Out of all Lincoln County Regulators and associates of Billy the Kid, French remains the most mysterious. Not much is known about him, such as where he came from or how he came to work for John Tunstall. He was reported to be a large, powerful man, variously said to be either half-Indian or half-black.
French was present at all the key events of the Regulators during the war, including the Blackwater killings of William Morton, Frank Baker, and William McCloskey on March 9, 1878. After the shooting of Sheriff William Brady on April 1, 1878 in Lincoln (when French and five partners killed Brady and a deputy), he and Billy the Kid broke from cover and ran to Brady's body, ostensibly to get his arrest warrant for Alexander McSween. A deputy who survived the shooting, Billy Matthews, opened fire. His shot wounded both men, French so seriously he that couldn't travel, hiding out under a friend's floor for a day until the Regulators smuggled him out of town. Just three days later, Jim French was present with his pals at the Gunfight at Blazer's Mill against Buckshot Roberts, when Regulator captain Richard M. Brewer was killed.
When the Regulators were trapped in Lincoln in July 1878, French was trapped along with McSween and Billy the Kid in the burning McSween house. Throughout the five-day ordeal, French remained volatile and dangerous. During a shouted parlay, when those surrounding them demanded to see the deputized Regulators' arrest warrants for rival James Dolan, French yelled back, "Our warrants are in our guns, you cock-sucking sonsabitches!" When the house was set afire on July 19, French and Billy the Kid led the Regulators out the rear door and escaped while several of their companions, including McSween, were gunned down in the backyard.
By the fall of 1878, the war had ended and the Regulators split up. French left New Mexico, later writing a friend from a new home near Keota, Oklahoma.
Postwaredit
French was rumored to have been killed back in Lincoln County, New Mexico, in a quarrel over stolen cattle on June 21, 1879, but this seems unlikely. Others say he went to South America. A man named Jim French was killed on February 6, 1895 while trying to rob a store in Catoosa, Oklahoma, but there is nothing to indicate that this man was the Jim French of the Lincoln County War. Fellow Regulator George Coe stated in 1927 that French had been shot in Oklahoma "about three years ago." Jim French's fate remains just as much a mystery as his origins.
In the film Young Guns II, Jim French was combined with fellow Regulator Henry Brown, and presented as a composite named Hendry French.[1] Timid and clumsy, the film's portrayal of French, by actor Alan Ruck bears little actual resemblance to either outlaw.
Referencesedit
^Walker, J.P. (February 26, 2015). The American Old West: Gangs, Outlaws & Gunfights: Gangs, Outlaws & Gunfights. Lulu.com. p. 250. ISBN9781312948969.
Bibliographyedit
Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life, by Robert M. Utley, University of Nebraska Press, 1989.
The Lincoln County War, A Documentary History, by Frederick Nolan, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, 1992.
October 27, 2023
french, cowboy, other, people, named, james, french, james, french, disambiguation, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citat. For other people named James French see James French disambiguation This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Jim French was a cowboy in the New Mexico Territory Called either Big Jim or Frenchy he was a key participant in the 1878 Lincoln County War Jim FrenchPossible photo of Jim French c 1878OccupationCowboyOrganizationLincoln County RegulatorsOut of all Lincoln County Regulators and associates of Billy the Kid French remains the most mysterious Not much is known about him such as where he came from or how he came to work for John Tunstall He was reported to be a large powerful man variously said to be either half Indian or half black Contents 1 Lincoln County War 2 Postwar 3 See also 4 In popular culture 5 References 6 BibliographyLincoln County War editMain article Lincoln County War French was present at all the key events of the Regulators during the war including the Blackwater killings of William Morton Frank Baker and William McCloskey on March 9 1878 After the shooting of Sheriff William Brady on April 1 1878 in Lincoln when French and five partners killed Brady and a deputy he and Billy the Kid broke from cover and ran to Brady s body ostensibly to get his arrest warrant for Alexander McSween A deputy who survived the shooting Billy Matthews opened fire His shot wounded both men French so seriously he that couldn t travel hiding out under a friend s floor for a day until the Regulators smuggled him out of town Just three days later Jim French was present with his pals at the Gunfight at Blazer s Mill against Buckshot Roberts when Regulator captain Richard M Brewer was killed When the Regulators were trapped in Lincoln in July 1878 French was trapped along with McSween and Billy the Kid in the burning McSween house Throughout the five day ordeal French remained volatile and dangerous During a shouted parlay when those surrounding them demanded to see the deputized Regulators arrest warrants for rival James Dolan French yelled back Our warrants are in our guns you cock sucking sonsabitches When the house was set afire on July 19 French and Billy the Kid led the Regulators out the rear door and escaped while several of their companions including McSween were gunned down in the backyard By the fall of 1878 the war had ended and the Regulators split up French left New Mexico later writing a friend from a new home near Keota Oklahoma Postwar editFrench was rumored to have been killed back in Lincoln County New Mexico in a quarrel over stolen cattle on June 21 1879 but this seems unlikely Others say he went to South America A man named Jim French was killed on February 6 1895 while trying to rob a store in Catoosa Oklahoma but there is nothing to indicate that this man was the Jim French of the Lincoln County War Fellow Regulator George Coe stated in 1927 that French had been shot in Oklahoma about three years ago Jim French s fate remains just as much a mystery as his origins See also editList of fugitives from justice who disappearedIn popular culture editIn the film Young Guns II Jim French was combined with fellow Regulator Henry Brown and presented as a composite named Hendry French 1 Timid and clumsy the film s portrayal of French by actor Alan Ruck bears little actual resemblance to either outlaw References edit Walker J P February 26 2015 The American Old West Gangs Outlaws amp Gunfights Gangs Outlaws amp Gunfights Lulu com p 250 ISBN 9781312948969 Bibliography editBilly the Kid A Short and Violent Life by Robert M Utley University of Nebraska Press 1989 The Lincoln County War A Documentary History by Frederick Nolan University of Oklahoma Press Norman 1992 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jim French cowboy amp oldid 1086286880, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
