Bank robbery
Bank robbery is the crime of stealing from a bank during opening hours. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, robbery is "the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of...
in 1917 in Neosho, Missouri
Neosho, Missouri
Neosho is the most populous city in and the county seat of Newton County, Missouri, United States. Neosho is an integral part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and was again captured. Released in 1921, he robbed another bank in Asbury, Missouri
Asbury, Missouri
Asbury is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 207 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Asbury is located at ....
that same year. He remained on the run from law enforcement until tracked to Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
and killed during a gunfight with lawmen on August 16, 1924.