Ben Kilpatrick (January 5, 1874 – March 12, 1912) was an American outlaw during the closing years of the American Old West. He was a member of the Wild Bunch gang led by Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay. He was arrested for robbery and served about 10 years of his 15-year sentence. Upon his release from prison, he returned to crime and was killed by a hostage during a train robbery.
Kilpatrick was born in Coleman County, Texas, in 1874, the third of nine children of a Tennessee-born farmer, George Washington Kilpatrick (or "Killpatrick"), by his wife, Mary, a native of South Carolina, according to the 1880 Federal Census.[1]
He worked as a cowboy for a time in Texas and became acquaintances with Tom and Sam Ketchum and Bill Carver.
Outlaw lifeEdit
Kilpatrick is in the front row - centre; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900 Click a person for more information. Click elsewhere on the image for a larger image.
After Cassidy's release from prison, Lay and he organized the Wild Bunch gang, and the gang began the most successful train-robbing career in history. Kilpatrick is thought to have been a friend of Lay, but he may have had minimal or no involvement with crimes involving Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid. Kilpatrick became involved with Kid Curry, but where or how they met is uncertain.[citation needed]
EscapeEdit
The gang would commit their robberies, split up, and then head in several different directions, meeting some time later in the Hole in the Wall hideout in Wyoming. Bullion and he made their way to Nashville, Tennessee, where they met with Kid Curry and his girlfriend Della Moore. Moore was arrested shortly thereafter for passing money traced back to one of the gang's robberies.[citation needed]
ArrestEdit
Kilpatrick was captured on November 5, 1901, in St. Louis, Missouri, and received a 15-year sentence.
DeathEdit
Photograph shows the bodies of Ben Kilpatrick and Ole Hobek being held up by others after being killed near Sanderson Tex., Mar. 13, 1912
He was released from prison in June 1911.[2] On March 12, 1912, Kilpatrick and outlaw Ole Hobek were killed while robbing a train near Sanderson, Texas. The duo is thought to have participated in several train robberies outside of Memphis in November 1911 and February 1912, as well as other small robberies in West Texas.[citation needed]
In March 1912, Kilpatrick boarded a Southern Pacific Express train near Sanderson, Texas, alongside a former inmate whom he had befriended. Attempting a robbery, Kilpatrick held up the express messenger, David Trousdale, in the Wells Fargo baggage and mail car. While Kilpatrick looted the safe and any other valuables he could find, Trousdale managed to hide an ice mallet underneath the back of his jacket. Trousdale then told Kilpatrick that there was a valuable package lying on the ground. Kilpatrick rested his rifle against his leg while he leaned over to pick up the package. As he did, Trousdale pulled the mallet from beneath his coat and struck Kilpatrick three times in the back of the neck and head. Kilpatrick died instantly[3] of a broken neck and crushed skull. The beating with the mallet was so brutal that Kilpatrick's brains stained the walls of the car.
^1880 Federal Census for Precinct 11, Coleman County Texas (Coleman County Enumeration District 45, Sheet 6, Lines 1-8) shows "Benjamen A. Killpatrick" as a six-year-old native of Texas
^"Ben Kilpatrick and the last full sized train robbery in Texas, Sanderson, 1912". www.texasescapes.com. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
^"Ice Mallet used to Kill Outlaw Ben Kilpatrick". Old West Events. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
Further readingEdit
Soule, Arthur, The Tall Texan - The Story of Ben Kilpatrick, Deer Lodge, Montana: TrailDust Publishing Inc., 1995
kilpatrick, january, 1874, march, 1912, american, outlaw, during, closing, years, american, west, member, wild, bunch, gang, butch, cassidy, elzy, arrested, robbery, served, about, years, year, sentence, upon, release, from, prison, returned, crime, killed, ho. Ben Kilpatrick January 5 1874 March 12 1912 was an American outlaw during the closing years of the American Old West He was a member of the Wild Bunch gang led by Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay He was arrested for robbery and served about 10 years of his 15 year sentence Upon his release from prison he returned to crime and was killed by a hostage during a train robbery Ben KilpatrickFort Worth Texas 1900Born 1874 01 05 January 5 1874Coleman County Texas United StatesDiedMarch 12 1912 1912 03 12 aged 38 Sanderson Texas United StatesCause of deathHead traumaNationalityAmericanOther namesThe Tall TexanOccupationCowboyAllegianceButch Cassidy s Wild BunchConviction s RobberyCriminal penalty15 years Contents 1 Early life 2 Outlaw life 2 1 Escape 2 2 Arrest 2 3 Death 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksEarly life EditKilpatrick was born in Coleman County Texas in 1874 the third of nine children of a Tennessee born farmer George Washington Kilpatrick or Killpatrick by his wife Mary a native of South Carolina according to the 1880 Federal Census 1 He worked as a cowboy for a time in Texas and became acquaintances with Tom and Sam Ketchum and Bill Carver Outlaw life Edit nbsp Kilpatrick is in the front row centre Fort Worth Texas 1900 Click a person for more information Click elsewhere on the image for a larger image After Cassidy s release from prison Lay and he organized the Wild Bunch gang and the gang began the most successful train robbing career in history Kilpatrick is thought to have been a friend of Lay but he may have had minimal or no involvement with crimes involving Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid Kilpatrick became involved with Kid Curry but where or how they met is uncertain citation needed Escape Edit The gang would commit their robberies split up and then head in several different directions meeting some time later in the Hole in the Wall hideout in Wyoming Bullion and he made their way to Nashville Tennessee where they met with Kid Curry and his girlfriend Della Moore Moore was arrested shortly thereafter for passing money traced back to one of the gang s robberies citation needed Arrest Edit Kilpatrick was captured on November 5 1901 in St Louis Missouri and received a 15 year sentence Death Edit nbsp Photograph shows the bodies of Ben Kilpatrick and Ole Hobek being held up by others after being killed near Sanderson Tex Mar 13 1912He was released from prison in June 1911 2 On March 12 1912 Kilpatrick and outlaw Ole Hobek were killed while robbing a train near Sanderson Texas The duo is thought to have participated in several train robberies outside of Memphis in November 1911 and February 1912 as well as other small robberies in West Texas citation needed In March 1912 Kilpatrick boarded a Southern Pacific Express train near Sanderson Texas alongside a former inmate whom he had befriended Attempting a robbery Kilpatrick held up the express messenger David Trousdale in the Wells Fargo baggage and mail car While Kilpatrick looted the safe and any other valuables he could find Trousdale managed to hide an ice mallet underneath the back of his jacket Trousdale then told Kilpatrick that there was a valuable package lying on the ground Kilpatrick rested his rifle against his leg while he leaned over to pick up the package As he did Trousdale pulled the mallet from beneath his coat and struck Kilpatrick three times in the back of the neck and head Kilpatrick died instantly 3 of a broken neck and crushed skull The beating with the mallet was so brutal that Kilpatrick s brains stained the walls of the car See also Edit nbsp Biography portalBaxter s Curve Train RobberyReferences Edit 1880 Federal Census for Precinct 11 Coleman County Texas Coleman County Enumeration District 45 Sheet 6 Lines 1 8 shows Benjamen A Killpatrick as a six year old native of Texas Ben Kilpatrick and the last full sized train robbery in Texas Sanderson 1912 www texasescapes com Retrieved 2021 06 28 Ice Mallet used to Kill Outlaw Ben Kilpatrick Old West Events 11 January 2019 Retrieved 2021 06 28 Further reading EditSoule Arthur The Tall Texan The Story of Ben Kilpatrick Deer Lodge Montana TrailDust Publishing Inc 1995External links EditBen Kilpatrick partial bio Timeline The story of Kilpatrick s last robbery Ben Kilpatrick at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ben Kilpatrick amp oldid 1175003060, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
