GBE Should be my decision who and what I want to share with.(If I had received some POSITIVE feedback I may have 'told my story...Come on slbbunny you can do it.') Old West was nasty and sarcastic and I didn't get on this web site to be insulted. And since you decided to throw your hat in the ring, I guess my decision last night NOT to go back to oklahombres.org was the right one. I was willing to share the photos I have and info but everyone can just go ahead and plod along with their mis-information. I am Kid Wilson's great niece so I PROBABLY have the info and the pictures to back it up. And if I come off as 'abrasive' go back and read Oldwest's comment and see why my feathers MIGHT be ruffled.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: slbbunny,

Hello everyone, this is your webmaster. My name is Dee Cordry. As the webmaster, I say "ENOUGH" and let us move forward.

Everyone has a right to be heard.

If a user on this forum feels they have been mistreated, bring the complaint to me. I will deal with it.

Oklahombres was formed for the purpose of preserving lawman and outlaw history. In order to "preserve," we exchange and share the information. Without sharing, there would be no need for this forum.

Dee

GBE,

"Thanks!" for attempting to intervene (on my behalf) with your very astute observation, concerning slbbunny's rather "abrasive" and "confrontational manner". That was a nice gesture, on your part, and I appreciate it. However, I am confident that I can dispatch this mental defective rant without working-up much of a sweat.

slbbunny,

Sarcasm? I meant NO sarcasm! My comments were straight forward and factual. I'll let you know "when" I'm being sarcastic, so that you won't miss it.

When you signed-on to this "Outlaw & Lawman" website, and freely contributed information to the affect tht Kid Wilson's real name was NOT "Wilson", and that he died in the 1930's from tainted moonshine, I knew, immediately, to whom you were referring...Willaim "Kid Wilson" Parker, son of William Francis Parker and Mary Ann (nee Flowers) Hester.

You opened the door! I determined that you were just bursting-at-the-seems to divulge this long-held "family secret"; that is, unless your intent with this "revelation" was only meant to 'tease and taunt' Oklahombres' highly respected audience. I was quite willing and content with holding the door open for you, allowing you to tell this extraordinary story in your own way. Alas, "a nerve" was hit - - but, it wasn't mine. Evidently, when you realized that there was someone else out-there in cyberspace, who knew the big "family secret", you began to "recoil in horror", flailing around with a multitude of ridiculous and unjustified accusations toward me.

First, a correction to something that you stated in one of your earlier tirades. There IS a Hatley Family Cemetery (plot) at Lindrith, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico...north of Cuba, New Mexico, just off State Highway 595. I have been there! I have seen Shorty Brennan's (aka William Parker aka Kid Wilson) grave marker! I have a photograph of his grave! (Note: If you had trouble in the past locating this cemetery, maybe you were wandering around in the Roswell area, looking for fellow travelers!?! {Now, pay attention, slbbunny, this is an example of "sarcasm"!})

Therefor, my only recourse is to tell the story to the best of my ability and you can correct, criticize, and condemn my findings to your heart's content. At least, the story will FINALLY be told! I'm also going to repeat this story as a "new topic" on this website...under the heading of "Kid Wilson"!

William "Kid Wilson" Parker, son of William Francis Parker and Mary Ann (nee Flowers) Hestor, was born c1873 in Indiana; probably in Terra Haute since that's where his parents were married. When William was born, he already had three, older half-sisters. His father had a daughter, Belle, from a previous marriage; and, his mother had two daughters from her previous marriage to Mr. Hester. (Note: Kid Wilson's (maternal) half-sisters will play a major role in maintaining his anonymity and survival in later years.)

The William Francis Parker family soon moved to Parker County, Texas, where four more children were born: Francis (Frank) Parker, George Parker, Minnie Parker, and Ora Parker. Attempting to acquire land by homestead, the family traveled to Arizona; however, when that didn't work out, they came back east...through New Mexico...finally settling in Western Oklahoma, near Cheyenne in Roger Mills County.

William "Kid Wilson" Parker grew up as a true Westerner character...a working cowboy and ranch hand. It's unknown how he found his way to north-eastern Oklahoma, around Nowata; but, he worked on the James A. Lawrence ranch. (Note: His close association with the Lawrence family, even returing to the Nowata area in 1911 to attend the funerals of Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence, who had died of typhoid fever. At the risk of being identified, possibly loosing his own freedom, to return shows a real loyalty and deep respect for the family. There may have been an unknown family connection.)

Anyway, it was during this period -- working, socializing, and fraternizing with the other young cowhands in the area -- that he met and became close friends with Henry Starr, and some of his other wild and crazy sidekicks. Starr was born in 1873 at Fort Gibson, making him the same age as the "kid". Starr worked on several ranches, including Sherman Moore's the Mashed "O" Ranch, and J.S. Todd's Half Circle Box Ranch, and Arthur Dodge's "XU" Ranch.

Henry Starr's outlaw career is fairly well documented; and, when the time came to head-out on "the owl hoot trail", the "kid" was ready and keen for the adventure. It is believed that Kid Wilson's first action, as a member of the gang, was robbing the train at Pryor Creek in April of 1893. (Note: William Parker chose the name "Kid Wilson" to protect his family from being connected to this action.)

Henry Starr and Kid Wilson were arrested in July of 1893 at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and returned to Ft. Smith to stand trial. When Kid Wilson refused to divulge his real name, or volunteer any other name for the record, the lawmen and the Courts tagged him as "John" Wilson, much like a "John Doe" warrant of today. Kid Wilson was convicted of robbery and sentenced to 24 years in the Federal Prison in Brooklyn (Kings Co.), New York.

Henry Starr was convicted of robbery, and the murder of Floyd Wilson (lawman). Starr spent the next nine (9) years and seven (7) months in the Ft. Smith Jail (Jul.1893-Jan.1898), and the Federal Prison at Columbus, Ohio (Jan.1898-Jan.1903). He was pardoned by President Roosevelt. During this period of freedom (1903-1909), he was re-united with Kid Wilso, who had been released in 1908. They picked-up where they had left-off...robbing banks. They robbed several banks in Oklahoma before hitting the bank at Tyro, Kansas, and Amity, Colorado.

At this point, Kid Wilson disappears...never to be seen, or heard from again...anyway...as far as law enforcement was concerned, he had "dropped off the edge of the earth". Actually, he had merely changed his name to Shorty Brennan and settled down in northern New Mexico, near the ranch-homes of his half-sisters, Mrs. Walter Howard and Mrs. Wayne Hatley.

In 1914, William Parker (aka Shorty Brennan aka Kid Wilson) rode into Cheyenne, Oklahoma, on his horse "Chief", to attend his mother's funeral.

(Note: I have a photograph of William with his four (4) siblings at this event. In the photo are Frank Parker, George Parker, Minnie (Parker) Sneed, and Ora (Parker) Koontz. Ora Koontz was the wife of David Allen "Dave" Koontz, who robbed the Cotton Exchange Bank at Crawford, Oklahoma, with his brother Charley Koontz, in 1910. {See; "The Crawford Bank Robbery" by Ken Butler (in The Roger Mills Journal, Jan-Mar. 1998 pp.16-18). Also, Charley Koontz was the ring-leader in the first prison break (in 1914) at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester, Oklahoma. {See; "More Oklahoma Renegades" by Ken Butler (Chap. 15 pp.187-193)}. )

slbbunny - - I noticed in your Oklahombres "profile" that you were also interested in information about the KOONTZ family. How many "generations" of information do you want????

More later!

Didnt mean to ruffle any feathers. While not a highly active member I enjoy reading the history and stories of those who devote a great deal of time to it. Just hate to see someone barge in and trample on other's research in such an abrupt manner. I will try to mind my own business.

Oldwest, I would like to learn more about outlaw activity in and around Roger Mills county. I own land near Durham and we go through Crawford frequently. My grandfather had a general store in Durham in the 20's.

oldwest, thank you for posting the information you have about Kid Wilson!
I surely appreciate it!

Hi,

I thought I would look up what information was posted concerning the location of Shorty Brennan's burial site, with regards to what has already been discuss in previous pages. First, I found no listing of a cemetery named "Hatley Cemetery" or "Hatley Family Cemetery" on the internet in or near Cuba, New Mexico. However there is a Lindrith Cemetery near the small community of Lindrith, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, it is located right off of HWY 595. There are seven Hatley's buried in this cemetery. Maybe the locals also call it the Hatley Cemetery, or that was its original name. Anyway, it seemed like the right one to try to find a Brennan in. There was a burial with no birth or death date on the stone for a Brennon, not Brennan. Maybe the name on the stone is inncorrect, I don't know. This maybe the Shorty Brennan (Brennon) listed as "Kid Wilson." I would like to see some documentation; a death certificate or obituary may help in this matter. Anyway, I just thought I would add what I found with what was mentioned as "Kid Wilson's" burial place.

Your right Dee, the purpose of this forum is to share information...Sadly there will always be those who would rather keep their research close to their vest for whatever reasons..But, one cannot preserve history if it doesn't see the light of day..The late Ken Butler stands as an example to us all. He learned much thu conducting a lifetime of exhausting research and gladly shared with anyone...All you had to do was ask...Ron

FROM THE WEBMASTER:

It has become necessary for me to remove some of the posts from this topic and to suspend the accounts of some forum members. I will not tolerate improper behavior on this website.

If another user has posted information that you do not agree with, and you choose to respond to that post, then do it in a polite, proper way. Attacks against users of this web site are not acceptable.

The people of Oklahombres who answer questions here are VOLUNTEERS who are entitled to be treated politely. I will see to it that any user who behaves otherwise will be suspended.

I hope this is the last time I have to make this annoucement.

Oldwest, William Francis Parker was my great, great grandfather. Marion Francis (Frank) was my great grandfather.

Your post stated that you have a photo of the boys at their mother’s funeral. Have you posted that photo online somewhere I could get a copy?

If you have any other info on the Parkers, I would appreciate whatever you are willing to share. My brother had previously done some investigation into our ancestry and I am taking up the cause.

Sorry to bother you and thanks in advance for any response.

Chris,

As soon as I sober-up, or get out of the hoosegow, whichever comes first after the first of the year, I'll send you a copy of the photo. "Good-Luck" with your research!

Great! Thank you sir! I will need a lot of luck as I may be in over my head already. You have a great 2012!

(Source: New York Times - April 5, 1901)

CLEMENCY FOR TRAIN ROBBER

President McKinley Reduces "Kid" Wilson's Sentence - - Used Toy Pistol to Frighten Passangers.

John Wilson, alias "Kid" Wilson, who is serving a sentence for train robbery in the West in the Kings County (NY) Penitentiary, learned yesterday that President McKinley had reduced his term from twenty-four years to ten years.

Wilson, who is about twenty-five years old, was sentenced by a United States Judge sitting in the Western District of Arkansas, on Nov. 21, 1893. Deputy Commissioner of Public Buildings, Lighting and Supplies James J. Kirwin of Brooklyn, took an interest in the young prisoner when he was Deputy Commissioner of Corrections. He believed that the man had been harshly dealt with, and after communicating with the Federal authorities in Arkansas, got Congressman Edmund Driggs of Brooklyn to intercede with President McKinley in Wilson's behalf.

"I am convinced," said Mr. Kirwin yesterday, "that Wilson deserves this executive clemency. He was really only a tool of older heads. The ringleader of the affair (ie. Henry Starr) was sentenced to only fifteen years' imprisonment, while this boy, whose part in the crime was of a secondary character, at least, received a twenty-four-year sentence. He has been a model prisoner, and I firmly believe he is sincere in his promise to lead a better life when he regains his liberty."

"He told me, and the statement is substantiated by the testimony given at the trial, that in the train robbery (at Pryor Creek, I.T.) he used a toy pistol, made of glass. It was at night, and the passangers were EASILY FOOLED."

(As are some Commissioners of Corrections, Congressmen, and Presidents, as well --Editorial comment).

Looking for some help relative to research I am doing regarding a Colt SAA .41 cal Bisley revolver that I acquired in 2010 that is reputed to have been owned by Henry Starr and given to one of his gang members sometime after 1907 (date of revolver manufacture). Supposedly this gang member killed a man in a poker game in Sapulpa, OK and following the trial the court recorder obtained the gun. The revolver remained in the family for over 9 decades. Inscribed inside the grips are several sets of initials: "HS", "WC", and "JDB". Thanks in advance for any help.