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Article: OUTLAW
- Article from:
- Young Students Learning Library
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From about 1845 to 1885--the height of the period known as the Old
West--thousands of people moved west to claim land the government
was giving away. They established towns, farms, and ranches very quickly.
The only law officers were sheriffs and marshals, and even they were
scarce. During these years, some persons called outlaws--gunmen, or
bandits--took advantage of the unsettled conditions.
Two brothers named Frank and Jesse James organized a gang of outlaws
in 1866. They roamed the West for 16 years, robbing banks and trains
and murdering innocent people. If there were witnesses they were usually
threatened so that they were too scared to give evidence against the ...