Lanterna Rally

Author: Charles Leland Sonnichsen

Publisher:

Published: 1984

Total Pages: 214

ISBN-13:

"C. L. Sonnichsen's "grass-roots" history here pays off in one of the most interesting contributions ever made to the story of frontier life. The author had treated the Mitchell-Truit feud in his "Ten Texas feuds" but found this story particularly interesting. For years he continued his investigations through dozens and dozens of personal interviews so that he could piece the story together in full and in detail. The result is a book about how it was to be that relatively common person of the American West - the outlaw, hiding for years under alias but trying to live a family life. The feud which developed between the friendly Mitchell and Truit families suddenly erupted into violence and killing on a road in Mitchell's Bend. Then followed trials, the death of a teen-age boy, and the hanging of Cooney Mitchell - and the avenging murder of James Truit by Bill Mitchell. For thirty years after the murder, Bill Mitchell, alias Baldy Russell, lived the life of an outlaw in Texas and New Mexico. He married, reared a family, had friends but few neighbors, constantly prepared for the time he knew would come. When it came, his capture was swift and ingenious. Then came years of trials, jails, prison and "escape," a continuing running from the law until his death. In putting down this one full account of an outlaw, C. L. Sonnichsen has achieved an outstanding contribution to Americana. The book is enriched by many pictures from private sources."