The Horse Thief of 1878
A horse thief who for a time was active in the southern and western parts of Colorado. They were killed in 1878 when they were shot by a vigilance committee near Helena, Lake County.[1] Upon their death, it was discovered that they were assigned female at birth while presenting as a man. [2]
It was afterward found that the one who was killed outright was a woman. She was dressed in male attire and when they were discovered by the pursuing party was the first to fire upon them; and also manifested the most courage.
Key Dates
- July, 1878 - A group of horse thieves who had been active in the southern and western parts of the state are intercepted by vigilantes. One of the horse thieves is killed by gunfire, and it is revealed that they were assigned female at birth, and dressed in male attire.
Questions
References
I believe this is near Leadville, so out west from Colorado Springs. Still determining, as the county lines were shifting at that time. Can find Lake County, not Helena. ↩︎
Perhaps using they pronouns is anachronistic here. Need to look into best practices. ↩︎
Colorado Springs Gazette. “HORSE THIEVES KILLED.” July 20, 1878. Colorado Historic Newspapers. https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=CSG18780720.2.43. ↩︎