Butch Cassidy was a notorious railroad and bank robber who terrorized the American Wild West in the late 19th century. He led an outlaw gang known as ‘The Wild Bunch.’ Butch, who was born and raised in Utah, always coveted a comfortable lifestyle that his lower-middle-class family could not provide. He began with minor offenses such as shoplifting clothing. In 1889, he successfully committed his first bank robbery. Gradually, he began associating with more criminals and eventually joined a gang. Over the next two decades, he committed several felonies. Harry Longabaugh, also known as the “Sundance Kid,” and Etta Place, Harry’s fiancée, were his most well-known associates. In the early 20th century, the American government hit heavily on them and the trio fled to South America. After some time in Argentina, they moved to Bolivia, where they were allegedly slain in a shootout with police. Throughout the years, their exploits have been heavily dramatized in television shows and films. The Western film ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ that tells Butch’s story is a cult classic.
Youth and Early Life
Butch Cassidy was born Robert Leroy Parker in Beaver, Utah, on April 13, 1866. He was the firstborn child of Maximillian Parker and Ann Campbell Gillies, English immigrants. His parents had an additional 12 offspring after Butch’s birth. After the birth of so many children, the impoverished family found it difficult to sustain itself in the rapidly changing economic climate of the country. The family possessed a ranch in Utah and engaged in farming to support themselves. Since childhood, Butch had aspired to be wealthy. He decided to earn a livelihood while still a teenager, forgoing his education. He fled his home at 13 years old.
He began working on a dairy farm and developed a close relationship with the farm’s proprietor, Mike Cassidy, a cowboy and cattle rustler. Butch developed an intense affection for Mike and adopted his surname. Mike was a criminal and a member of an organization that specialized in extortion and cattle theft. Butch viewed him as a father figure and source of inspiration. After working at numerous dairies, he relocated to Wyoming and became a rancher. He also worked as a butcher for some time, earning him the nickname “Butch.” He loathed his biological family and requested that everyone call him “Butch Cassidy.”
Early Offenses Of Butch
At the beginning of his teenage years, Butch Cassidy was an engaging young man. His first offense was theft from a clothing store. He had relocated to another city to work in a clothing store. When he discovered that the store was closed, he smashed the lock and stole a pair of trousers and a pie. He left a note stating he would repay upon his return. Charges were brought against him, but he was found not guilty.
Up until the age of 18, he continued to labor on ranches. In 1884, he relocated to Colorado. He desired steady employment but shortly began delivering stolen horses to buyers. He also moved to Wyoming and lived as a rancher for a time. However, in 1887 he returned to Colorado. Additionally, he experimented with horse racing and made a respectable profit. His aspirations were too large to be contained within the confines of horse race betting. In 1889, he committed his first bank robbery after planning something monumental.
The Unruly Gang
Colorado’s ‘San Miguel Valley Bank’ was the first target of Butch and his small band of three other ranchers. In 1889, the team seized more than $21,000 from a bank, an enormous sum at the time. Having stolen a large sum of money, Butch believed he could purchase his own ranch and live a luxurious existence. He purchased a Wyoming ranch and began his enterprises there. Initially, it appeared that he desired an uncomplicated existence. However, his ranch existence hid his criminal activities.
He encountered and fell in love with the notorious outlaw Ann Bassett in 1894. Additionally, he began associating with her outlaw father. They specialized in equine theft and related offenses. That same year, the authorities observed and arrested Butch. He was given a two-year prison sentence for bank larceny and several other offenses.
He was incarcerated at the ‘Wyoming State Prison,’ where he gained the staff’s affection. He appeared to be a delightful and cheerful individual. Due to his excellent behavior, he served only 18 months of his 24-month sentence. Butch was pardoned by Governor William Alford Richards and returned to his ranch.
Butch contacted numerous other outlaws upon his release from prison, as he knew that a larger gang would decrease his possibility of being apprehended. Respect among the outlaws was a byproduct of group leadership. In 1896, he invited numerous outlaws from western states and established ‘The Wild Bunch’. Butch embarked on a succession of train and bank robberies with criminal partners such as Harry Longabaugh, William Ellsworth Lay, Ben Kilpatrick, and Harvey Logan and became a national hero.
Typically, he would target banks in Idaho and organize robberies in Wyoming, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Nevada. Newspapers capitalized on their popularity by writing articles about their exploits, often embellishing them slightly. In the early 20th century, individuals anxiously anticipated their next “adventure.” With every theft, their confidence grew. One of their most notable robberies consisted of stealing $70,000 from a train in New Mexico. He was charismatic, and the authorities offered him amnesty if he gave up his thievery. However, Butch declined.
Final decades Of Butch
The authorities decided to pursue ‘The Wild Bunch’ after taking the insult to heart. On them were placed bounties. In addition, the ‘Pinkerton National Detective Agency’ was employed. This caused the dissolution of the group. Butch, Harry, and Etta, who was Harry’s fiancée, fled to South America.
Little is known about their post-escape existence. According to some accounts, the trio proceeded to rob banks and trains, while others claim they gave up robbery. On November 6, 1908, the American government announced that Butch and his allies had been slain in a police encounter in Bolivia. There was no evidence to support the claims. Some historians believe Butch returned to the United States, altered his appearance, and adopted the alias “William T. Phillips.”
In American media, Butch Cassidy possesses the reputation of an anti-hero. He has been praised in numerous novels, plays, television series, and motion pictures. The ‘Oscar-winning 1969 western ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ told Butch’s tale.
Estimated Net Worth
Butch is among the wealthiest criminals in the United States. Based on our investigation of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider, Butch Cassidy has a net worth of $5 million.