The year of Laura Bullion’s birth in Knickerbocker, Texas is unknown. She gave several dates ranging from 1873 to 1887 during her lifetime, and researchers have been unable to pin down the exact date.
Knickerbocker, Texas was a haven for outlaws at the time, and her parents, Henry Bullion and Freda Byler, were known criminals. Laura was raised by her maternal grandparents, possibly is an attempt to keep her out of trouble, but that didn’t work out. She met many outlaws through her parents, including train robber Will Carver, who was married to her aunt, and her future lover Ben Kilpatrick, both of whom became members of the Wild Bunch.
Laura eventually ran away to San Antonio, where she found work in a saloon and used the name Della Rose. It was while working at this establishment, frequented by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, that she reestablished relationships with William Carver, who was now a widower, and the Ben Kilpatrick.
When Kilpatrick joined the Wild Bunch in 1898, Laura went with him, becoming a working member of the gang. Laura helped in several train robberies, dressed as a man or boy. After the robberies, she helped fence the stolen items and help resupply the camp. No one suspected that the “young man” who’d taken part in the robbery was also the woman purchasing supplies and horses. Eventually the members of the Wild Bunch gave her a new moniker–the Thorny Rose of the Wild Bunch. She was truly one of the gang.
After a train robbery in Montana in 1901 (in which Laura was possibly disguised as a boy), she and Kilpatrick fled east. In November of that year, Pinkerton agents caught up to them. They arrested Kilpatrick, who refused to talk, so they went to his hotel room, where they found Laura heading out the door with a suitcase full of banknotes easily traceable to the train robbery. She and Kilpatrick were arrested and tried separately. Kilpatrick got 15 years in prison; Laura got 5. She was released after serving 3 1/2 years in 1905. Kilpatrick kept in contact with Laura by letter, and was released from prison in 1911. He was arrested shortly thereafter and extradited to Texas to face murder charges. The charges were dropped, but he was killed in a train robbery a year later.
Laura disappeared after her release from prison, but resurfaced in Memphis, Tennessee in 1918. She worked as a seamstress and drapery maker. In the 1940s she became an interior designer. Laura Bullion died in 1961 of heart disease. She was the last surviving member of the Wild Bunch–and just think of how many people she sewed for who had no idea that she once robbed trains for a living!
Jeannie Watt raises cattle in Montana and loves all things western. When she's not writing, Jeannie enjoys sewing, making mosaic mirrors, riding her horses and buying hay. Lots and lots of hay.
Fascinating woman outlaw.
I agree, Denise. It takes guts to live the way she did.
Hey Jeannie! Interesting story! Thanks for the history lesson!
You’re welcome, Tracy.
That was really interesting, thank you.
You’re welcome, Naomi.
Outlaw turned seamstress – that’s not something you hear every day. Thanks for a fascinating glimpse into history, Jeannie. 🙂
I thought it was an interesting career segue myself. 🙂
Wow , you learn new things all the time.
And isn’t it fun!
Thank you for this history lesson on the Wild Bunch. It always contains new information on someone like Laura/Freda. Yes, I have heard before of women involved in such acts. She never gave up, just kept plowing forward.
As strong woman had to do back then.
Wow!! What a life! One I wouldn’t have wanted, though.
I agree, Trudy. Too dangerous for me.
That was really interesting. I know I would never have the guts to try and live a life like that. Thank you for sharing.
I’m with you, Barbara–fun to read about, not so fun to live.
Wow, a historical nugget for sure! This is really interesting. I never heard of her before. Thanks for digging up her story, Jeannie. I loved it.
I couldn’t believe I’d never heard of her, Linda. It was fun to dig into her story.
Fabulous job, and what a wonderful photo of the gang–handsome men, all! And with those cheekbones, I am sure Laura, as a woman, was a stunner! I am sure a novelist could spend a career just using that group for inspiration.
What a great idea, Elissa! This would be a fascinating writing project.
Very interesting story! What a life she lived! The life of an outlaw, though terribly wrong, is fascinating to me. I enjoy reading stories about them. Many of them were very skilled with guns, tracking, horse riding, etc, but it’s just sad that they turned those skills into a life of crime.
That’s so true, Lori. Imagine if criminals were able to use their skills in a different way!
Wow, this is so very interesting!! Thank you so much for sharing this great piece of history, I had no idea! Have a Great day and a great rest of the week.
Thank you, Alicia!
Thank you for sharing this piece of history with us.
You’re very welcome!
Interesting story, and I guess she had to do something to get by.
Right you are! Times were hard back then.
Very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing.
You’re very welcome, Debbie!
Interesting post. I think the most surprising thing was how far into our time she lived. One doesn’t think of Wild West train robbers living and working a normal life as a seamstress well into the second half of the 20th century.
I so agree, Patricia! When I saw that she lived until the 1960s I double checked the date.
I love to learn little tidbits of history. Thank you!
You’re welcome, David. It was fun researching this.