John Riley Duncan facts for kids

John Riley "Jack" Duncan (born September 25, 1850 – died November 16, 1911) was a famous lawman from Texas. He worked as a police officer in Dallas, a Texas Ranger, and a detective. He is best known for helping to catch the well-known outlaw John Wesley Hardin.

Jack Duncan's Life Story

Growing Up in Kentucky and Texas

John 'Jack' Riley Duncan was born on September 25, 1850, in a small farming area called Hardin County, Kentucky. His father, James, was 23, and his mother, Katherine, was 21. Jack and his brothers helped on the family farm. Their father was away fighting in the Civil War.

After the war, the family tried other businesses besides farming, but they didn't do well. Young Jack even tried running a small shop that made saddles. Eventually, the family decided to move to Texas. They settled near Dallas.

By 1875, the Duncan family was living well in Dallas, which was a busy frontier town. Jack and his father worked as butchers. Dallas was a lively city with about 10,000 people and a small police force of only 10 or 11 officers. In October 1876, Jack joined the police force. He quickly became known as a very good lawman. Most of his work involved everyday tasks, like arresting people who caused trouble or controlling the many stray dogs in the city.

Catching Wes Hardin

During this time, efforts grew to catch Wes Hardin, who was one of Texas's most wanted criminals. Hardin had a lot of support from his family and friends. So, the Texas Rangers decided to gather information secretly.

In July 1877, Jack Duncan joined the Texas Rangers. His special job was to work undercover and find Hardin. He went to Gonzales County, TX, where Hardin and his wife had many relatives. Duncan found out that Hardin was in a small town in southeastern Alabama, close to the Florida border.

Continuing his secret work, Duncan learned more details about Hardin. He discovered Hardin was gambling in nearby Pensacola, FL. Local police, a railroad worker, and a judge helped set a trap. They planned to catch Hardin in the smoking car of a train. Hardin and some friends had just bought tickets for this train.

Only the Texas Rangers knew Hardin's true identity, even though some local officers knew him by a fake name. The ambush team included Escambia County Sheriff William Henry Hutchinson, Deputy A. J. Perdue, some newly appointed citizens, and Texas Rangers Duncan and Lieutenant John Barclay Armstrong. Lieutenant Armstrong was in charge of the whole plan. Everyone was in place around the train, which was waiting to leave the Pensacola station.

Hardin was caught after a struggle. It likely started with Hutchinson, Perdue, and another deputy. Lieutenant Armstrong ended it by knocking Hardin unconscious with his revolver. Duncan was probably not right where Hardin was caught because his job was outside the train car. One of Hardin's friends, Jim Mann, was killed trying to run away. Duncan and Armstrong guarded Hardin. They took him by train back to Texas for his trial. Hardin spent 17 years in prison for his crimes.

Life After the Big Capture

Jack Duncan only worked for the Texas Rangers for four months. He likely left because he could earn a lot of money by catching criminals as a bounty hunter. His share of the $4,000 reward for catching Hardin probably helped him decide this.

Working as a bounty hunter meant Duncan dealt with the dangerous side of Dallas. It was a risky life. On February 9, 1878, Duncan was shot under mysterious circumstances. His recovery was slow because doctors could not find and remove the bullet. Later, problems from this gunshot led to a tracheotomy operation to save his life. This meant he needed a silver breathing tube for the rest of his life.

The breathing tube made it hard for him to breathe and speak. However, he still worked effectively as a detective and bounty hunter. Duncan was very successful at catching wanted criminals. When Hardin died in 1895, people became interested in Duncan's career again. He shared a list of all the "bad men" he had caught or helped catch. The list had 21 names, and he had collected over $12,000 in rewards. Hardin's name was at the top of the list.

As times changed on the Texas frontier, Duncan had to find more regular jobs. Later in his life, he worked as a Dallas Sanitation Inspector, a general laborer, a carpenter, a hotel clerk, and a watchman for the Corps of Engineers. He married Emma Jane Bowles on October 20, 1884, in Dallas, Texas. They had four children over 13 years.

On November 16, 1911, at age 61, Duncan lost control of his car (a Brush Runabout) on a bumpy road south of Dallas. He died from his injuries or possibly from losing his breathing tube. Jack Duncan is buried in the historic Greenwood Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. His tombstone reads: "Dallas Policeman, Texas Ranger, and Dallas Detective, Got Wes Hardin, August 23, 1877."

A book by Rick Miller tells the story of his exciting life as a western lawman. The Duncan family, who still live in Texas, received a copy of the book. However, there are no pictures of Duncan in Miller's book. In fact, there are no known pictures of Duncan at all. He refused to pose for photos because he thought it might make his undercover work harder. In the 1920s, a silent black and white film called A Man and His Horse was made about the capture of Hardin.