Three Guardsmen

The Three Guardsmen is the name popularized in

Old West literature describing three lawmen who became legendary in their pursuit of many outlaws of the late 19th century. Deputy U.S. Marshals Bill Tilghman (1854–1924), Chris Madsen (1851–1944), and Heck Thomas (1850–1912) were "The Three Guardsmen", working under U.S. Marshal Evett "E.D." Nix

.

Career and notoriety

Beginning in 1889, they began "cleaning up" part of what became the State of

this robbery

ended the gang with the deaths of most of its members.

They are most famous for their relentless pursuit of the

Richard "Little Dick" West. Deputy Marshal Tilghman was ultimately responsible for the death of Doolin gang member William F. "Little Bill" Raidler. Other gang members were also captured or killed by them.^[1]

Later years

Heck Thomas retired in 1905, and in 1907 accepted a

Chief of Police position in Lawton, Oklahoma. He died in 1912 of Bright's disease

.

Bill Tilghman retired in 1910 and was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate. On Halloween night, 1924, and at the age of 70, Tilghman was murdered by a corrupt prohibition agent named Wiley Lynn, while serving as town Marshal for Cromwell, Oklahoma. Cromwell at the time was a wild town full of brothels, pool halls and saloons. One month after his death, the entire town was burned to the ground – no building was left standing. Chris Madsen and other former law enforcement friends of Tilghman were believed to have been responsible, but no investigation into the arsons was ever conducted. The town of Cromwell never recovered; as of the 2000 census, its population was less than 300.

Madsen had retired in 1905, and died in 1944 at the age of 93.

References

^ "Bill Doolin". Archived from the original on 2006-07-15. Retrieved 2006-07-15.

External links

The Three Guardsmen

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[1] "Bill Doolin". Archived from the original on 2006-07-15. Retrieved 2006-07-15.

[1]