Wanted Poster Stationery - Western Outlaw Party Invitations - Wild West Cowboy Party Invitations - Gunslinger

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Western Outlaw Wanted Poster Stationery and Cowboy Party Invitations.

Description: Wanted Poster is inspired by old west outlaws. Outlaws were typically rough natured and mean, or so they say... The more wanted a outlaw was the greater the reward. Most outlaws were not that bright, as they were always showing their faces, bragging of their deeds, and having their pictures taken thereby making their wanted posters easier to draw up. This wild west outlaw covers his face with a scarf. It also appears, by the bullet holes, that he has been past this poster once or twice. His image is much like a watermark, allowing you to write over top of him and yet still letting you see him in the background behind your text.

Famous Western Outlaws

Wanted posters were a big deal back in the days of the Wild West. The rewards were high and outlaws took pride when they were worth a lot of bounty. Some of the most famous outlaws were Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Big Nose Kate, Pancho Villa, Doc Holliday, and Black Jack Ketchum. Some well-known places where these criminals hung out had the foreboding names of Tombstone, and Dead Wood.

Billy the kid was, well a kid! Part of his claim to fame was the he became an outlaw, a wanted man during his teenage years. His full name is William Henry Bonney and it is believed he was killed by Pat Garrett at the age of 21 although some speculate that he might have been younger when he died.

Billy unfortunately had a series of events in his life that turned him to a life of crime. His mother died when he was young, eventually leaving him with no money or home, so he began stealing. Latter he was sent to a boarding school and was accused of stealing some laundry that was given to him. It was after this incident that he was sent to live with his stepfather in Arizona who upon arrival said he wanted nothing to do with the boy.

Billy was all alone in a dangerous part of the west and turned to a life of crime to stay alive as no one would hire or help him. A man by the name of Cahill would always pick on the Kid and one day after being insulted and beat upon, Billy pulled out his gun and shot the man in the stomach, which killed Cahill. Billy fled to New Mexico where he met and joined a gang of rustlers called “ The Boys.” Billy the Kid was born, he could never return to a normal life at this point, as he was now a wanted man on the run.

The Kid was sucked into the Dolan & Tunstall feud in Lincoln County which is know as the Lincoln County War. Billy was pulled from one side to the other. He tried to jockey himself into a good position with Tunstall, was even deputized, but in the end was made a scapegoat for the killings that took place. The Kid took off with his gang known as the regulars, they lived a life of horse thieving and cattle rustling, hiding out in Tascosa, Texas and old Fort Sumner.

Billy tried several times to settle down and clear his name, he even tried to make amends with his enemies. But due to a corrupt local government every time he went to testify in court, things would fall through as the law was on the side of his enemies who were often times responsible for many of the murders that were pinned on him. Billy the kid was later arrested and sent to jail in Lincoln county where he escaped from jail killing Olinger a long time rival and another man. His escape was incredible, very well timed and unexpected by Garrett and his guards. Billy unfortunately was over confident as he stayed in the are after his escape, hiding out with old friends and bragging of his escape instead of fleeing to Mexico.

Billy the kids life came to an end on Jul 14, 1881 when Pat Garrett laid in wait in the house of Pete Maxwell's a friend of Billy’s. The Kid had just come over in the night for some food, and was unaware that Garrett was hiding in the dark for him. Billy came face to face with Garrett who shot Billy in the heart, dead. The Kid was immortalized by his enemies who talked him up into a ruthless killer and by those who knew him to be otherwise. His is a tragic story of a misguided youth’s struggle for survival in a corrupted western landscape.

Jesse Woodson James was born on September 5, 1847, in the state of Missouri. While growing up his father, was a Baptist minister, Reverend Robert James. Living a peaceful life, until he joined the Confederate Army as a guerilla as one of Quantrill’s Raiders during the Civil War and learned to fight. Legend has it that Jesse was quite a fighter as he killed up to 8 men in one day. It wasn’t until after the war that he became an outlaw upon learning of his parent’s persecution during the war. Jesse founded the James Gang in 1866, which consisted of other men from Quantrill's Guerillas.

For the next 15 years the James gang used their war time skills to rob banks, stores, trains and stagecoach’s, eluding the law at every turn. The gang was always on the move as they robbed in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, and Texas. He and his men were very successful in robbing stealing up to $60,000 dollars at one time, which was allot of money back then. However their luck ran out during 1876, in Northfield, Minnesota. While attempting to rob the local bank the towns people fire back at them chasing them into a wooded ravine. All the gang except for Jesse and Frank (his brother) were either killed or captured.

Jesse tried to settle down and live a normal life. He married his first cousin Zerelda and had two children Jesse Edwards and Mary. Jesse took the name Thomas Howard as his alias while living in Nashville, Tennessee and Saint Joseph, Missouri, hiding out in a rented house. What brought Jesse’s life to an end was when he was robbing the Platte City Bank and his accomplices Robert and Charles Ford shot Jesse in the back of his head hoping to receive the $10,000 reward for the capture of Jesse James. The Ford brothers both died shortly afterward. One died by killing himself while the other died while fighting in a bar.

Doc Holiday whose real name is John Henry Holiday received his name because he was a Doctor of Dentistry. Shortly after he graduated and began his life as a dentist, he came down with tuberculosis. He was told that he didn’t have much time to live and that he should move to the west where the climate is dry. He tried practicing dentistry in Dallas Texas but due to his illness his customers dwindled.

When his luck was down he would gamble, and he became quite well at it in which it became his newfound profession. He wielded a six shooter with great skill to protect his winnings, as most men didn’t enjoy losing. Eventually Doc ended up in a gunfight and fled Dallas after winning the draw. In Jacksboro he became a dealer at the gambling hall, as his skill was so good with a deck of cards. He ended up in several more gunfights over gambling and had the misfortune of having a showdown with a solider from Fort Richardson whom he killed, bringing the law after him.

Doc Holiday was now officially a wanted man. He had a reward for his capture and everyone soon learned who he was ready to collect his bounty. Lawmen, the Army and civilians were all looking to get him. Which was unfortunate for them, as Doc was quick on the draw and very skilled.

Doc was forced to flee, he found himself going from one town to the next. Denver Colorado, to Wyoming, to New Mexico, and then to Texas again. He killed several more men and nearly cut one mans head off with his knife. Doc was becoming a killer with nothing to loose, as he knew his own life was coming to an end. Perhaps that’s why he became so fearless.

Doc Holidays life took a different turn when he moved to Ft. Griffin, Texas. There he met Wyatt Earp who must have had some effect on his character as Holiday decided to be a dentist again and open up shop. He also bought a saloon, perhaps because of his association with Big Nose Kate. Eventually he moved on to Dodge City, and then to Tombstone, all the while trying to live a respectable life as a dentist. But on the way to Tombstone he was accused of robbing a stagecoach. This was an important event as two men were killed and the law was hot on his trails again. Big Nose Kate falsely testified that Doc was the one who committed the robbery and murders. Wyatt Earp came to Doc’s rescue and he was let off the charges. Doc then threw Kate out on her feet, he wanted nothing to do with her after that. A few cowboys soon after gave him some trouble, perhaps in Kates behalf.

This led to the famous shootout at the OK Corral in October 26, of 1881, where three men were gunned down. It’s believed that Doc Holiday shot each of them.

In March 18, of 1882, Morgan Earp the brother of Wyatt Earp was murdered. Perhaps in retaliation for those who died at the OK Corral. Wyatt and Doc wasted no time to hunt down the killers, avenging his brother’s death. After helping Earp bring restitution to the death of his brother, he moved on to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He opened his dentistry practice once again and died six months later, on November 8, 1887, from his disease. Doc Holiday was thirty-six, and left his mark as a western legend never to be forgotten.

Wanted Men of the West

The famous outlaws and gunfighters of the Wild West had allot in common with pirates of the 1700 and 1800’s. Western outlaws were a rambunctious group who were the product of a brutal civil war. It is believed that many of these outlaws began with Quantrails raiders from Missouri and other similar groups. During the war many of these outlaws would raid union forces and towns; hired as vigilantes, with the intent to cause as much damage as possible with no limitations or rules. After the war they found it difficult to live any other life style, and so they continued to wander, steal and fight when necessary. Other outlaws who fought in the war were looking for revenge for acts committed against them and their families during the war.

Some outlaws simply were men who wanted to start robbing to make a living. These outlaws would form gangs so as to have strength in numbers. When an outlaw died or was wounded bad, the gang would replace him with another. Typically these gangs of outlaws ranged from three to ten in size.

One of the more profitable crimes for outlaws was cattle rustling, where outlaws would steal ranchers' cattle by whatever means and then brand them and sell them. Typically outlaws would try and take young cafes, as they were not as easy to identify.

Bank robbery was another huge preoccupation for outlaws. They would ride into town and rob the local bank, or these outlaws would stop trains and ambush stagecoaches (reach for the skies). When things didn’t go as planned outlaws would shoot their way out of the situation.

One of the worst crimes for outlaws to commit was to take other peoples land in cold-blooded murder. This resulted in range wars and revenge killings.

Due to their violent acts outlaws were always on the run and in fear of being ambushed. A young death was typical for outlaws, as rivals, lawmen and reward seekers were always on their trail. Not even close friends or members of their own gang could be trusted. Very few outlaws lived to see old age.

In the west the law was not always dependable. Many times a posse was organized by local town folk who would ride after and hunt town outlaws and exact their justice; which was typically resulted in hanging. The only problem is other civilians sometimes got in the way and the people the posse went after weren’t always outlaws. But out in no mans land the pistol and rope was the law.

Most outlaws were not a good shot or quick on the draw. Outlaws never really had man to man showdowns in the street and especially at high noon. Usually outlaws would pull their guns on someone in a fit of rage while drunk. When outlaws were sober they would only draw if things were in their favor or if someone was already shooting at them or after them. Most outlaws did not know how to properly handle their weapon, they would simply point and shoot. Must shootouts tool place within 18 feet of each other and with six shoots each some one was bound to get hit.

Outlaws dressed as regular folk and would hide their weapons under their coats and belts or shirts as many towns had a weapons ban within city limits. It was not always easy to tell who were outlaws and who was going to cause trouble until it happened.

When it came to their six shooter, the outlaws number one choice of firearm was the Colt Peacemaker of 1873. It was the first gun to have a metal cartridge for holding the bullet and its powder. This made it less likely for an outlaws gun to misfire or create a chain reaction. The Colt had a smaller barrel but was more reliable. To make up for loss in fire power outlaws would employ a riffle or shotgun.

The truth be told many outlaws were cowards who simply couldn’t resist the urge to pull the trigger for satisfying their anger. I say cowards because often time outlaws would shoot someone from behind and when they were not expecting hostility. The life of outlaws was one of danger and fear, few lived old enough to tell their tale. Outlaws has been completely romanticized, but in reality outlaws were desperate criminals who killed people and stole others property, leaving a path of destruction wherever they went.
The gun slinging days of the west came to and end with the last western outlaw Henry Starr who died in 1921.