Bullets, Badges, and Bridles

Since the introduction of the horse to early American society, horse theft has been a lucrative crime. This fascinating exposition details the history of organized horse-thief gangs and several of the most notorious criminals from the colonial era through World War II. Equally riveting is the development of groups dedicated to preventing horse theft, the most famous of which was the Anti-Horse Thief Association. Tricks of the horse-theft trade are explored. Stolen horses were disguised with various methods. Barns from which they were stolen were burned. Author John K. Burchill also details the characteristics of an ideal hideout and criminal relay stations, which allowed horse thieves to quickly move stolen stock across state lines. The natural evolution of anti-horse theft societies began with small vigilante groups, but soon had the strength of the law behind them. These groups propelled lawmen to levels of power and fame that rivaled the most well-known horse thieves themselves. Burchill brings years of research to this gripping investigation of these two diverse social groups.