Alton Pryor: 43 books

Elfego Baca always wanted to be a lawman. At the age if 19, he obtained a mail-order sheriff's badge, appointed a friend or two as deputy sheriff's and concocted a method to clean the town of Socorro, New Mexico of its riffraff and seedy characters. Baca sent out letters to the felons in...

Lawmen of the old west played a juggling act as far as the law was concerned. The lawman had be both tougher and smarter than his outlaw counterpart or the outlaw would win. Most the sheriffs and marshals wearing badges played at gambling, often owning the gambling concessions in the saloons and barrooms of the very towns they were required to police.

A lost Spanish galleon still lies on the bottom of the Salton Sea, loaded with iron chests. Pegleg Smith's lost gold mine is still waiting for someone to find. Is Joaquin Murrieta only the myth of an early newspaper writer? The latest news on ishi, the last Yahi Indian.

Women may have found gold in California a full year before James Marshal. Wheelbarrow Johnny started building wheelbarrows in Placerville and later became a national automobile tycoon. California's last "dry" town might surprise you.

David Jack literally stole thousands of acres of Mexican land grants given to Monterey by the previous Mexican governments. Monterey didn't have the money to satisfy the claims with the U.S. Claims Commission. A lawyer proved the claims legal, but Monterey couldn't afford the legal bill. The Mexican land claims were auctioned off on the courthouse steps.

John Wesley Hardin killed for the joy of killing. He always felt he was persecuted for his Southern feelings. He deplored the black slaves of the south. He was also fast with a six-gun and used it all too often.

Judge Roy Bean determined the law to suit his fancy in his courtroom in the area of Texas west of the Pecos. He refused to hear appeals and his decision was final, if not always fair. Still, he did a lot of good for the area's helpless and needy.

The Apache Kid was a respected member of the U.S. Army Scouts. He became embroiled in a melee that was unavoidable for him and two men were killed. He was threatened with ten years in the hell-hole Yuma State Prison. He escaped and became a fugitive with a large price on his head. He was never caught.

John Fremont was impetuous and rash in his decisions, one of which got him court martialed. Still he was credited with blazing passes that opened California for immigrants.

The Headless horseman terrorized settlers, town citizens, outlaws and cowboys alike when they saw this creature roam the southwest Texas plains on a dun-colored horse.

Kit Carson was the consummate American hero. He was a little man but could handle a big man's courageous feats. He was a mountain man that led such explorers as John C. Fremont across the driest of deserts and highest of mountains into uncharted territory.

Every boy wants to be a cowboy, not realizing that a cowboy's life often goes down roads that would be better left untraveled. Still, even bankers, lawyers and congressmen, who once were cowboys, will still claim that as their profession. Once a cowboy, always a cowboy.

Oklahoma is a young state but its history goes back to the 1540s. Oklahoma Territory was originally planned as an area for the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians. Pressure from white settlers forced the government to open up the territory to settlement.

A collection of good luck and bad luck adages that have been passed down for generations.