J J Webb: Lawman to Outlaw

On the American frontier, the line between lawman and criminal could be thin. And perhaps no character of the wild west demonstrated that more than John Joshua Webb. If you don’t know his name, you’ll probably recognize the names of many of his friends, like Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday, Dirty Dave Rudabaugh, and Wyatt Earp.
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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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Script by THG
#history #thehistoryguy #Wildwest

[@RemyJackson]

Dave Rudabagh, the Kevin Bacon of the Old West. Almost every famous name from that time period either had dealing with Rudabagh, or knew someone who did.

[@user-oh2hs6jh5x]

Good Friday morning history fans. Welcome to class. While I am sure there must have been some honest lawmen back in that era, the line between outlaw and lawman seemed to frequently be blurred.

[@DenethordeSade.90]

Goes without saying

[@rabbi120348]

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

[@jaminova_1969]

Not much has changed!

[@tlakins]

America is still infested with crooked cops.

[@reefsroost696]

I don't know, you had to be pretty salty just to survive back then.

[@user-oh2hs6jh5x]

The Governor Lew Wallace that THG mentions as involved in changing Webb's death sentence to life imprisonment is the same Lew Wallace that was a Civil War General, author, and (as I recall at least) the judge at the trial of the conspirators in the Abraham Lincoln assassination. I think THG had an episode about him a while ago.

[@lancerevell5979]

There is a museum for Gen. Lew Wallace in my birth city of Crawfordsville, Indiana. He died there in Feb. 1905 at the age of 77.

[@sixpakshaker88]

He wrote Ben Hur.

[@geraldmeehan8942]

He is from Indiana and wrote "Ben Hur"

[@frankgulla2335]

Thank you, for this piece of western lore, gunslingers, and lawmen. Thank you, THG.

[@laurajustlaura8496]

Jj Webb is my 3rd great uncle. I’m obsessed with this story.

[@joshuathomas456]

Someone: John, how did you get your nickname? John: "Whenever I tell a tall tale, someone always looks at me and says 'Bullshit, Jack!'"

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

It is an interesting nickname. There is some question as to what the name really was, as newspapers usually wrote B--S--Jack. Historians usually assume it is what it sounds like, as there wouldn't be another reason for newspapers to hide it. I have not, so far, been able to find an explanation for how he got the name...

[@mattmatt6572]

If you like interesting name history look into Samuel Hill

[@bartsanders1553]

Have you had the pleasure of meeting Kevin Hicks? He a Canadian native of England and does has history channel focusing largely on Medieval England. I think you two would get on splendidly.

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

Huh. I didn't know he was Canadian. Learn something new every day. Anyway, Kevin has done a couple of episodes out west before. He did a brothel walk through on the last one I watched 😂. Only Kevin Hicks, right?

[@bartsanders1553]

​@@BlueRidgeCritter He lives in Saskatoon, but I may have misspoken in calling him Canadian.

[@RetiredSailor60]

Good Morning History Guy and everyone watching today's history lesson. I've ridden the train touring the Royal Gorge in Colorado...

[@user-oh2hs6jh5x]

I've walked over the bridge. I don't like heights and I hugged the centerline and tried not to look down. :}

[@DenethordeSade.90]

Would you like an apple pie with that? What are the price of eggs in china?

[@mikenixon2401]

Enjoy. I've only seen it from the bridge. I always wondered how the view was from down there.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Hey History Guy, 🤓 nice bolo🤠brother! Enjoy your weekend Fellow Classmates

[@user-vl8qw8hp1g]

Good morning, and happy Friday to the History Guy and friends! I have been to both Las Vegas, NM, and beautiful Royal Gorge, CO. My husband is originally from New Mexico, and we lived in Colorado Springs, CO, when he was in the army. It's lovely country where you can practically feel the history in the air!!!! ❤

[@craigbranstrom4749]

Another great story. Thanks!

[@VictoriaAlfredSmythe]

in Cheyenne, WY a couple of youngsters & i (16 years old we were) got off the bus from NYC to transfer to Denver on the way to Aspen back in the day & promptly got arrested for drinking Budweiser in a Park while waiting by the same homeless dude who tried to sell us weed at the station. turns out he was the sheriff who said "we always try to make some money out of the busses coming from NYC". Never been back or plan to. (p.s. they charged our parents king's ransoms to be able to make connection).

[@mattmatt6572]

Good on them. We don't like city folk round here either just stay in your concrete jungle habitat and you will be fine

[@Nightdiver20]

​@mattmatt6572 I get it, but man. Talk about solidifying the dirty country sheriff stereotype

[@mattmatt6572]

Lol I've mostly lived rural and most people will treat anyone well who acts like a person. Golden rule if you want to be treated like a person act like a person 😀

[@VictoriaAlfredSmythe]

@@mattmatt6572 We were just passing through. Spent some money. happy to never come back. will just take a route around cheyenne next time. (or just buy the whole thing)

[@DavidHBurkart]

A history well-delivered. Thank you Lance!

[@bobadams1696]

I really appreciate all the details in this episode.

[@srslyawkward3095]

Good morning, History Guy! I have really enjoyed your history lessons. I also find your personal story to be inspirational since I believe we once worked for the same company. It's nice to see that doing what you love can also be successful.

[@mikenixon2401]

Oh my, I had forgotten, or just not thought of Webb in many years. Thank you for not only introducing us to important history, but also jogging the memories of those of us with fog pushing in on our brains. I appreciate your continued work. For what it's worth I wish I could offer financial help. Sadly I am unable to do so. Thanks for understanding.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

The Kyle Ranch here in Las Vegas Nevada has pictures of Bat Masterson!

[@lancerevell5979]

A time when the line between a lawman and an outlaw was often very thin. Some drifted from one side to the other and back, as their situation changed. 😎👍

[@glenmartin2437]

America does have colorful history. Thanks.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

JJ Webb is Dynomite!🧨

[@ronjamski3911]

Good story, thanks

[@fancyultrafresh3264]

Very good story today, hard to beat a Friday western.

[@laurenelizabeth8948]

I would love to see an episode on the “Black Donnelly Massacre” some time! It took place in Ontario, Canada, but it seems like a story with all the right elements to fit in on this channel!

[@roberthevern6169]

So many 'colorful' characters, at a time when the 'hardscrabble' existence was the norm! The nicknames alone add a special flair, that gives one pause! Is this truth, or some 'Dickensian' fiction? Excellent research, and presentation, THG! I suddenly feel so ... average!! Maybe not the worst fate of this 21st century!!! Loved this! Did anyone else think that Wyatt Earp very closely resembled Kurt Russell, son of Bing, and father of dare I say, 'Wyatt'!!!! Bell rings, class dismissed!!

[@thomaswebb2584]

Great episode!

[@MMitchellMarmel]

Interesting note: The St. Louis and San Francisco RR (Frisco) line where Webb was working had a substantial number of workers die of smallpox at the same time. This line is now the Arkansas and Missouri (where I work part time as a ticket agent and ground conductor, as well as a curator of the museum). In the 80s, the A&M put up crosses at the site near Winslow where mass graves for the workers are located... :)

[@Ispeedymg]

Day one of asking History Guy to cover then insane story behind Supreme Court Justice Fields.

[@psidvicious]

Great story! I was expecting Matt Dillion any moment 🤠

[@jaminova_1969]

I was hoping this was about JJ Armstrong. Even JJ Evans from Goodtimes! Dynamite! But I'll watch anyway !

[@hbhkennel918]

Why not JJ Reddick?😂😂😂

[@jaminova_1969]

@@hbhkennel918 Or Joan Jett ?

[@hbhkennel918]

@@jaminova_1969 I love me some Joan Jett. Saw her on the beach in South Padre Island around '91-'92 Spring break. I swear we made eye contact and wanted some 18 y/o beefcake. Lmao 🤣🤣🤣 At least that's the way I remember it.

[@theoldgrowler3489]

Love the Tie!

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

Wow never thought I'd hear Winslow, Arkansas get a mention on THG! WILD! I grew up about 40 ish minutes north in Fayetteville. Have family that lived in Winslow since the early 1900s

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

Btw Winslow is tiny but cute. Tucked into the mountains and its own little slice of nature out there.

[@BasicDrumming]

I appreciate you and thank you for making content.

[@jonthinks6238]

Now we have even have more history homework to go check out.

[@Franklin-pc3xd]

One of the best of many great THG episodes, thank you! Can't wait (unless it's already been done) for an episode on a fellow named Jim Reavis, also known as the Baron of Arizona. He had a fascinating and sinuous life of notorious "endeavors" starting from the time of the Civil War to his death in the early 20th Century.

[@JeffreyGlover65]

Present and accounted for...😎

[@jessietaylor385]

As a child I enjoyed westerns like Laramie, Have Gun Will Travel and Gunsmoke. The History Guy adds to enjoyment by telling tales with truth but still the storey tellers wit.

[@TheoTheTimeTravelingMagician]

Very interesting!😊

[@johna1160]

4:15 Amusing story about the Commodore.

[@kellybasham3113]

Love your videos

[@steveshoemaker6347]

What a wild west deal and a wild west thanks to THG🎀

[@sixgunmiller6198]

the pic of Doc Holiday is actually a pic of John Escapule. Great Uncle of our Mayor Dusty Escapule.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Back in the Saddle Again Naturally!

[@EGULL97]

Funky fresh intro

[@davebeatty7348]

I saw a sign that says "Beatty Kelly". My last name is Beatty. My search for history has started.

[@WillyWonka465]

History must be forgotten

[@randelbrooks]

looking good today Lance. I have searched through mini mini pictures from the old west and found very few examples of that type of string tie with the long ends dangling. Westerns always favor that costume piece. But it seems like most men wore a bowtie like Sherlock Holmes, that is the ends of the bow tie tucked underneath the collar which of course is a detachable Stiff Collar which requires specialty laundry which no one can do these days much. That was one long narration of who shot who and who was a law man when. I will probably need to watch it again.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

9:05 Great name for grandkids . Do you think that was on his birth certificate?+

[@teryshaw7370]

You said the line between lawman and outlaw was “thin.” I think porous is a better word - the same forceful class of men could break the law, or hunt down those who had, depending on what was profitable and expedient at the time. There are many outlaws in and through my state of Oklahoma that would a suitable topic for your program.

[@glenns5627]

Agreed! It's human nature; when it's "done" to you, you become the lawman. When you're the do-er, not so interested in law ...

[@Raintiger88]

Seems like this would make for a good movie

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Agreed

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Not unusual in the old West for an outlaw to become a lawman or for a lawman to become an outlaw.

[@dwiggang4290]

At 15:10, I noticed the mention of Lew Wallace, then the Governor of New Mexico and formerly a Union Major General during the Civil War. This was around the time that he wrote "Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ".

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Lew Wallace: Author, Politician, General kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaaxdHaMjbtsmdk

[@Houndini]

Houndini The Hound Dog approved.

[@jeffbangkok]

Good evening

[@rayraudebaugh5395]

According to family history passed down from my great grandfather and his younger brother who were both living in Kansas at the time Dirty Dave was active there he is related to us. Probably a distant cousin. Even though his last name is spelled differently I have found that spelling of last names in those day was often phonetic. My great great grandfather spelled the last name differently than his brothers did. Anyway, Dirty Dave was obviously the black sheep of the family as I have a number of relatives (and myself) who served in law enforcement including one who was an Arizona Ranger. To find out these things gives one a whole new take on history.

[@elcastorgrande]

Idea for an episode: The Dumbest Real Estate Swap in History: New York City for Suriname, 1673.

[@davidgrenis638]

I'VE BEEN TO LAS VEGAS A NUMBER OF TIMES AND I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY IT WAS DIVIDED INTO LIKE SEPARATE TOWNS IT IS REALLY KIND OF STRANGE THAT WAY THE EAST SIDE NEAR THE RAILROAD IS PRETTY RUN-DOWN PRETTY MUCH GONE LAST TIME I WAS THERE BUT I THINK THERE WERE EFFORTS TO FIX IT UP ALONG WITH THE RAILROAD STATION HOW MANY TOM MIX MOVIES WERE FILMED IN AND AROUND LAS VEGAS IN WESTERN MOVIES ARE STILL BEING PRODUCED THERE FROM TIME TO TIME DAVID ADAM GRENIS HOUSTON TEXAS

[@scooterhocfecit3685]

I read the title as Jack Webb Lawman to Outlaw and was like shat did HE do?

[@blackdiamondbethlehem]

Could you post the link to your other Dave Rudabaugh episode 👍

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Died by Violence: The Demise of Billy the Kid's Gang kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKvHpJWvhsyKn68

[@geraldmeehan8942]

Sam Bass is a relative of mine. Have you made or will you make a video about Sam?

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I have not yet.

[@ajg617]

And I thought Errol Flynn cleaned up Dodge City. Have to wonder how Pierce got his nickname???

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I haven't been able to find the story, but I'll let you know if I do.

[@kalrandom7387]

7"x19" wow

[@jkilby27able]

👍👍👍

[@nancywhitehead219]

What about the outlaws who turned from robbery to being a good sheriff 🤔🤔🤔

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@shanemcguire5347]

i love real history especially of the so called willd west just the realness of these people and the reality of the times has always interested me i mean its really nothing like hollywood says hollywood mytholigized and embelished this time period and these real men as larger than life characters but as the say they truth is stranger than fiction and alot less dramatic and heroic and even just down right sad in most cases especially the story of Billy the kid

[@jonchowe]

Should have called the video "also Dave Rudabaugh".

[@MoneyMikeMurray]

Was that name "milicent blue brown?"

[@fredherfst8148]

So ya gotta have guns and grow a fabulous mustache…y'all will fit right in

[@williamromine5715]

$60,000.00 was a lot of money in the 1870s. The outlaws of time never seemed to have used the money from their roberies to go back East or to California to live out their lives with the money got from bank or train roberies. I guess these outlaws were not interested in living a peace full life..

[@ZOMBIEHEADSHOTKILLER]

the part where the guy tries to disarm him, is the exact right response to a situation where some one is trying to disarm you.

[@Nightdiver20]

Law enforcement definitely attracts a certain "type"

[@merlinwizard1000]

22nd, 12 April 2024

[@philliplopez8745]

Isn't that a tradition still relevant today .

[@archivis]

:

[@riffmondo9733]

To be honest the is not much difference between the two.

[@scottmoyer8923]

Republicans talk tough then when there’s a fight they run, They left Ukraine high and dry while the Russians use Iranian and North Korean shells, They’re the type that starts a bar fight then slips out the back door

[@hbwblacksmithing]

Kind of seems like he was just going with the flow he was an opportunist Time for a rough then he had to do something make money somehow