Books by R. Michael Wilson

True stories of the the Cowboy State's most infamous crooks, culprits, and cutthroats.

California was the mining center of the West for half a century. Wherever precious minerals were found, road agents appeared to "mine the roads" of treasure being shipped out and payrolls being shipped in. The first recorded robbery of a stagecoach occurred in 1856, and the last in 1913. Over that period there were 458 stagecoach robberies, many with special characteristics such as a claim the robbers were Confederate soldiers, a murder, a gun battle, or a thrilling pursuit and capture. Surprisingly, there were many robberies in which the perpetrator remained unknown or in which was so little stolen the robber was not even sought out. This book gives all the details of those robberies taken from the contemporary newspapers and from a variety of other sources.

More Frontier Justice in the Wild West; Bungled, Bizarre and Fascinating Executions reveals the details of more than two dozen instances of frontier justice from the era of the Wild West. The events chosen are unique, have some surprising twist, serve as a landmark or benchmark event, or just stand out in the annals of western justice.

Showcases 18 of the controversial, and unusual punishments and executions from an era when hangings and death by firing squad were a regular occurrence. This book features chapters which deal with: the hanging of Tom Ketchum - who was beheaded by the noose; "Big Nose" George Parrott - who was skinned; and, double trials of Jack McCall.