New Life

Emmett Dalton soon proved himself a useful citizen. He went into business with his cousin in Tulsa, opened a tailor shop, met President Roosevelt, married, and was nominated for a member of the city council in Bartlesville. But trouble arose following his decision to get involved in the movie business.

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After receiving his pardon, Emmett talked to the reporters giving his first version of the Coffeyville raid and the events leading up to it. How much his telling was colored by what had been said by his mother, or friends, is hard to say. Also, he must have been aware of all the exaggerated stories about the Dalton gang exploits and naturally wanted to show himself in the best possible light, not knowing how the public would take to him. Everything he said seems very carefully calculated. Another thing to bear in mind is that the memory of such events often disagrees with what actually happened. For instance, Emmett always said he and Bob reached their horses before the others got into the alley. Other accounts have the bandits enter the alley about the same time.

Kansas City Star, Nov. 3, 1907: TOPEKA, Nov. 2. - Not long ago Emmett Dalton was asked if he would say something of himself and tell the details of the Coffeyville raid. There were five members of the gang that participated in that raid but Emmett Dalton was the only one who escaped with his life. For fifteen years, during his imprisonment at Lansing, Dalton has steadfastly refused to discuss, as he expresses it, “the great mistake of his life.” When asked about it by newspaper men and others he always has been courteous, but in some way no amount of insistence could get him to tell of his part of the robbery.

“I have always refused to talk,” said Dalton, “not because I did not care to have my version known, but because I feared that if I had given out interviews the public might get the impression that I was fishing for sympathy. That I have never done. I am as susceptible to sympathy as any man. Every person, man or woman, has it within him to be glad when fellow man expresses compassion for him. But I made up my mind fully fifteen years ago that whatever I did in looking for a pardon no one would be able to say that I had asked it simply on the grounds that he was sorry for me.

“When I entered the penitentiary I laid out a course of action. I made up my mind to strictly adhere to these lines of action; to conform absolutely to the prison’s rules, to work as hard as my health and energy would let me and to keep my mouth shut so far as complaining was concerned. I strove for the good will of every warden and employee under whom I served and determined that it should never be said that I whined or sulked. That I kept to these rules is evidenced by the fact that the present warden and every ex-warden not only signed my petition for pardon, but all made it a point to see the governor in my behalf.”

Dalton sat for a moment as if contemplaiting what he should say next. His fifteen years confinement had apparently left no traces upon his face.

“I was born in Cass county, near Belton, Mo.,” he finally said. “I had three older brothers who went to the Indian territory and finally my mother decided that she and I would follow. I was then 15 years old. All of my brothers were deputy United States marshals. Everybody knows, I presume, what the social conditions of Oklahoma and Indian territory were nearly twenty years ago. There was a semblance of law, but as a matter of fact everything was as near wide open as anything could be. Shooting was common. The killing of a man was almost a daily occurrence. My oldest brother was shot in the performance of his duty by desperadoes. ’Bad man’ talk was as common then as ’law enforcement’ arguments are in Kansas and Missouri now. As I said before I, a boy of 16, was thrown into this atmosphere.

“Everywhere I went I drank in this talk. Soon I seemed to become part of it all and I became a willing listener to the conversations that at first shocked me. However, I did not become a ’bad man’ in any sense of the word. Before the affair at Coffeyville I had never broken the law in the slightest degree, but my environment had had its influence as the Coffeyville mistake showed.

“One day when I was about 18 years old, I was with my brother Bob. He was then a United States deputy marshal. He started to make an arrest. The men resisted. Bob drew as they did and told me to ’git’. I was just that young to not have sense enough to run so I drew my six shooter and got into the game. We arrested the men and put them in jail.

“It’s funny how small things change the entire course of a fellow’s life, isn’t it?” asked Dalton with that smile that has done as much as any other thing to attract men to him. “If I had run that day with Bob, the chances are that the Coffeyville raid would have been pulled off and I would never have been asked to be one of the gang. But that performance in sticking to my brother seemed to make a great impression upon him. Did you ever have a brother you simply idolized? That was the way I looked upon my brother Bob. In fact to my eyes he was my hero. While in prison I read ’Hero Worship’ by Carlisle. It impressed me because that was my case so far as Bob was concerned. As I said the fact that I refused to run under fire impressed Bob a heap. He spoke of it many times, and said several times that some day he wanted me with him. I didn’t know what he meant then, but I found out later.

“Fully a month before the Coffeyville robbery Bob spoke of the large amount of money the banks there were supposed to have on deposit. We had lived there for a while. In fact I attended the public schools there. I was as well known as any youngster in the town. Gradually Bob led up to the suggestion of robbing the banks at Coffeyville, mentioning that as I hadn’t run before I probably would be game in this case. I discouraged the idea. The more I opposed the more determined he seemed to be. I finally yielded. It was not so much that I wanted to turn outlaw, bandit and desperado as it was that I feared Bob would consider me lacking in nerve. In the gang as finally made up were five: Bob, my other brother Grattin, Bill Power, Dick Broadwell and myself.

“The night of October 4 we rode to a place about three miles out of Coffeyville and camped in a little draw, that is from about 2 o’clock in the morning until daylight, we lay upon our blankets on the ground. I didn’t sleep much. I confess that I was nervous. The thought of the danger in the morrow’s venture did not seem to occur to me as I remember it now. I believe I had sort of an idea that all there was to the matter was that we would merely ride into the town, rob the banks and ride away again. The fact of the matter is that I didn’t take the affair with any degree of seriousness. I was near Bob and that was about all there was in it.

“The next morning, October 5, 1892, this plan was outlined: We were to ride into town at shortly after 9 o’clock, dismount in an alley east of the Condon bank and the First National bank. These two banks were almost directly across the street from each other. Grat, Power and Broadwell were to enter Condon’s bank while Bob and I crossed the street and rifled the First National. It was decided that we were to remain together after the robbery, make for a spot across the line in the Indian territory. There we were to divide the money, separate and each man take care of himself.

“What a beautiful plan it was! All planned at daylight, but three hours later four of the planners were dead and the fifth, myself, was riddled with bullets. Can anyone imagine a more insane, crazier scheme? Here I was a kid of 19, known by practically everyone in the town; entering it without disguise or mask of any kind; making me a marked man forever; looked for as a wanderer fugitive, even if I had escaped. I think that my capture there was the best thing that could have happened. True, I have spent fifteen years in prison, but these years instead of embittering me have taught me that to be square with your fellow man is the thing that wins out after all. I have also learned that when a fellow shows that he is trying to be on the square, even if he has been a convict, the average man is not going to give him a push, but rather a boost.

“We rode into Coffeyville shortly after 9 o’clock. Bob and I went straight to the First National bank, while the other three went into the Condon’s bank. In the First National were Thomas Ayres, the cashier, his son, the teller and bookkeeper and three customers. We drew our revolvers and threw them down on the crowd and told them to put up their hands. This they did. Bob walked behind the counter while I remained outside. He entered the vault, took all the currency in sight and took all the money on the counter, except some silver. This amounted to $23,000. He put it in a sack. We started to back out the way we had come, by the front door. Bob had handed me the sack. As Bob got to the front door a Winchester bullet buzzed close to his ear. He turned to me and said:

“ ’Let’s go by the back door.”

“We left that way. We passed through the back yard of the bank into the alley, turned north to Eighth street, as I remember the name now. On this we went west to another alley, then south to the alley where our horses were tied. The other three of the gang were not there.”

Dalton drew a piece of paper toward him and made a rough scetch of the immediate surroundings of Coffeyville so far as they related to the fight.

“You can see by this,” he continued, “the circuitous route we had to take to get back to our horses. When we got there it seemed that everybody in town had procured a Winchester and had opened fire. The moment we had ridden into town most of the town was aroused. Many ran to the hardware store, ’D,’ which you will see is in a direct line with the alley. Still the other three didn’t come. Just then a bullet struck me in the right shoulder. My right arm was put out of commission. My Winchester dropped from my right hand. Bob had begun to shoot.

“Right here I wish to make a statement. I didn’t kill a soul that day, because I didn’t fire a shot. I couldn’t if I had wanted to. My right arm was as useless as if it hadn’t been there.

“The shooting had now become general. It seemed that the bullets were coming from every house, store and fence within range of where we stood. We didn’t mount.

“Bob said: ’The others are in trouble. Let’s go and help them.’ We didn’t get a chance to start. They, at that moment came running out of the bank across the street, a running target for fifty or sixty guns, shooting as they ran. They joined us at the horses. I was trying to untie my horse with my left hand. Bob fell. I thought he was dead. Grat was the next. Then Bill Power went down. Broadwell managed to get on his horse and rode away down the street ’E.’ He was found dead in the road a mile from town. Just as I was about to mount a Winchester bullet struck me in the back, passed entirely through my body and came out. I got on my horse, nevertheless, and started. The money sack was on my saddle.

“As I turned the corner into the street ’E’ I looked back. Bob was sitting on the ground with his back to a large rock. I saw that he wasn’t dead. I gave no thought to the consequences. I had one idea only. There was my brother alive and I might save him by carrying him away. No second thought of caution was needed. I wheeled my horse and went back into the firing. I learned afterward that fifteen men fired at me at once, but I wasn’t scratched. I reached Bob’s side, I leaned over and got hold of his wrist with my left hand, my right being useless. Bob was still alive. Just then a load of buckshot struck me in the back and the back of the neck. I remember that I said to Bob: ‘My God, I’m killed!’ Had I been sitting up straight the buckshot would have killed me. As it was they glanced off my back.

“That’s the last I remember, for I rolled off my horse to the ground. I was in bed seventy-two days. I was advised to plead guilty to murder in the second degree and Judge Jerry McCune, now living and practicing law in Kansas City, sentenced me to the penitentiary for life.”

“What delayed the three in the Condon’s bank?” was asked.

“Oh yes, I had forgotten to tell you of that and by the way it was the real cause of the failure of the raid. When they went in the bank vault was closed. The cashier told them the time lock was on.

“ ‘How long will it be before it will be off?’ asked Grat.

“ ‘Three minutes,’ was the answer.

“ ‘We’ll wait,’ said Grat.

“At a time like that,” said Emmet, “three minutes is a lifetime. It meant death to my two brothers and two companions and fifteen years in the penitentiary for me.”

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Kansas City Star, Nov. 7, 1907: TOPEKA, Nov. 7. - The mail of Emmett Dalton, pardoned by Governor Hoch from Kansas penitentiary last Saturday night, appears to be increasing rather than diminishing. Letters are coming from all parts of United States from men and women offering words of congratulations and cheer. Some of these are from persons that Dalton has never known.

He has also received about half a dozen letters from theatrical managers offering him a place in their show. One offered him $5,000 a year and all expenses “simply to take a minor part in a sketch where no real acting is really necessary.” Another suggested a “good round salary” to to become a part of a carnival company. Asked if he contemplated accepting any of these offers Dalton said this morning:

“I wish it stated plainly that, under no circumstances, will I even consider a proposition or even a suggestion to exhibit myself, either on the stage or in a ’Wild West’ show or any sort of public performance where my star stunt would be, only, that I am ’Emmett Dalton of the Dalton gang.’ That part of my life I would like to see forgotten, and I am going to try and do everything in my power to assist people to forget it. If I had been an actor and had some real dramatic ability I presume there could be no criticism if I re-entered my profession. But I am not an actor, never have been and never can be.

“I have only one object in my life. That is to get some decent employment or get into business in a small way and try to make an honorable living. If I can do that I hope to be known some day as Emmett Dalton, “citizen,” and not as Emmett Dalton, “ex-bandit.”

Dalton hopes to be able to leave Topeka next Sunday for Kingfisher. After a short visit with his mother and brother, who is a farmer, he will return to Topeka for further examination of his wounded arm. He will then go to Kansas City with the expectation of locating permanently.

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Kansas City Star, Nov. 15, 1907: OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok., Nov. 15. - Emmett Dalton, who was implicated in the Coffeyville robbery and was pardoned recently by Governor Hoch, has decided to open a tailor shop in Oklahoma City or Muskogee and will visit this city next week to look over the situation. ——- At the time he was pardoned Dalton said he would engage in business in Kansas City.

Emmett had some more ambitious ideas as well. In her book Heck Thomas, My Papa, Beth Thomas Meeks tells: “Once, Emmett Dalton came. He had just got out of prison and was trying to get a U. S. deputy marshal job. He wanted Papa to help him, but Papa said no, and wrote a letter protesting Emmett’s application to the U. S. marshal’s office at Muskogee, and the marshal agreed with him.” That was the job he had wanted before his troubles began, but obviously it was now impossible with his record. She also said that while Emmett was in prison: “My father saw him several times during those years and Emmett told him that he, Heck Thomas, had been the one lawman that the gang really feared.” The Daltons had known Thomas in their law-enforcing days and his qualities as a lawman. Emmett would have done better to have him as his hero instead of Bob.

The Oklahoman, Dec. 3, 1907: Emmett Dalton, recently released from the Kansas penitentiary, where he was serving a life term for his part in the famous Coffeyville bank robbery of years ago, will visit in Tulsa in a few days. He will be the guest of Scout Younger, of the well-known family, who conducts a market on East Third street.

It was in the vicinity of Tulsa that the Coffeyville bank robbery was planned, so it is said by old timers. The older Daltons were well-known federal officers in the early days of their career in Indian Territory, making their headquarters for the most part at the old St. Elmo hotel in Tulsa.

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The Fort Worth Telegram, Dec. 6, 1907: TULSA, Okla., Dec. 6 - Back to the same place where the Coffeyville bank robbery was planned, yesterday came Emmet Dalton, the ex-bandit, recently pardoned from the Kansas penitentiary where he serving a life sentence for his part in the Coffeyville affair.

Dalton is the guest of Scout Younger, a cousin and member of the well known Younger family.

Dalton complains frequently of his wounded arm received in the Coffeyville raid and is on his way to the hospital in Kansas City for further treatment. He says it seems like a dream to return to Tulsa and find it a modern city. He knew the place as a struggling cow town of a few hundred people, consisting largely of outlaws. Dalton, himself, as a boy, was a cow puncher and helped round up many a bunch of cattle where now is the Glenn oil field, south of this city. His arm is in such shape now that he cannot use it, but if he recovers the use of it expects to embark in the tailoring business in some city in Oklahoma and looks with favor on Tulsa.

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The Oklahoman, Feb. 13, 1908: Tulsa, Okla., Feb. 12. - Emmett Dalton, former member of the famous Dalton band and sentenced to the Kansas penitentary for participating in the Coffeyville raid, has decided to engage in business in Tulsa. He will become a butcher in company with Scout Younger.

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The Oklahoman, Feb. 21, 1908: Enid, Okla., Feb. 20. - While in Enid Emmett Dalton denied that he had agreed to become connected with Pawnee Bill’s Wild West show and said there is no foundation for such a rumor.

In Tulsa Emmett was also opening a tailor shop with Mr. J. G. Schuler, aged 41. He wrote the following letter to Mrs. Mowry:

(from Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas)

Emmett was in a hurry to get this business organized as he was leaving Tulsa on April 13. Tulsa Commercial Club was sending a “Tulsa booster” train to cities in the east and northeast in an effort to advertise Tulsa and attract business there. Emmett went along with other Tulsa business men. He was glad to as long as he didn’t have to talk. Newspaper men called him “the silent man of the party”.

Dallas Morning News, April 13, 1908: Tulsa, Ok., April 12. - At 2 o’clock tomorrow afternoon, Tulsa’s “Booster” special, carrying 150 prominent business men and band of twenty-six pieces, will leave to cover an itinerary of 10,000 miles, heralding to the world that a panic cannot down a good town like Tulsa.

The party will travel in a solid train of Pullmans with every provision for comfort. A daily paper will be published en route, telling of the wonders and advatages of Tulsa and the new State of Oklahoma.

In the party will be Emmett Dalton and Creek, Osage and Cherokee Indians, though in most instances it will be difficult to detect the Indian blood.

The first extended stop will be made at St. Louis, with a brief stop at Springfield, Mo.

This is one of the greatest feats of advertising ever attempted by a young Southwestern city.

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The Oklahoma City Times, April 17, 1908: At the age of 33 years, nearly half of which were spent in a Kansas prison for a crime he never conceived, tried hard to prevent and never had it in his heart to do, Emmet Dalton, outlaw for only a short time, game to the core, has again taken his stand among men, and is today with the Tulsa business men’s excursion on their trip east, welcomed by them at home and will begin life anew in the land where he first experienced the vicissitudes that made his one of the most eventful careers that make newspaper material.

There has been a great deal printed in the newspapers about Emmet Dalton. He has been pictured by those who did not know him as a bad man. He admits to his friends that he did wrong, but he does not feel like the average fellow who comes out of confinement that the world is against him, and does not care what becomes of him. No cynic about Emmet Dalton. He is willing to take his chances among men, if they will at least go half way to give him credit what he can do as a citizen. That is what he intends to be.

There have been many incidents printed in connection with the Coffeyville, Kan., bank robbery, in which the Dalton boys perpetuated their fame for boldness and daring, and in which two of the brothers were killed. There are a few facts that have not been used. They show the true side of Emmet Dalton, and were instrumental in bringing about his pardon, by Governor Hoch of Kansas, a short time ago. The following letter , written by Emmet shows that he did not want to get in the Coffeyville job, but was persuaded by others because he thought, in his untutored mind, that it was a coward who turned back in anything:

“—, Ind. Ter., October 1, 1892. Dear Mother: Get somebody to see Bob at once. He has planned to rob two banks in — on the 5th. Am with him now, but he will not listen to me. If he pulls off this job, I will have to go with him. Grat is in it, too. I won’t let them think I am a quitter, so will go with them, unles somebody talks them out of it. It’s going to be close to where we used to live. If Will is in Kingfisher, send him. He knows where we are. “Yours, E.”

This letter was received in Kingfisher, Okla., by Mrs. Dalton, mother of the boys, from Emmet Dalton on the 3d day of October, 1892. Mrs. Dalton immediately went to Bill Dalton, who was at that time practicing law in Kingfisher, but who later turned out to be an outlaw as bas as the others, and who was killed near Ardmore a few years later, showed him the letter from Emmet and advised him to go. The place of the holdup, which turned out to be the Coffeyville affair, was not told in Emmet’s letter. The dates are correct, but Bill Dalton failed to reach the boys before two of them were killed and Emmet seriously wounded.

As soon as Bill had left Kingfisher to go to the boys in the effort to dissuade them from their purpose, Mrs. Dalton went to William Grimes, then United States marshal of Oklahoma, and told him of the contents of Emmet’s letter. Mr. Grimes at once dispatched couriers to where he thought the Dalton boys were camped, but they could not be found.

These facts, heretofore unpublished, were brought out when Emmet made application for a pardon, and were told to the writer in person by Mr. Grimes.

Emmet Dalton was not an outlaw at heart. He was of different turn of mind than his brothers. As a boy he was dignified, unassuming and reserved. He is now. He was but little past 17 when the Coffeyville affair took place, and had been with his brothers, Bob and Grat only a few days before that eventful affair.

“I won’t let them think I am a quitter,” said Emmet to his mother. He didn’t but it proved his downfall. Being younger in years his advice went for naught, and rather than let himself be twitted as a coward by his brothers, he decided to go with them if necessary, but his first thought was to bring about some way that would cause them to give up the job.

Emmet’s nerve was always with him. Whatever else has been said of him, his action at Coffeyville, that long-to-be-remembered day shows that he did not know the coward’s mind. Such acts of bravado have been only seldom mentioned, but in this young 17-year-old boy there was the spirit of innocent bravery that once in a while is brought out. Emmet and Bob were in one bank, and Grat Dalton, Dick Broadwell and Bill Powers were across the street, calmly awaiting the hour of 10 o’clock when the time lock in the safe of the bank would open the big steel box that contained the treasure they were to get. When the thing was actually pulled off, and the citizens of the town learned what had happened they began to pour a hail of shot into the bank where Emmet and Bob were. Bob handed Emmet a flour sack containing $22,000 and told him to get to the horses. Bob with his hands free began his terrible slaughter of human lives, while Emmet was running to the alley where the horses were tied.

Emmet mounted his horse and in an instant was a hundred yards away. He could have escaped without a scratch. But he turned his head, saw Bob fall, immediately he wheeled his horse and deliberately rode back in a rain of shot to where Bob had fallen, fatally wounded. Emmet dismounted and while doing so was shot in the shoulder, but with one arm raised Bob to the saddle of his (Emmet’s) horse, mounted behind him and started away. When Emmet reached Bob, the latter was lying against a rock where he had fallen. The only words he uttered were: “Emmet, I am killed.”

As Emmet started away with his brother he (Emmet) received a full charge of buckshot at short range in the back. Thirty-three struck him full in the back, some of them going clear through his lungs. He fell from his horse with the body of his brother, Bob, who was now dead. When Emmet was disarmed it was found that he had not fired a shot from his six-shooter or Winchester.

Emmet Dalton is now a reformed man. His reputation at the penitentiary was exemplary and his behaviour since gaining his freedom has been such as to entitle him to the well feeling of any man. He looks and talks more like a college athlete than a man of the plains. His boyhood days were spent on the farm in the country. He never had the advantage of education, and 14 years behind prison walls, as a usual thing, does not leave a man in a very polished condition. But Emmet Dalton is a gentleman, every inch of him. The west that he lived in is no more. He has had enough flattery since his freedom to turn the head of any ordinary man.

Recently he showed the writer a score of letters from theatrical managers from all parts of the country, from the Yukon Exposition at Seattle to the Airdome of New York, at salaries that would seem fabulous to the ordinary man, but not one has been accepted.

“I want to be a useful citizen,” he says, “I know I did wrong. I have no complaint to make of my punishment. But I do claim the privilege to try to be an honest citizen, and I shall. I like the press boys, because to them I attribute more than any other source my pardon. At first I was reticent in talking about myself to the reporters, but soon found out that they would have a story in the paper about me, and I decided to be frank with them. However, I dislike to be interviewed on a subject that I would give 20 years of my life to blot forever from my mind.”

“The west that I lived in is gone.”

What a man, our Emmett. Shot through lungs and lived to tell the tale! Sometimes I do wonder about these reporters! And now he had been only 17, and a good innocent, if ignorant, farm boy. Who told the reporter all this? Who showed him the letter? This thing about Emmett’s letter is somewhat mysterious. It was first mentioned in 1903, at which time Marshal Grimes stated that Emmett had not tried to stop the raid (see Prisoner 6472). He also said that he did not support a pardon for Emmett, but, curiously, it was believed that he (with U.S. Marshal Fossett, also of Kingfisher and a good friend of Grimes) was helping Adeline Dalton in her work to free Emmett. Could it be that he feared it would be detrimental to his career to be publicly supporting Emmett? Emmett himself never mentioned the letter, and obviously had refused to talk about the Coffeyville affair with the reporter above. It may be he felt a traitor having gone behind the backs of the others, especially as there had been rumors that Coffeyville knew to expect the Daltons, and he might not have liked his loyalty becoming questionable.

Some have suggested that the letter was invented to help Emmett gain his freedom. Here again Robert Barr Smith goes way over the top in his efforts to deny anything good in a Dalton. Not only does he discredit Emmett, but also Grimes. In his book Daltons! he writes: “Grimes, incidentally, seems to have been a bit of a blowhard, who was later fired for taking undeserved credit for Dalton-chasing.” I have checked the career of William Grimes and he was a well respected law officer, credited for organizing the first United States marshal force in Oklahoma. He was never fired. The truth of the matter is that he dismissed deputy Ransom Payne for furnishing false material for a book (The Dalton Brothers by Eyewitness), making himself the man the Daltons feared the most, while actually he had been a coward. It is sad that Mr. Smith resorts to spoiling the reputation of a good man just because he loathes Emmett Dalton. His views (which he is perfectly entitled to) shine bright enough throughout his book without him having to resort to such tactics.

Governor Hoch did not mention any letter when stating his reasons for granting the pardon. Maybe he knew nothing of it. Maybe the letter had been invented in 1903, and then discarded as it had no effect. But why would Mr. Grimes suddenly talk about the letter?

After the raid Emmett said he met the others on October 1st and they discussed how much money each had. It may be he had been somewhere, perhaps getting supplies, and would have had a chance to write this letter. No doubt it would have been a spur of the moment, last ditch effort at stopping the raid. If he wrote it, that is.

The Washington Post, April 19, 1908: When the special train bearing the delegation of Tulsans who are making a tour of he principal Eastern cities in the interest of Tulsa, Okla., pulled out of Union Station yesterday afternoon for Baltimore, a solitary man stood on the rear platform of the last car and gazed wonderingly upon the great buildings, the sweeping thoroughfares, and the majestic pose of the Indian on the dome of the Capitol. He was Emmet Dalton, once a member of the famous outlaw band which thirty years ago, under the leadership of Frank and Jesse James, terrorized the Western country.

About five months ago Dalton was released from the penitentiary on parole by direction of the governor of Kansas, after having served nearly seventeen years of a sentence for complicity in the outrages perpetrated by this notorious band He is now a respected citizen of Tulsa, and conducts a meat store there with Scott Younger, a relative of the famous Younger brothers, who participated in many of the expeditions of the James boys. Dalton is a member of the Tulsa delegation, and is viewing the wonders of the big cities for the first time.

Although his picturesque career has guilded outlawry with an allurement unsurpassed since the days of Robin Hood, Dalton is desirous that his experience should prove no false lesson to American youth He is not at all proud of his wasted years. He declares that a man who chooses the career of an outlaw is either a natural fool or an innocent madman But Dalton does not beguile himself. He does not pretend to be a hero, he repels all efforts of the morbid-minded to exploit him in heroic guise. And he is respected by prominent men of Tulsa.

Dalton is about fifty years old. He bears erect a six foot, portly frame, clad in conventional black His eyes are dark gray, his face ruddy with a healthy complexion He appears the middle-aged, prosperous citizen of excellent endowments His countenance indicates also uncommon coolness, courage, tenacity of purpose.

“To me ” said Dalton, “the word ’outlaw’ is a living coal of fire The past to me is a tragedy shrouded in bitter memories I was young and foolish, and association with men of adveturous proclivities eventually resulted in imprisonment And how many men can conceive what it means to languish in prison? But I learned much in my lonely cell I have learned to hope in a divinity, that a surplus of energy and determination will conquer every weakness.

“I do not desire to plunge deeply into my past I shall strive to build up a name that will be famed for sincerity and honesty And if directness of purpose can accomplish anything, I shall succeed The wrong a man commits should not live with him, mock his efforts and constitute a perpetual embarrasment When a man has paid a penalty for wrongdoing, he should be permitted to demostrate the caliber of his character If he fails to reform, then it is time for condemnation by the world.

“When I joined the wild band I was a mere youth Perhaps my age accounted for the indescretions I committed When I became branded, so to speak, I never visited my home except by stealth Everywhere the members of the band went around armed on the lookout for enemies and detectives Again and again we were charged with offences committed at places we never had seen If a bank was robbed anywhere in the Middle West if a train or stage coach was held up the blame was laid at our door.

“I do not mean to deny that many outrages were perpetrated by the gang, but I do insist that we were frequently wrongly accused ”

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Dallas Morning News, April 25, 1908: Chicago,Ill., April 24 - With a special train of five cars a party of 123 representative citizens and a military band of twenty-three pieces, the Tulsa, Ok., “boosters” reached Chicago this morning and brought to the Great Northern Hotel, State street, the stock yards and other metropolitan points a breezy touch of Southwestern vigor.

Tulsa is pleased to call itself the Chicago of the Southwest. That is the reason that Chicago has been saved practically till the last in a trip which has included all the large cities of the Eastern and Middle States.

Emmett Dalton, a man whose name years ago was synonymous with bloody battles in frontier towns and conjures up images of the “Dalton gang,” so called, came with the Tulsa delegation of business men, respected and honored by them as a fellow citizen. Dalton was the most inconspicuous member of the party. Although Dalton is not seeking notoriety himself his friends bubble over with anecdotes tending to show his natural magnanimity.

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Coffeyville Journal, April 27, 1908: …All of the Tulsa, Okla., delegation, including Emmett Dalton, had discovered that “hustling” for their home town was no joke. All except Dalton said so. Dalton, however, when he learned that his presence here was known, sought seclusion and covered his trail as successfully as in the old days, when he was being pursued by United States deputy marshals.

Becky Tiernan, in Tulsa World, 03/09/1997, wrote about the booster trains. Her article included this: “In addition to an 18-piece band, the 125 trippers took along paroled outlaw Emmett Dalton, who had terrorized the Southwest. The reformed gunslinger was promoting his touring Wild West Show starring sharp-shooter Annie Oakley. Dalton proved his entertainment prowess on a visit to the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade. He held up the place in true western style. The stunt caused hilarity among the traders but the sudden halt in trading sent a panic throughout New York, London and Paris.”

I do not know where she got this story from. I have found nothing of the sort in old newspapers. Also, Emmett never had a Wild West Show. It seems to me as another one of those invented Dalton tales.

The Washington Times, May 3, 1908: It’s a far cry from the ranks of high-handed outlawry and subsequent prison glamour to the White House and hobnobbing with the President of the United States.

Such, however, is the route traversed by Emmett Dalton, a dashing young Westerner, who was in Washington a few days ago.

When Dalton stepped to President Roosevelt’s side, pinned a button on the Chief Executive’s coat, and said, “Allow me to initiate you as a booster for Tulsa, Oklahoma,” the former rough rider and frontiersman little knew that the man with the gentle voice, radiant smile and innocent face who stood in front was not many months ago feared by the entire population of the West, and that the law granted him the liberty of nicking four notches on the butt of his gun.

A year ago Emmett Dalton, this tall, gentlemanly, handsome, and refined young man who initiated the President, Vice President, Secretary Taft, and other dignitaries into the clan of Tulsa boosters, was confined in a dingy, gloomy little prison cell in Lansing, Kan., with a life sentence within those high stone walls and barred doors staring him in the face. Today he is a substantial merchant, an honorable man, an enthusiastic booster for his town, and respected by his fellow citizens.

EMMETT DALTON robbed a bank of $23.000. He did not get away with it. The only thing he saved was his life. That was more than was saved by the others of the desperate and far-famed Dalton gang of highwaymen and bank robbers, the mention of whose name struck terror into the hearts of Kansas and people living in the Far Southwest.

…He was sentenced to spend the remainder of his life in Lansing prison. …

Each day he remained in the cell he fought harder to get out. The people of Kansas and the Southwest were afraid of him. It was frankly admitted that perhaps he did not have the fairest of chances in the matter of a trial, but the bankers and cattle owners reckoned that a good Dalton was a dead Dalton, or a Dalton up for life. The harder he fought to get out the harder they fought back, and the harder they fought back the more determined and persistent the young man became.

He finally won over the majority; proved by fighting spirit and indefatigable will that he would not be the under dog and in consequence of his untiring efforts of fourteen years the heavy iron doors of Lansing prison swung open for him last July and he stepped out into the sunshine a free man again. In November he was unconditionally pardoned.

Since then Dalton has been hitting the line hard. He is a fighter and determined to succeed. He has the grit and the spunk about him and the people of Tulsa are strong for him.

No man can ever understand how Dalton feels toward the people of this new little Oklahoma town. He cannot express his feelings. He tries, but each time a lump rises in his throat, his voice becomes husky, and one must guess the rest. Branded as a criminal he struck straight for Tulsa. Out there they say “It’s not what you were but what you are.” Emmett Dalton when he landed in Tulsa was young, strong, determined to live an honorable, upright life, and willing to start out from the cradle afresh. That is just what he is doing.

He has started life anew and is a credit to Tulsa. He is one of the most popular and successful men in the town, and throughout the Eastern trip of 125 of the most prominent citizens of the town - of which he was one - the former outlaw and prisoner was as enthusiastic over the prospects of Tulsa and the hospitality of the people as he could possibly be. Dalton is grateful beyond expression for the cordial reception given him by the inhabitants of the town.

When he left Lansing he did not know how the world would receive him. He said he hoped it would fight him in order that he might fight back and show the good that was in him, since the world knew all the bad. Dalton declares sympathy unnerves him and says it is the one thing that will cause him to give up. With strong opposition he says he can work out an honorable destiny much faster and more satisfactorily. But to the people of Tulsa he is indebted for his fresh start. He cannot say too much in praise of the inhabitants or the soil.

To see Dalton and to know him are two vastly different things. He has a clear blue eye, a determined mouth, but more wonderful than all, in view of his confinement, suffering and humiliation, is his winning smile, his soft, gentle manner, and tolerance of other people. None could ruffle him. He is as meek and docile as a lamb. He looks every man straight in the eye, but never talks above a whisper.

Bank robbing is the one subject he does not care to talk about. He has put the one act of his life of which he is ashamed behind him and is living in such a fashion as to blot out this episode from the memory of other men as well as his own.

While Dalton was in Washington a dispatch was received from Coffeyville, Kan., telling of another robbery in the same bank which he and his brother visited in 1893. He read the dispatch, but displayed little interest. “That’s bad business,” was the only comment he made.

Dalton has the greatest respect for the law which punished him. He makes no complaint against the statutes, but rather holds them in reverence and says he wants to see the same law which punished him enforced at all hazards and times. He does feel, however, that his sentence was a little steep, but since he did not serve the remainder of his life in the dark cell he glories in the triumph of having been sentenced for so long and being liberated so soon.

“That First National Bank incident is something black in my life which I want to forget,” said Dalton after being repeatedly questioned and realizing the utter hopelessness of getting out of telling something about the robbery which shocked the West, cost four lives, resulted in permanent injury for him, and cast him into a cell for fourteen years.

This is possibly the strangest version of the Coffeyville raid told by Emmett.

“I was twenty-one years old when it all occurred. I knew it was wrong, but I did it. Every man knows what brother love is, what it is to be young and daring. That’s all ther was to the bank robbery. I had never done anything like that before, and I never will again. It is not right. I realized that I was not doing right when I went into the bank in broad daylight to rob it, and I knew it.

“Yes, I am the only one not killed in the fight following the robbery of the two banks, but there are many things worse than death. There were other men besides Daltons in the gang but it has been called the Dalton band all these years, so let the Daltons stand the notoriety, which I hope will soon die down.

“I have no idea what brought the whole thing about. We had a good home, honorable parents, and a fine farm. My brothers, Jim and Bob, have been blamed for many crimes which they did not commit, but they were caught and killed when they were guilty. I never will understand what started them on this expedition of pillage.

“They had served as deputy United States marshals for some time, and asked repeatedly for $2.000 which was due them. The money was never paid. That may have started them. Both were older than I, and seldom took me into their confidence. I did know, however, about a month ahead that they had planned to tap the First National Bank and C. M. Condon’s bank on the main street in broad daylight. As I say, I was only twenty-one years old at that time, and the dramatic, spectacular effect of robbing a bank in open light, with business going on, appealed to me, but I knew it would be wrong to steal the money. Perhaps I was not as enthusiastic as my brothers and their companions, and for some weeks it was a matter of conjecture as to whether or not I would accompany them.

“Finally they decided that I should go with them. We mounted our horses on the outskirts of Topeka and galloped into Coffeyville. It was somewhere near noon and we knew many deposits had been made. With a rush we charged up to the corner. The two banks were directly opposite each other. I wore a belt with two horse pistols and fifty rounds of ammunition in it. In the holster near my stirrup strap I carried a brand new Winchester. It was a thrilling experience, but I never want to go through it again.

“Jim and his friend went to Condon’s bank and Bob and I ran into the First National. Across my left arm I carried a sack in which we were to carry away the money. In my right hand I carried my Winchester. Bob drew no weapon as he entered behind me.

“I walked into the little bank and old man Ayres and his son, who were counting gold, silver and certificates, looked up. I leveled my Winchester at the old man’s head. We were good friends, but when he looked into the muzzle of that gun he immediately threw up his hands as I very coolly informed him that I would have to ask him to oblige in that direction. His son’s hands went up in the air simultaneously.

“Then Bob stepped forward, took the sack off from my arm and went behind the wire grating. He shoveled in all the coin, bills, and checks on the counter and in the drawers and then cleaned out the safe, while the old man and his son stood mute and I had the business end of the Winchester headed their way.

“As we passed out of the bank we bid them good day and they lowered their hands.

“Previous to this robbery my brothers had an unenviable name, although I don’t believe they deserved it. When we rode into town it was a signal for a posse to form.

“While we were busy in the First National, my other brother was engaged in similar operations across the street. The four of us reached the pavement at the same time. Bob passed the sack of money to me and I ran to my horse and vaulted to the saddle. I saw the fellows across the street had their sack, too.

“The posse opened fire as soon as I put spurs to my horse. I rode on at breakneck speed, believing Bob and the others would join me at any minute. After riding some distance and failing to see any of the party by my side, I looked back. As I turned in my saddle a bullet hit my right arm and still another lodged in my right hand.

“I saw Bob lying on the ground near his horse and I determined to rescue him. Although they were all firing at me and I had the money, my only thought was of the safety of Bob, and I spurred my horse into a gallop and started back toward the bank. I escaped many bullets and buckshots and passed a number of members of the posse before I reached a spot opposite where my brother lay.

“Reining up my horse I was preparing to dismount and throw Bob over my saddle when a terrific load of buckshot struck me square in the back and I was knocked off my horse landing in the street near my brother. The money bag fell on top of me. I made no effort to save it. I thought I had been killed.

“They captured me and carried me away. For weeks I was treated by Drs. Platt, Wilsop, McQuinn and McCarthy. They dressed my wounds every day. The injuries still pain me and the wound on my right arm has to be dressed every morning. I am able to to do that myself now. I have good use of the arm, but my right hand is swollen almost twice its normal proportions.

“Four members of the posse were slain on that fateful day. My brothers and their companions were also killed. I hovered between life and death for many weeks.

“Finally I got strong enough to go to trial. I was charged with murder in the second degree, although I don’t remember having fired a shot. My attorneys suggested that I plead guilty as the maximum penalty was twenty years and we did not believe I would be given more than that length of time. I have the greatest reverence and respect for the law and bench, and I don’t want to be construed as criticizing either, but while I appreciate that I was rightly punished, I believe I could have been tried before a more unbiased judge. I have no complaint to make because I offended and should have suffered, but I firmly believe that mercy should always precede justice.”

Brother Jim? The Tacoma Daily News (Sept. 9, 1892) had this to say about the Daltons: “The Daltons are probably the most notorious outlaws in the country. There are three brothers - Robert, George and Jim. Only two, however, have been identified with the industry of robbing trains, banks, express cars and killing people. George is a moderate farmer, living on a little ranch in southwestern part of Kansas, where he is respected by his neighbors as an industrious, law-abiding citizen.” The names of the doctors seem all wrong as well. At Coffeyville he was treated by Drs. Wells and Ryan, at Independence by Drs. McCulley and Masterman. Galloping from the vicinity of Topeka? Just about everything in this account is wrong. Why? Was he annoyed these reporters pestered him to tell about the raid and, rather than offend them by refusing, he told them whatever came to mind? I feel the names must have had some meaning. It seems he was playing some game for his own private amusement.

“With a life sentence hanging over my head, I - a mere youth just budding into manhood - was carried off to the penitentiary, shackled, disgraced, but undaunted.

“From the first day they closed that door on me until they opened it and let me go my way I fought for my liberty. Years dragged on. Sixty minutes meant that much more inward suffering to me and the agony was long drawn out. I read everything from the almanac to the bible. When you are looking for good interesting and comforting reading the bible is the volume you should select. It stood me in good stead and I shall never go back on it. I read law and ferreted out technicalities on which I could be freed, but I wanted to get out on better grounds than technicalities. I wrote letters to my friends constantly and - if I must confess - I wrote some poetry and short stories to unburden my wearied soul and express my inner feelings.

“I never once lost hope. I knew I was fighting for a just cause, that my friends were with me, and I must succeed in the end. I was young during those fourteen years of misery and suffering, and I am young yet, so I never gave up. There is no such thing as ’can’t’ when you’re in the right, and keep plugging. Each day, I believed, brought me nearer liberty, and that kept me buoyed up. The thought what I would do or how I would feel if I was not liberated until death never occurred to me. While I was planning to get out I was also determining my course after I was free. I had had enough of criminality and the felon’s life and I resolved that however the world greeted me I would show only the best that was in me, lead an honorable life and prove to my dear old mother that I was a good son. She is still living. She believes I, as well as my brothers, am innocent of everything with which we were ever charged. I am living to be a credit to her, to myself and to my town.

“I went into the prison March 8, 1893. July 6 of last year I was paroled, and on November 12 I was unconditionally pardoned by Governor Hoch. There is one of the squarest and best men in the world. He pardoned me because he thought it was right to do so. I admire him for more reasons than because he pardoned me. He is a sincere, genuine man of courage and strength and I stand for him. When he pardoned me he said the more he saw of weak humanity the more sympathy he had for it. I don’t want sympathy. That is the one thing that will knock the heart out of me, and cause me to throw up the sponge. I want opposition. Competition is the life of trade, and the heart of life. I get along better if I have to struggle.

“I admire President Roosevelt immensely, not because he is the first man in the nation, but because he is a man through and through, and one that is worth knowing as a citizen and fellow, as well as a President.

“Tulsa is the greatest place in the world. It welcomed me, received me, as a man starting life all over again, and without a slightest bit of a past, and has never asked any questions. I am trying to live a straight life. If I slip up and my conduct cannot be reconciled with the law, I want to be punished. I am just getting on my feet out there, but I seem to have a good start, and nothing I can think of can cause me to swerve in my course except pitying sympathy.”

Mayor Rhode, prominent bankers, real estate dealers, doctors, lawyers and merchants who were in the bands of Tulsans spoke in the highest terms of the former outlaw. They believe in him, say they would trust him with their lives or money, and respect him. This feeling warms the heart of the big reformed bank robber, and he is striving to more firmly root himself in their hearts every day.

Dalton would be the last man to suspect of a lurid past. He is a man of refinement, is well dressed, uses faultless language, and is a most gentlemanly and interesting man. A more complete reformation could not be expected of mortal man.

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Coffeyville Journal, June 19, 1908: A handsome man, smooth-shaven and wearing a light grey suit, stepped off the north bound Katy train from Bartlesville at 9.55 Saturday morning and leisurely walked up to town. He attracted no particular attention until it became whispered that he was Emmett Dalton and then everyone began to eye him curiously.

The man was Emmett Dalton and this was his first visit to Coffeyville since he was taken from here to the county jail at Independence and later to the state penitentiary at Lansing, following the Dalton bank raid in this city October 5, 1892.

Coffeyville has grown so much since those days that Mr. Dalton hardly knew the place until he reached the Plaza. There everything came back to him, for the buildings then occupied by the banks still stand and “Death Alley,” where his brothers were shot down, still stretches away to the west from the open space formed by the junction of Walnut and Union streets.

Emmett Dalton went no further up town than this until a crowd began to gather about him and he shook hands with hundreds of people. All were glad to see him and if there was any bitterness upon the part of the people of Coffeyville toward the young man, it was not apparent Saturday. He met some of the men who had shot at his brothers - probably some of the men who had killed them. But it all was far in the past, and the citizens shook hands with Dalton like the comrades on different sides after a battle.

Emmett visited “Death Alley” and looked over the old-time scene of carnage with interest. He had little to say and viewed the scenes for several moments in absolute silence.

“The town has changed,” he said, “but I recognize this place. There is the stairway where they carried me up to the doctor’s office,” he added, pointing to the stairs on the north side of the Slosson drug store. “I’ll never forget that day nor the long years in prison that followed it.”

Dalton was soon surrounded by a crowd and wherever he went all day there were people gathered around him. He says he attracted attention everywhere but it was probably worse here than in any other town. This being the scene of the famous bank raid made him a character of great local interest. Among others he met while here was Dr. C. E. Griggsby, formerly a surgeon at the penitentiary. They had quite a visit, for Dr. Griggsby had treated Dalton’s arm at Lansing while surgeon. Another old friend met was Bob Laird, who spent Saturday afternoon with Dalton.

Mr. Dalton went east recently with the Tulsa boomers and he says the newspaper men everywhere there hunted him up for an interview. He is not seeking notoriety but treats newspaper men pleasantly.

“The boys have have always been good to me, especially at Topeka,” said Mr. Dalton, “and I always try to treat them nicely. I realize that they want good copy and if they think my story makes it they are of course welcome to use anything I can give them. I tried to sidestep them in New York and other eastern cities but even if I got away the first day they would land me by the second day.”

Mr. Dalton and “Scout” Younger are in the grocery and meat market business at Tulsa and are doing well. It has been reported here that they were running a tailor shop, for that was Dalton’s work at Lansing, but he says they are not. Younger is a distant relative of Cole Younger, once a member of the James gang. Dalton says people everywhere treat him kindly and he is exceedingly grateful to them for doing so. He is now nearly 37 years old and is practically just starting in life. He probably has many discouragements but if so he does not speak of them. He says he will try to make his future conduct so that Governor Hoch will never regret pardoning him and giving him another fair chance in life. Asked about his aged mother, who did so much to get him out of prison, he said she is at Stillwater and is enjoying good health. She is 77 years old and is living with another of her sons. Emmett has been there to see her several times.

Mr. Dalton lacks much of being a well man although one would not know it from a glance into his fine, ruddy face. His right arm is swollen and numb and while he has use of it there is no feeling in it at times. When he was shot in the arm here in 1892 the treatment given him was necessarily hasty and it seems that that the wound has never fully healed. Several operations have been made on the arm recently and in fact, the first parole given Dalton was made so he could go to Topeka and have the limb treated. Two long incisions were made in the arm near the wound made by the bullet and through these incisions the bones of the arm were scraped. This has not cured the arm however, and the wound still troubles him. He is now taking electrical treatment for it at Tulsa and is hopeful of getting it healed completely. Other than this Dalton is in perfect health and seems to be enjoying life after fifteen years of imprisonment at Lansing.

If you think Dalton is not well posted you are in error. He knows all about Kansas and Oklahoma politics and has the personal acquaintance of nearly every politician of this state. Many of these men were met while he was at Topeka clerking in the Copeland hotel while his arm was being treated. He has been in Tulsa long enough to get acquainted with the politicians of the new state and he knows them all. In fact few men have more influential friends than Dalton has. It was largely such influences as these men exerted that induced Gov. Hoch to take up Dalton’s case.

Speaking of the recent bank robberies Dalton says that it is reported at Tulsa that Henry Starr is getting an alibi ready and will try to prove himself innocent of the Tyro and other bank robberies. Starr’s headquarters were at Tulsa and he is apparently in communication with friends there now, according to common report there as expressed by Mr. Dalton.

Mr. Dalton will leave tomorrow evening for Independence and will return home by Caney early next week. Saturday afternoon he went out to the Natatorium and stopped at Elmwood cemetery to see the graves of his brothers who were killed here in the bank raid.

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Columbus Daily Enquirer, June 28, 1908: Coffeyville, Kan., June 27. - For the first time after he was taken from the city in handcuffs and guarded by twenty-five heavily armed men, Emmett Dalton visited Coffeyville a few days ago and met and talked with some of the same men who escorted him to the county jail in Independence and later to the state prison at Lansing, after the memorable Dalton raid here in 1892.

Dalton came here from Tulsa and had hardly alighted from the train before a crowd surrounded him. Coming up town he visited the scene of the bank robbery and later walked through Dalton alley where two of his brothers were killed in the fight that followed the raid on the banks. Then he walked up the stairway where he himself was carried to a doctor’s office to have the bullet taken from his right shoulder. He viewed most of these scenes in silence and had nothing to say afterward about his impressions, except that he would never forget that eventful day nor the long hours in prison afterward.

Dalton met relatives of the citizens killed in the raid, but if there was any bitterness on either side it was not apparent. He met, among others, the Chief of Police, John J. Kloeher, who is generally credited with having killed at least two of the gang, one of them being “Bob” Dalton. He and the Chief were together an hour or more.

Emmett went out to Elmwood cemetery to see the graves of his two brothers who were killed in the raid. Their graves were marked only by a bent piece of gas pipe, taken from the hitch rack to which the Daltons tied their horses before entering the banks. Dalton was considerably affected when he saw these graves.

Dalton is now living in Tulsa, where he and “Scout” Younger, a distant relative of Cole Younger, are running a meat market and grocery.

“I’m only flesh and blood, like other men,” said Dalton, “but I’ll try to so live that neither the people of Coffeyville nor Governor Hoch will ever regret my having been pardoned and given another chance in life.”

Dalton is still having treatment for his wounded arm, which has never healed, but which now shows signs of ultimate recovery.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, June 19, 1908: …Among others who talked with Dalton was John J. Kloehr, who wears on his breast a gold medal presented him by the people of Coffeyville for having killed Bob and Grat Dalton when they made their raid. He is also credited with having wounded Emmett in the fight in “Death Alley.” It was the first time Dalton had seen the medal and he looked at it with a great deal of interest.

While he was here Dalton visited the graves of his brother who are buried in the cemetery here. This was the real purpose of his visit to the city.

It was actually the citizens of Chicago who presented Kloehr with the medal. It had the text “John Joseph Kloehr The Emergency Arose, The Man Appeared” inscribed on the front. I’d be interested to know if Thomas Ayres talked to Emmett, considering how much he had opposed Emmett being pardoned. Perhaps Emmett went to Caney to see his son, Bert Ayres, who had been a bookkeeper at the First National bank at the time of the raid and now an assistant cashier at the Caney Valley bank in Caney.

The Oklahoman, June 19, 1908: Emmet Dalton says the word outlaw is a thorn in his flesh to him, but nevertheless he keeps the press agent busy reviving ancient memories that he of all others should be desirous of forgetting.

As we have seen, it was not that he wanted to bring up the past, but was constantly asked to do so. Seemingly a no win situation. Although everyone must have known who Emmett Dalton was, the papers always called him the ex-outlaw and never failed to remind readers of his Coffeyville connection. There was no way he could shake off the past.

At some point Emmett had gotten together with widowed Mrs. Julia Lewis. In his book When the Daltons Rode Emmett tells a wonderful, romantic story how he fell in love with Julia Johnson in the spring of 1887, how their love survived the years of outlawry and imprisonment. It is not true, though. One book review in 1931 had this to say: “…and while he neglects to mention the heroic efforts of his mother, who tried for years to get her son pardoned, he spends much time in praise of his sweetheart, who waited faithfully for his release - at least in the story. Recorded history is at variance with this part of the narrative, but novelist is entitled to some prerogatives, even in biographical or reminiscent essays.” All the same, this legend has endured and is often told as fact in biographies about the Daltons. Although Emmett never even mentioned Julia in his first book, this story was not something invented just for his new book. It first came out at the time of their marriage.

In 1887 Julia was married to Robert Gilstrap and expecting a baby. Not much chance of her gallivanting with Emmett on his pony across the prairies. It is perfectly possible Emmett did fall in love with “Blackie”, his “sprightly young gypsy of the plains”, but she was not Julia. Julia’s husband was killed on Christmas Eve 1889, in Bartlesville, in a gunfight. She did not marry again until about 1902, and then to a shady character called Ernest Lewis, suspected of train robberies (he was arrested for one at Wharton, the former hunting ground of the Daltons), murder, bootlegging… Surely he must have had something good or interesting about him for Julia to marry him. Lewis was killed in a gunfight at his bar in Bartlesville on November 16, 1907.

Julia’s granddaughter Hazel Chapman in the Coffeyville Journal, October 2, 1991, stated that Emmett and Julia met after Emmett had been released from prison. But then she also claimed that during the Coffeyville raid Emmett, truth be told, was not in either bank. She said: “He was just 19 years old. They (his brothers) wouldn’t let him in the banks. They made him stay with the horses. He later admitted he wasn’t in the bank.” Knowing Emmett, he may well have “admitted” that, but it is surprising Chapman would take it as fact. So what she claims is not necessarily the truth. It is by no means impossible that they would have met before. The Daltons were well known in and around Bartlesville.

It is not clear from the following articles who had given the reporters the story of their supposed romance. Emmett seems to have been somewhat reluctant to comment on it. However it started, it must have appealed to Emmett to have something nice in his past, not just the Coffeyville raid and the Dalton gang.

Coffeyville Journal, Sept. 4, 1908: Bartlesville, Ok., Sept. 2. - Of unusual interest throughout the Southwest was the wedding here last night of Emmett Dalton and Mrs. Julia Lewis. The principals are among the best known in their circles in the entire country.

Only a few months ago Dalton was pardoned from the Kansas penitentiary, where he was serving a life sentence for participating in the raid on the Coffeyville banks more than sixteen years ago.

His bride is the widow of Earnest Lewis, who died in a bloody fight with United States Marshals Keeler and Williams in this city last November. Lewis killed Williams during the battle, in which more than twenty shots were fired in a small room filled with smoke.

Lewis had served a term in the Colorado penitentiary for train robbery, and had woried the authorities of Kansas and Oklahoma by conducting a modern “Monte Carlo” on a narrow strip of ground which he declared was owned by neither state. It was discovered later that he had moved the state line marker six years before, preparatory to entering upon this sort of an enterprise.

The romance between Dalton and Julia Lewis began twenty years ago, when the latter was the pretty daughter of “Texas” Johnson and lived with her parents near the Kansas line, eighteen miles north of Bartlesville. She and Dalton were about the same age, and they rode races, practiced shooting with rifles and rode their ponies to all of the dances within thirty miles of the Johnson home.

While Dalton was hidden from the officers, it is said that the girl cooked his meals and kept him informed of the movements of the pursuers. It was at about this time Dalton was shot while robbing the Coffeyville banks with his brothers. He was sent to the penitentiary and never saw his former sweetheart until he was released last winter.

She wrote to him frequently and spent a great deal of her time working to gain him a pardon. She visited those who opposed the pardon and persuaded them to give Emmett another trial. She did more than all others to wear out the opposition to her former sweetheart’s pardon.

It does amaze me how these reporters always swallow everything they are told. It was not that long before, when the papers wrote about Adeline doing her best to win a pardon for Emmett; with no one ever mentioning Julia.

Dalton is in business in Tulsa, but expects to make his home in the future in Bartlesville, where his bride has a large amount of property. The wedding was a very quiet affair, before the justice of the peace. Dalton and his bride refused to accede to the request of some of their friends that it be in the nature of a public affair. The bride and groom have refused to accept a lucrative offer to go on the stage, made by a Chicago showman who came here yesterday.

“Yes, I am pretty happy,” laughed Mrs. Lewis when asked about the approaching wedding, “and I think Emmett is a mighty fine man.”

“We have known each other for a long time,” said the blushing groom when cornered and made to confess the details. “I have reached the age when it is time for me to marry and settle down. Any man, who from past experience, must be more or less in the public eye, has a great deal to contend with and when I found my boyhood sweetheart in Bartlesville and she was willing I thought it well to settle down.”

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Kansas City Star, Sept. 2, 1908: BARTLESVILLE, OK., Sept. 1. - A romantic attachment, formed when they were boy and girl, has culminated in the marriage of Emmett Dalton and Mrs. Julia Lewis, of this city. The wedding took place here to-night. Mr. Dalton is engaged in business at Tulsa, but they are not decided whether to remove there or remain in Bartlesville, where Mrs. Dalton has property interests. It was over twenty years ago when Emmett Dalton first met his present bride, while he was working with his brothers, “Bob” and “Grat,” then deputy United States marshals for Indian territory. Along the Kansas line lived a man named “Texas” Johnson, famed as a great entertainer. The Dalton boys often stopped with Mr. Johnson, and Emmett, the younger, became very friendly with Miss Julia Johnson, a couple of months his junior.

He took advantage of every opportunity to visit the Johnson home after having once visited it. He and Miss Johnson soon became the best of friends, riding together, practicing marksmanship and attending dances for miles around. Many a time Emmett Dalton rode a day and a night that he might get to dance with the pretty Johnson girl.

Then came the famous Coffeyville raid, in which Emmett was captured because he went back to assist his mortally wounded brother. He was separated from his girl sweetheart, yet all the time he was at the penitentiary he kept in communication with Julia Johnson. She married twice because he was in prison supposedly for life.

Among those who worked for his pardon, however, none was more diligent and more earnest than his girl friend. She talked to those who opposed granting it and her effort had much to do with the cessation of the opposition.

“We have known each other for a long time,” said the blushing groom when cornered and made to confess the details. “I have reached the age when it is time for me to marry and settle down. Any man, who from past unpleasant experience, must be more or less in the public eye, has a great deal to contend with and when I found my boyhood sweetheart in Bartlesville and she was willing I thought it well to settle down.”

— That is a chivalrous and delicate compliment which Emmett Dalton pays to a woman in assigning as a reason for his marriage to his old sweetheart his need of the help that a good and faithful wife can give to her husband. Men are what they are, very often, by chance of circumstances. No one can tell what Emmett Dalton might have been under the influence of environments different from those that shaped his early career, and it is certain that many an exemplary citizen and “pillar of society” owes his standing to the absence of temptation and contact with the forces that Dalton encountered in his youth. There is much that is not bad in a man who holds woman at her true worth. Emmett Dalton, bridegroom, may understand much better than the average citizen how many men have been saved from becoming desperadoes through the sustaining help of good wives. So, here’s good luck to Emmett and his bride.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Sept. 4, 1908: …It was of Emmett Dalton, that Gov. Hoch once said to the Topeka newspapermen, “I regard him as one of the noblest young men of this state and a man who would be a credit to the citizenship of any state or community.”

— Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Dalton entertained a few friends last night in an informal reception at their home, Fifth and Cheyenne. Light luncheon was served assisting the participants to enjoy a very pleasant evening. Mr. and Mrs. Dalton proved themselves prime entertainers, while the reception gave the visitors opportunity to extend congratulations.

Emmett and Julia settled down to live at 421 South Cheyenne Avenue, Bartlesville.

The Evening News (Ada, Ok.), Dec. 4, 1908: Bartlesville, Ok., Dec. 3. - Emmett Dalton, last of the American outlaws, is writing the story of his life. Dalton is a resident of this city where he has lived since he was recently pardoned by Governor Hoch of Kansas for participation in the famous Coffeyville raid fifteen years ago.

“I am going to tell frankly and freely the story of outlawry in the Southwest,” said Dalton tonight. “I know secrets of the trade that are unsuspected by the officers or the public. The old outlaws are all dead or in prison and no harm can come from a recital of the deeds of the daring men who terrorized Southwestern America for years. I also hope to teach the lesson that the business does not pay.”

So Emmett had already gotten the idea that stories of outlaws could be used as moral tales teaching the futility of crime. But he was not to write his book, yet. J. B. Tackett from Coffeyville, famed for the photographs he took after the raid, was to cause him to take a different direction in the way of his teachings.

Coffeyville Journal, Dec. 18, 1908: The Dalton raid, which occurred in Coffeyville October 5, 1892, is to be reproduced in moving picture film at the big Seattle exposition that opens in May, 1909.

The films for the raid are being prepared by John B. Tackett of the Auditorium, and the complete pictorial history of the raid is now about completed. With several more scenes it will be ready for the machines.

However, the local public need not expect to see this picture yet awhile as it will not be shown here, at least until after its initial production in Seattle, next May. It is to be as complete and accurate as a reproduction can be made.

Wednesday members of the Morgan Stock Company rode out to the park as was mentioned in Wednesday’s Journal; to rehearse one of the scenes. This was to show the life of the Dalton gang in camp and the practice yesterday was showing the Daltons at morning exercise. The most picturesque, was showing the members of the gang shooting at an egg target. It shows Bob Dalton missing with his rifle and then drawing a revolver and breaking the egg with the shot.

It was reported that Emmett Dalton would be shown in the picture but this is incorrect. He has no desire for further notoriety. He was out to the practice yesterday but took no part in it, save to tell the actors if they were wrong. He is not shown in any of the films. Of course one of the actors impersonates him, but Dalton himself has declined to go into the pictures.

His advice was sought as to details and this was only given when it was certain that the pictures were to be taken and on the theory that it was better to have the scenes accurate than faked up, so that these pictures will be as nearly accurate as it is possible to make them.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Jan. 15, 1909: The following dispatch was printed in the Kansas City Journal this morning:

Topeka, Jan. 13. - Former Governor E. W. Hoch threatens to prosecute any moving picture outfit that uses a representation of a “pardon scene” in the pictures of the Dalton raid at Coffeyville. He has served notice to that effect on Emmet Dalton.

Hoch feels outraged that Dalton should permit himself to be worked by a moving pictures outfit, and has earnestly advised him to abandon the project.

Last Sunday Dalton came to Topeka to see the governor. He wanted to explain. On his way here Dalton passed the letter that the governor had written him on Saturday. So the governor not only told him the contents of the letter, but added several things to it.

The explanation given by Dalton is that the whole proposition is a scheme of the Coffeyville Commercial Club to advertise that town. He says that the club wants to show what strides Coffeyville has made since the Dalton raid, and one picture is to represent the town at the time of the raid, together with a scene of the raid, and another the town today. His own interest , he said in the matter was simply to verify the historical points and scenes.

Still, the governor didn’t think this a sufficient excuse for Dalton to be tangled up with the affair, and said so. The governor also doubted if a picture of the Dalton raid would now be a very good advertisement for Coffeyville, even for comparison purposes, and he doubts the wisdom of the Coffeyville Commercial Club in backing such an enterprise. Dalton said he took no hand in it until strongly urged by some of the leading business men and ministers of Coffeyville.

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Kansas City Star, Jan. 21, 1909: BARTLESVILLE, Ok., Jan. 20. - Emmet Dalton, in reply to a letter from ex-Governor Hoch remonstrating against Dalton’s connection with the moving pictures portraying the Coffeyville, Kas., bank robbery, has written to Mr. Hoch saying that his purpose was to see that the story was accurately told, and that the pictures will teach a moral lesson. C. F. Tackett, maker of the picture films, could not be induced to abandon his plans.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, March 12, 1909 (from Monday’s Daily): Emmet Dalton, who has been suggested for member of the city council from the Fourth Ward, says he will not be a candidate unless everybody else declines to run. Dalton told the Enterprise today that the Fourth Ward wants its share of sidewalks and fire protection and that he will stand for the council to get these improvements.

“We need an alderman,” said Dalton, “who will get these things for us, and, if we can not get some good man to go in to win, I will run.”

Dalton was suggested for the council Saturday evening by a mass meeting of Fourth Warders held at Redmen Hall. Other candidates were suggested too, but Dalton got all of the twenty six votes cast.

Emmett was nominated with Mr. Schwartz as a democratic candidate from Ward 4. Schwartz was elected.

Bartlesville Enterprise, July 2, 1909: H. S. James, editor of the Independence Reporter, was in Bartlesville this week and wrote the following interesting story about Emmett Dalton:

“When the question was up for the pardon of Emmett Dalton, the Reporter wrote Governor Hoch that it believed Dalton would make an upright, useful citizen and that his conduct would be such that the governor would never have occasion to regret his action.

“Emmett Dalton is making good that prediction. Imediately after leaving Lansing Dalton located in Tulsa and at once engaged in business. He did not waste time beating around the country. He found a useful place in the world for himself. Later he sold his Tulsa place of business and moved to Bartlesville, where he married. Mrs. Dalton herself has some property. The two are fond of each other and both are ambitious.

“The time Emmett Dalton was in Lansing was not lost. He was a student. He read, read, read - always good literature. He strove even behind iron bars to better himself and he did so by learning well two or three trades. The result was when he came out he was equipped to grapple with the affairs of life.

One of the first experiences after locating in Bartlesville was defending his rights in a piece of property which was being purchased for a union station site. Dalton won in the courts and came out $4,000 to the good.

“Dalton is a likeable fellow and is popular at Bartlesville. His neighbors wanted him to be councilman for his ward. He is essentially a business man, and the indications are that he is going to make a success of his life in spite of the handicap of his youth and the late start. He has just purchased a tract of land at Copan and is preparing to drill for oil. The land is well located and there is every indication that he will get oil. He has purchased another tract of land and hopes to make money out of that. He has a good business head and is careful and conservative.

“For many months Dalton was fearful that he was going to lose his arm, which had been bothering him more or less for fifteen years from a gun wound. But apparently the last operation for the removal of diseased bone was successful. The wound has entirely healed and the arm is well and strong. Recently Dalton has grown a moustache and is now regarded as one of the handsomest men in Bartlesville.”

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Bartlesville Enterprise, July 9, 1909: A good sized crowd braved the heat to attend the first race meeting at Bella Mead track yesterday afternoon. There were a number of other celebrations in the vicinity of Bartlesville and the crowd was larger than could reasonably have been expected under such conditions.

Those who attended saw some good races and saw Governor Hoch, the running horse recently purchased by Emmett Dalton, win his race twice. Miss Weber, the other horse in this race, fell down after the horses got away and Dalton kindly consented to give her another chance. The distance was a half mile and Governor Hoch ran it in 50 3-4 seconds.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Aug. 13, 1909: Emmett Dalton has shaved his moustache and is again a pretty good looking young fellow.

At some point Emmett decided to tour with moving pictures John Tackett had made of the Coffeyville raid and to lecture on the evils of crime. It is likely that Tackett wanted to go on the road with his movie and, by going along, Emmett could have some say how it was done.

Bartlesville Enterprise, Sept. 17, 1909 (From Wednesday’s Daily): Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Dalton left today to travel with the motion picture of “Daltons’ Last Raid.” They go from here to Tulsa and from there to Muskogee. Their route from there has not yet been decided upon.

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The Oklahoman, Sept. 30, 1909: Emmet Dalton, ex-bandit, pardoned from the Kansas state penitentiary, where he was imprisoned fourteen years for complicity in the Coffeyville bank robbery Oct. 5, 1892, is in Oklahoma City in the role of lecturer and moving picture owner. Dalton makes his living with his moving pictures, showing vividly the scenes which stirred Coffeyville to its depths with one of the most daring bandit feats in history. These pictures will be displayed at the Yale theater, near the Rock Island depot, for the next four days beginning today.

Emmet Dalton will take tickets and talk about his pictures. With the memory of Emmet’s pardon fresh in the minds of most people, his coming to Oklahoma City will revive the story of the Coffeyville raid which cost the lives of eight men, Emmet alone escaping.

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The Oklahoman, Oct. 1, 1909: More than 3,500 paid admission to see Emmet Dalton, at the head of a company reproducing the exploits of the famous Dalton gang at the Yale theater. The performance started at 10 o’clock in the morning and was continuous until midnight. The house was packed throughout the day and many were turned away from time to time.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Oct. 22, 1909: Emmett Dalton spent Sunday here and is leaving tonight for Wichita where the Dalton raid pictures will be shown tonight. Emmett has been traveling with his pictures nearly a month and has been making money.

“In Bartlesville,” he said, “we showed to more people in a single day than we have in any other Oklahoma town - although we had an average of 2,000 a day for nine days in Oklahoma City.”

The Dalton pictures cost about $200 a week to oprate, carrying a regular troupe of assistants - an advance agent, a lecturer, and operator and Messrs. Dalton and Tackett, the owners. Several hundred feet of Bartlesville street scenes and a lot of prison life scenes have been added. The pictures have been shown in Tulsa, Muskogee, Sapulpa, Pawhuska, Arkansas City, El Reno, Oklahoma City, Lawton and Enid.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Oct. 29, 1909: WEAKER MANAGERS ARE KNOCKING EMMETT DALTON’S EFFORT - THEY HOPE TO INJURE HIM BY A CRY OF “MORAL EFFECT”

Emmett Dalton has been paying the penalty of being in the show business lately by the knocks he has been getting from the newspapers. The Enid Eagle took a fall out of him when he was there last week and the Kansas City Times of this week had a half column under an Enid date line taking him to task for the business he is following.

A funny feature of the times story, according to Dalton, is the fact that “Al” Jennings, who served a term in the penitentiary for train robbery, is quoted as denouncing Dalton’s show. The facts are that Jennings is also in the show business and opened his moving picture show in Oklahoma City a few weeks ago in a room adjoining that in which Dalton was showing his pictures. The Dalton show was too strong for Jennings and he moved after two disastrous days. The story in the Times is as follows:

Enid, Okla., Oct. 20. - Emmett Dalton, the paroled bandit, is exhibiting moving pictures of the Coffeyville, Kas., bank robbery. Dalton took part in this robbery and two of his brothers were killed in the fight that followed. Dalton was captured and sent to the Kansas penitentiary. His prison conduct was such that Governor Hoch paroled him. Dalton had many friends in Oklahoma who interceded for him with Governor Hoch, in the belief that Dalton would shun notoriety.

The moving pictures are crudely made, and portray the deeds of the Dalton gang in the spirit of the yellow back novel., though they are purported to be shown as a warning to young men to shun an evil life. Incidentally, Dalton displays as part of the scenic story photographs of the dead bodies of his two brothers and for this he accepts money.

“Al” Jennings, who served a term in the federal prison in Columbia, O., for train robbery, is quoted as saying there was no possible chance of his ever being guilty of trying to take money from the public by theexhibition of such scenes as are shown in the moving picture of the Coffeyville raid. Dalton is being criticized by Oklahoma newspapers for his conduct., the Enid Eagle saying:

“Emmett Dalton has made a woful mistake in going about the country exploiting the career of himself and associates as bandits. The spectacle presented in this city today of relics of the bloody raid being exhibited to attract the attention of the morbidly curious and pictures of the Coffeyville robbery being offered to the young to poison their minds, is one that may well call down censure from any civilized community. The power of suggestion in criminal records is too well established to admit of dispute. Emmett Dalton has many friends in Enid, who, when he was in sadder circumstances, wished and worked for his release and rejoiced when the day of that release came. He is still a young man and has plenty of opportunity before him. Paths of usefulness are open to him on every hand. Apparently he does not realize his responsibility as an example to the young.”

After wanting so much to forget the Coffeyville raid, why was he now going over and over it to all who wanted to see and hear? Never a man for a sedentary life, joining Tackett must have been attractive. Julia may have had her say, too. Realizing the power of the new media, he could turn the bad in his life to a useful lesson to others, although this point was obviously missed by some. And they disliked his making money from the raid, but then Coffeyville saw the dollar signs just about as soon as the smoke cleared after the fight. If you have something you can sell, then of course you will. But I’d like to think he explained himself to ex-governor Hoch.

Kansas City Times, Nov. 17, 1909: WICHITA, KAS., Nov. 16. - As of a result of a protest to Mayor C. L. Davidson by Emmett Dalton, ex-member of the famous Dalton gang of Coffeyville bank robbers, against the closing up of his moving picture show portraying the fight and escape of the Daltons from Coffeyville, the mayor called a special meeting of the city commissioners to take action this afternoon.

Late this afternoon the commissioners passed a special ordinance making it unlawful to depict crime by either stationary or moving pictures.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Nov. 19, 1909: Bartlesville Man Gets Good Advertising in Wichita.

Wichita, Kas., Nov. 17. - A special meeting of the city commisioners last evening passed an ordinance providing for censor of plays and moving picture shows, in order that they might legally stop the motion picture reproduction of the Coffeyville bank raid by the Dalton gang, being presented here by Emett Dalton, the sole survivor of the gang, and a pardoned convict.

Dalton closed the show when told to do so by the chief of police but will ask for an injunction against the commissioners.

In November 26 issue, the Bartlesville Enterprise further commented on all the free advertising Emmett was getting and quoted an article from the Kansas City Journal. The article called Emmett’s show “A Demoralizing Exhibition” and included comments such as: “…the pictures are of a kind to impair the morals of susceptible youths… To capitalize the malodorous ’fame’ of the Dalton gang is a palpable offence against public morals… Hundreds of sympathizing people helped Dalton to gain the freedom which he is so deplorably abusing.”

Clipping, Sedalia, Missouri, Jan. 3, 1910: Emmett Dalton, the reformed bandit, here with a moving picture show, paid the Democrat-Sentinel a visit. His wife is with him and they are stopping at Hotel Huckins.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Jan. 21, 1910: Chanute, Kas., Jan. 9. - Mayor Abbott this afternoon stopped the Emmett Dalton picture show and lecture at the Electric Theater.

A conference between the Mayor and Mr. Dalton is in progress to determine whether the show will be put on tonight.

Dalton is insistent that he violates no ordinance or law and that the pictures he shows are no different from those in all picture theaters. The agitation against them comes from the fact that they are based on a real incident.

“I shall violate no law or ordinance. I shall go ahead doing the good that I can and preachers, mayors, governors or petty politicians cannot stop me. I know what I am doing and you will notice that I am not running. I am attending to my own business.”

Emmett Dalton, the famous survivor of the famous Dalton raid upon Coffeyville, came to town this afternoon. He came here from Pittsburg where he has been for two or three days.

At all the larger churches action was taken to protest against the appearance of Mr. Dalton in this city, and asking city officials to prohibit his show in case they had authority to do so.

Speaking of the city’s jurisdiction Mayor Abbott said: “The city attorney and myself have gone over the ordinances and found they contain nothing which will allow us to prohibit a public exhibition unless it is immoral, lewd or indecent.

“The ordinance governing public exhibitions was passed before moving pictures were invented. The police will be instructed to watch the performance and see that nothing which they consider a violation of the ordinance is done. They have the authority to stop the performance in case anything immoral, indecent or lewd is shown or said.”

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The Oklahoman, Jan. 15, 1910: Topeka, Kan., Jan. 14. - Governor Stubbs today requested Attorney General Jackson to examine the pardon papers of Emmett Dalton, the only surviving member of the famous “Dalton gang,” to see if the pardon can be revoked.

Dalton was pardoned by former Governor E. W. Hoch Nov. 2, 1907. Since then he has started a “wild west” show and has exhibited moving pictures, showing a reproduction of the robbery of the Coffeyville bank on Oct. 5, 1893, at which the Dalton gang was broken up, and for which Emmett was sentenced to prison.

Governor Stubbs has received complaints from Pittsburg against Dalton’s moving picture show being given there and is highly displeased with Dalton’s actions since he was pardoned.

Emmett Dalton appeared with his show in Oklahoma City during the state fair, filling an engagement at a North Broadway moving picture theater. He did an immense business here, although there was some criticism of the class of pictures he was showing.

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Kansas City Times, Jan. 15, 1910: TOPEKA, Jan. 14. - Governer Stubbs will revoke the pardon of Emmett Dalton, the Coffeyville bandit, if it is possible for him to do so. The governor sent to Fred B. Jackson, attorney general, today a request for an opinion as to whether the governor could revoke the pardon and return Dalton to the penitentiary.

Dalton was released by Governor Hoch two years ago November 2, under commutation of sentence. The governor at the time urged that Dalton should not make a show of himself or attempt to make money from a display of the exploits of himself or brothers in the Coffeyville or other robbery raids. This was not made a part of the pardon. Almost as soon as Dalton was released he set about to arrange a moving picture show of the Coffeyville raid. He posed as one of the bandits and had others made up as his brothers and other members of the gang and as officers and citizens. This show has been traveling about Kansas and Oklahoma for several months. Dalton gives lectures during the show. Governor Stubbs is disgusted with Dalton’s actions.

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Kansas City Times, Jan. 19, 1910: IOLA, Kas., Jan. 19. - The city authorities stopped Emmett Dalton, the ex-bandit, from putting his moving picture show here yesterday afternoon. Dalton had advertised a matinee and an evening performance, but on his arrival in the city was informed by the chief of police that the show would not be permitted. Delegations of citizens called on Mayor H. F. Travis this morning and entered a protest against the pictures.

Dalton insisted that his show was clean and invited the officers in to see it before offering it to the public. When he was given a final answer that the performance could not be given, he said he would show any way, and test the matter in the courts, but later he changed his mind, and shipped his paraphernalia to St. Joseph.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Jan. 21, 1910: Pittsburg Kansas Jan. 17. - “It’s all politics,” declared Emmett Dalton Saturday evening, when informed Governor Stubb had ordered Attorney General Jackson to examine the pardon papers of the only surviving member of the Dalton gang, to see if the pardon granted by Former Governor Hoch could be revoked.

“If that bunch starts anything with me they will find me meeting them half, yes, three quarters of the way. Governor Stubbs is a good man and has done good things for this state but like all other men holding similar offices, he is pestered by petty politicians. I am a politician myself and know what I am talking about. My pardon papers are all right. I would stake everything I posses on that. You see, I am the man most concerned and I know what I am talking about. I will give any person $1,000 who will prove that my pardon papers are not regular.”

Dalton said he never conducted a wild west show nor indulged in any other business except the enterprise he now heads.

“ The talk about my having a wild west show is all bosh,” said he “the people know what kind of a show I’ve got. I am lecturing on morals and what do I care what petty politicians are doing.”

Attorney General Jackson today wired ex-Governor Hoch if there were any conditions exacted when he pardoned Emmet Dalton.

“I remember the governor asked me about putting in some conditions at the time,” said Mr Jackson, “and I am under the impression they went into the pardon. The official records are silent in regard to the matter. The evidence of former Governor Hoch would be just as good as official records in the matter, and if there were any conditions, written or verbal, we may be able to lay our hands on Dalton.” The governor and attorney general are determined to drive Dalton out of the picture show business, in Kansas, at least.

— Report from Kansas, where Dalton pictures are now being shown, is that they are doing splendid business. It is nothing uncommon to take over $200 in a single night. Governor Stubbs’ intent to revoke Dalton’s pardon if possible, is acting as a big advertisement for the pictures.

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Kansas City Times, Jan. 21, 1910: Emmett Dalton, one time bandit, and paroled convict From the Kansas penitentiary, is in Kansas City to place in a orphan’s home a boy, 7 years old, whom Dalton and his wife took charge of in Oklahoma. The ex-bandit proposes to pay for the support of the boy.

Dalton says he has been in Kansas for more than a week and that he has no fear that Governor Stubbs will send him back to prison. He insists that the moving pictures are perfectly legitimate and that they are not shown without the full consent of the mayor and the approval of the people of the towns visited.

He may buy a moving picture theater in Kansas City.

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Barlesville Enterprise, Feb. 4, 1910: Emmett Dalton was the guest of Scout Younger in Tulsa Sunday, and the Tulsa Democrat printed a half column interview with him.

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Advertisement, Kansas City, Feb. 20, 1910: The Feature Program in Kansas City, All This Week Beginning Monday, February 21, Emmett Dalton at The Olympic Theater 1123 Grand Ave., In a special feature program, moral lectures, short talks etc., Admission 10 Cents

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Davis County Clipper, March 4, 1910: EX-BANDIT DEFIANT Emmett Dalton Hands Hot Talk to Governor

“Emmett Dalton has no business to be going around the country giving a bank robbery picture show. He has broken his parole, and if he is not careful I’ll send him back to the penitentiary.” - W. R. Stubbs, Governor of Kansas.

“I’m not here to be awed by any petty politician. Gov. Stubbs is a showman like myself and likes to keep in the public eye. It’s all bosh and I defy any man to imprison me for breaking my parole.” - Emmett Dalton, Ex-Bank Robber.

KANSAS CITY, Kan., - A lively controversy between the governor of Kansas and Emmett Dalton, the last of the famous Dalton gang, has resulted from the insistence of Dalton on giving moving picture exhibitions of a bank robbery, accompanied by a realistic lecture and advice to young men not to stray from the straight and narrow path.

Gov. Stubbs says Dalton ought to be in prison. Dalton virtually invites the governor to go to blazes.

The man who smashed two political machines and outwrestled the Demon Rum found himself doffed by the one time outlaw and bank robber.

Dalton and his wife, who, by the way, have adopted two orphan children to bring up, were touring Kansas towns with great success, crowds flocking to hear the former bank robber tell of such adventures as the raid on the Coffeyville bank, which led to Jim Dalton’s capture and the surrender of Emmett, who gave himself up rather than leave his wounded brother to captors who, for all he knew, would hang him on the spot.

Gov. Stubbs says Dalton is out on parole, and he will send him back to serve his time out. Dalton says the governor is “talking through his hat.”

No more “meek as a lamb” Dalton. Stubbs should have known better than to oppose Dalton when Dalton knew he was in the right and ready to fight.

As to these “orphaned children”; the Daltons had adopted one boy, Roy Reynolds. The 1910 census had him as eight years old, parents unknown. According to Nancy Samuelson in her book The Dalton Gang Story, Roy was several years later adopted by people named Johnson, who were not related to Julia.

Bartlesville Enterprise, March 11, 1910: Emmett Dalton’s show is now in Kansas City and the sign over the door of the theater says, “Mr. Dalton is here in person.”

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Bartlesville Enterprise, March 25, 1910 (From Tuesday’s Daily): Emmett Dalton returned last evening from Missouri where he has been with his moving pictures. The film which has been in use wore out and John Tackett of Coffeyville is making a duplicate film. The show will open in Kansas in about a week.

That week Emmett landed in some trouble. The Bartlesville Examiner told of an incident that occurred near the Oklah Theater between Emmett and the manager of the theater, John Flinn. Emmett was demanding some kind of settlement from Flinn and he was arrested for public drunkenness and fined $11.75, but appealed the sentence. Thursday’s daily ( March 31) Enterprise had a short report from police court that morning, including that Emmett had pleaded not guilty and would be tried later. Nothing further was mentioned about this incident.

In Oklahoma Today magazine, March-April 1986, I found this little bit: “…After filming a re-creation of how his brothers died robbing a Coffeyville, Kansas, bank, Emmett agreed to denounce the crooked life between shows. Unfortunately, speaking before the crowd at Bartlesville’s Oklan Theater made him cower. The cure? Red-eye whiskey. However, he required so many snorts of the stuff that he emptied the jug, demanded another and jumped for the manager’s throat when refused. After spending the night in jail, Dalton announced he was going west, landed in Hollywood and became a millionaire in real estate, again according to Sam Henderson.”

That is a good example how Dalton stories evolve into something far from the truth.

In spite of his tough man act, the criticism he had received might have been difficult to take. Especially in view of all the admiration he had attracted up to that point. Solace is often sought from the bottle.

Bartlesville Enterprise, April 1, 1910: “While lecturing in Missouri I noticed that an old white haired man in one of the front seats seemed to be enjoying the lecture immensely. Every time I made a point he would applaud loudly. I waxed eloquent and he applauded the louder. When the lecture was over, I met the old man in the lobby of the theater as he was leaving and asked him how he liked my lecture. He gazed at me in astonishment for a moment then pointed to his mouth and eyes and shook his head - he was deaf and dumb.” — Emmett Dalton

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Bartlesville Enterprise, April 8, 1910: Mrs. Emmett Dalton was called to Kansas City last evening by the illness of her son, who is attending school there.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, April 15, 1910: Salina, Kas., April 9. - Emmett Dalton is sick and will not be able to be in Salina the middle of this month with his celebrated moving picture show, showing the raid on the bank in Coffeyville 18 years ago. This fact was learned from Carl Thacher, manager of the National theater, who received a letter from Dalton’s advance man.

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The Oklahoman, Aug. 6, 1910: Emmett Dalton, once famous, is very friendly with the management of the Bartlesville Examiner. The other day he was sitting in the editorial chair when an irate reader entered seeking satisfaction. He refused to be convinced that Dalton was not the editor, and shook his fist in Dalton’s face. It’s something to wonder about - what he will say when he finds out who he insulted.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Aug. 12, 1910: The fact that Emmet Dalton was going to sell tickets to his moving picture show has drawn a crowd faster than the show itself.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Sept. 16, 1910: Jeff Younger, who has been the guest of Emmett Dalton returned to Arkansas last night.

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Bartlesville Enterprise, Oct. 14, 1910 (From Monday’s Daily): Emmett Dalton returned this morning from Vinita, where he has been assisting in prosecuting a negro named Joe Flinn, who sold him a piece of land in Texas for $700 and which was not the negroe’s property at all.

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