Offered here is a gold deputy sheriff badge owned by H.D. “Harry” Lewis of the Las Animas County Sheriff’s office located in the county seat of Trinidad, Colorado. The front of the badge features “DEPUTY SHERIFF” filled in with black enamel. The back of the badge is inscribed, “H.D. Lewis Trinidad.” Deputy Lewis was the arresting officer of notorious outlaw Tom “Black Jack” Ketchum. Perhaps no other western outlaws have captured the American imagination more than those who made up the Hole-in-the-Wall gang. Active from the 1880s-1890s, the Hole-in-the-Wall gang was made up of a loosely knit coalition of gangs that took their name from the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass in Johnson County, Wyoming, where they made their hideouts. Infamous members included Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch Gang, Camilla “Deaf Charlie” Hanks, Bob Meeks, Bob Smith, Al Smith, Bob Taylor, Tom O’Day, “Laughing” Sam Carey, and Tom “Black Jack” Ketchum. These were the “who’s who” of the late 19th century American West outlaws. Even Jesse James purportedly spent time in a Hole-in-the-Wall hideout. Sheriff deputies from Trinidad first pursued “Black Jack” after he killed a man in the nearby town of Sopris. A heavy rainstorm hindered the pursuit and “Black Jack” escaped. In July 1899, Harry Lewis joined other deputies in a posse searching for “Black Jack” and his gang members. The posse was involved in a number of gun battles. “Black Jack’s” bother, Sam, was wounded, captured and eventually died from his wounds. Unaware of the fate of his brother, “Black Jack” attempted a solo train robbery on August 16, 1899. The attempt ended in utter failure. “Black Jack” was severely wounded, captured, and taken to a hospital in Trinidad. It is believed that Lewis and a second deputy, George Titsworth, were the only guards keeping watch of “Black Jack” as he laid in the hospital. Both deputies were listed as present when “Black Jack’s” badly wounded right arm was amputated. Once nursed back to health, “Black Jack” was sent to New Mexico to stand trial where he was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. It is likely that Lewis was one of the guards that transported “Black Jack” out of state. Lewis is recorded as being present at the botched execution that left the outlaw decapitated. The macabre postcard showing the image of “Black Jack’s” headless body quickly circulated. The full story to the rise and fall of “Black Jack” is retold in B.D. Titsworth’s, the son of Lewis’ companion Deputy George Titsworth, article “Hole-in-the Wall Gang” published in the included 1978 issue of The Best of True West. This article was originally written in 1956. Letters related to when this badge was purchased from William W. Dalrymple in 1983 are also included. Provenance: The Robert B. “Bob” Berryman Estate Collection

Exceptionally fine, even wear with most of the black enamel remaining.