Northern Oklahoma Outlaws

Several outlaws passed through Pawnee, Oklahoma (Indian territory) back in the 1880's.However, they usually kept going on.

Pawnee didn't attract outlaws until the turn of the century when it became an R&R stop for third rate robbers.

The Kines Gang and the Branon Boys were frequent "tourists" here.  Red Branon was well known and liked by many who lived here.
He was the crippled "get-away wheelman" and he lived with the Canadays when he was in this part of the state.
They (the Canadays) were Indians who lived about two blocks North- East of where I live.
Red Branon was "picked up" from there by a glory seeking deputy sheriff and put in jail.Later someone let him out and he was gone.

One of the Kines boys was slain in a running gunfight in Enid, Oklahoma by John Sanchez.
Kines had stopped at a saloon  (just a block east of the Main Street Square) for some cold beer and sandwiches before heading west.
He was recognized and a running gunfight began which ended with him dead in an alley south of Broadway Tower.
Poor soul never should have stopped for that fatal glass of suds.So it goes with the plans of mice and men.

Bill Doolin was never really an outlaw until he rode to Coffeyville, Kansas with the Dalton gang.
They sold him on the idea there was "easy pickins" there.
Upon arriving Bill Doolin saw it was a "dead end deal" so he hid in the stables with the horses while the Daltons tried to rob both banks.
He was found later, jailed and sent back to Oklahoma.

Riding to Coffeyville with the Daltons branded him an outlaw forever.
In those days it was easy to get into the outlaw category.
After the civil war was over there were many disconnected people wandering around and no one had the time or inclination to help them.

Note:
The above is an account given to this writer by Richard Joe Zajic in December 2003 and is based on his memory
of stories told to him by various "old timers" in the Pawnee and surrounding areas.
ALW