Oklahoma Renegades

In the Twin Territories, as Oklahoma was

known before statehood, renegades roamed, and attempted to rule, the land.

Famous lawmen, including Bill Tilghman, Heck Thomas, and Chris Madsen, and

infamous outlaws, including the Dalton and Bill Cook gangs, have been the

topics of many books, documentaries, and magazine articles. Other, lesser-known

characters from Oklahoma's past have received little, if any attention . . .

until now.

Now, the story of Bert Casey and his gang can be told. Casey was the

fiercely violent leader of a band of outlaws that terrorized the people of

Oklahoma. While not as well known or as organized as the larger groups of

villains, the Casey gang and its exploits captured the attention of the

citizens of Oklahoma, and of the law, for many years. Others mentioned include

doctor-turned-deputy Zeno Beemblossom and the flamboyant, volatile defense

attorney Moman Pruiett. Train robberies, murders, showdowns, and hangings were

part of everyday life in the Twin Territories, and they are all featured in

Oklahoma Renegades: Their Deeds and Misdeeds .

What began as research for a short article for author Ken Butler quickly

turned into five years of work, resulting in his first book. Ken Butler is a

lifetime member of the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History and a

charter member of the Association for the Preservation of Lawman and Outlaw

History of Oklahoma (Oklahombres).