Billy Stiles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Stiles
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| Born |
William Larkin Stiles
September 1871 |
| Died | December 5, 1908 |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Other names | William Larkin |
| Occupation | Prospector, Cowboy, Deputy sheriff, Train robber |
William Larkin Stiles (born September 1871 – died December 5, 1908) was an American outlaw from the Old West. He was also known as Billy Stiles or William Larkin. He became known for leading a small group of train robbers. Interestingly, he did this while also working as a deputy sheriff in the Arizona Territory.
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Billy Stiles' Story
Billy Stiles was born in Casa Grande, Arizona. When he was young, he worked as a prospector. This meant he searched for valuable minerals. He also worked as a ranch hand in the Superstition Mountains.
Later, Billy Stiles became a lawman. He worked with famous lawmen like Jeff Milton and John Slaughter. Stiles was known for being a very good tracker. He could follow trails and find people.
Joining the Gang
Billy Stiles met Burt Alvord, who was the marshal in Willcox, Arizona. They became partners. Together, they formed a successful gang. This group robbed trains in southern Arizona. Other members included "Three Fingered" Jack Dunlop, Bravo Juan Yolas, Bob Brown, and the Owens brothers, George and Louis.
The gang used a clever trick. Since Stiles and Alvord were deputy sheriffs, they could pretend to help with investigations. This made it harder for real law enforcement to catch them.
Trouble and Escape
In 1899, the gang tried to rob the Southern Pacific Railroad. They were caught. Billy Stiles and Burt Alvord blamed each other for what happened. Stiles' wife even spoke against him in court.
But Alvord soon helped Stiles escape from jail. He tied up the jailer and used the keys to free Stiles. After this, they both disappeared from the area. The gang broke up after a shootout on February 15, 1900. In that fight, gang member Jack Dunlop was killed. Lawman Jeff Davis Milton and another gang member were hurt. It is believed that Stiles was not there during that robbery attempt.
Working with the Arizona Rangers
In 1902, Alvord and Stiles helped the Arizona Ranger Burton C. Mossman. They helped him capture a Mexican bandit named Augustine Chacon. After this, Stiles gave himself up to Mossman. He even served briefly as an Arizona Ranger. Records show he was 32 years old when he joined. However, he soon went back to being an outlaw.
Faking Their Deaths
Back in Mexico, Alvord and Stiles tried to trick everyone. They sent two coffins to Tombstone, Arizona, pretending their bodies were inside. But the trick was quickly discovered. In late 1903, a group of Arizona Rangers went into Mexico to find them. They caught Alvord, but Stiles managed to escape. He traveled far away, spending time in China and the Philippines.
A New Life and His End
Eventually, Billy Stiles returned to the United States. He became a deputy sheriff in Humboldt County, Nevada. He used the name William Larkin.
On December 5, 1908, Stiles was killed. He was trying to deliver a court summons (an official paper from a court). The person he was trying to serve shot him three times as he approached a barn. Stiles died from his wounds. The suspect was arrested but was later found not guilty during the trial.
A local newspaper, the Humboldt Star, reported on his death on December 7, 1908. It described how Deputy Sheriff William Larkin was shot. The newspaper said the shooting happened when Larkin was on duty. He was trying to serve papers for a lawsuit. The shooter, Charley Barr, fired three shots. Larkin was hit and fell, but he fired one shot back. Barr then took control of the ranch, took a horse, and rode away.
In Popular Culture
In 1955, the story of Stiles and Alvord was shown on television. Paul Sorensen played Stiles and Chris Drake played Alvord. This was on an episode of the TV show Stories of the Century. The show was narrated by Jim Davis.
