Pony Diehl facts for kids

Charles "Pony Diehl" Ray (also known as "Deal") was a well-known Old West outlaw. He lived in the New Mexico Territory and Arizona Territory. He was accused by Wyatt Earp of being involved in an attack on Wyatt's brother, Virgil Earp. However, Pony Diehl was not put on trial for this because there wasn't enough proof.

Pony Diehl's Early Life

Pony Diehl was likely born around 1848 in Rock Island, Illinois. His parents were probably Jeremiah and Mary Hagler Ray, who were German American.

An Outlaw in New Mexico

Pony Diehl first appeared in New Mexico in the 1870s. He rode with outlaw groups like the John Kinney Gang and later the Jesse Evans Gang.

With the Kinney Gang

On December 31, 1875, Diehl, John Kinney, Jesse Evans, and Jim McDaniels from the Kinney Gang went into a saloon in Las Cruces, New Mexico. They got into a big fight with US soldiers from Fort Stanton. During the fight, some people were hurt, and some soldiers and a civilian died. Diehl stayed with the Kinney Gang through 1875.

Joining the Jesse Evans Gang

In early 1876, Pony Diehl left the Kinney Gang. He joined Jesse Evans, who had started his own group. These men were involved in stealing cattle and robberies. For a while, Billy the Kid also rode with them.

The gang became involved in a conflict in Lincoln, New Mexico. This conflict was between the "Murphy-Dolan Faction" and John Tunstall. Billy the Kid, who was friends with Tunstall, left the gang. When other gang members were involved in Tunstall's death, it started the Lincoln County War. During this war, Evans's gang fought against Billy the Kid and his group, the "Regulators."

Life in Tombstone, Arizona

After the Lincoln County War ended, Diehl left New Mexico. In late 1878, he traveled to Arizona Territory and Tombstone with "Curly Bill" Brocius and "Turkey Creek" Jack Johnson.

He became part of a group of outlaws known as the Cochise County Cowboys. This group included famous figures like Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, Johnny Ringo, and "Curly Bill" Brocius.

Pony Diehl was suspected of being involved in many robberies and cattle rustling in Arizona. He was also suspected of stealing U.S. Army mules with Sherman McMaster.

The Attack on Virgil Earp

On the evening of December 28, 1881, Deputy U.S. Marshal Virgil Earp was walking back to his hotel. He was attacked by unknown people who shot him from an unfinished building. Virgil was hit by three shotgun blasts in his back and left arm.

Dr. George E. Goodfellow was able to save Virgil's arm, but Virgil had to carry it in a sling for the rest of his life.

On January 30, 1882, Wyatt Earp got arrest warrants for Diehl, along with Ike and Phin Clanton. They were wanted for the attempted attack on Virgil. Wyatt gathered a group of lawmen, called a posse, and searched for the Cowboys. However, the men had already turned themselves in.

Even though Ike's hat was found where the attackers waited, several people said he was somewhere else that night. Because there wasn't enough proof, the case against Pony Diehl, Ike, and Phin was dropped.

In February 1882, Wyatt Earp got another warrant for Diehl's arrest. This time it was for his suspected involvement in a stagecoach robbery in January 1882. Diehl managed to avoid being caught by Earp.

The Earp Vendetta Ride

On March 18, Morgan Earp was shot and killed by gunmen. This happened while he was playing billiards. Another shot barely missed Wyatt. Morgan died about forty minutes later.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Wyatt Earp felt he could not trust the courts for justice. He decided to take action himself. He believed the only way to deal with Morgan's attackers was to find them. He formed a federal posse and began searching for those he thought were responsible.

At Pete Spence's camp in the Dragoon Mountains, Wyatt's posse found and killed Florentino "Indian Charlie" Cruz. Two days later, near Iron Springs, they unexpectedly came across the camp of Curly Bill Brocius, which included Diehl and other Cowboys. Both sides quickly started shooting. Wyatt killed Curly Bill and badly wounded Johnny Barnes. Pony Diehl was not hurt.

Later Life

Pony Diehl was later arrested for various crimes, including cattle rustling and robbery. He was sentenced to five years in prison in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He escaped in February 1885 but was caught again four days later. He was sent back to prison and was finally released in March 1887. After that, his name no longer appeared in public records. Some stories say he died in a gunfight.