Gentleman bandit the true story of Black Bart, the Old West's most infamous stagecoach robber True story of Black Bart, the Old West's most infamous stagecoach robber Boessenecker, John 1953- creator author. text bibliography biography Biographies. History. Biographies. History. Biographies. onc 2023 2023 monographic eng print 376 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm "Black Bart is widely regarded today as not only the most notorious stage robber of the Old West but also the best behaved. Over his lifetime, Black Bart held up at least twenty-nine stagecoaches in California and Oregon with mild, polite commands, stealing from Wells Fargo and the US mail but never robbing a passenger. Such behavior earned him the title of a true 'gentleman bandit.' His real name was Charles E. Boles, and in the public eye, Charles lived quietly as a boulevardier in San Francisco, the wealthiest and most exciting city in the American West. Boles was an educated man who traveled among respectable crowds. Because he did not drink, fight or consort with prostitutes, his true calling as America's greatest stage robber was never suspected until his final capture in 1883. Sheriffs searched and struggled for years to find him, and newspaper editors had a field day reporting his exploits. Legends and rumors trailed his name until his mysterious death, and his ultimate fate remains one of the greatest mysteries of the Old West. Now historian John Boessenecker sheds new light on Black Bart's beginnings, reputation and exploits, bringing to life the glittering story of the mysterious stage robber who doubled as a rich, genteel socialite in the golden era of the Wild West"-- You fine-haired sons of bitches -- The gold hunter -- The rifleman -- The charge of the light brigade -- Wounds of war -- I have had a rough life of it -- The poet highwayman -- Wells Fargo detective -- The gentleman bandit -- The chances I have to take -- Buckshot for Black Bart -- Throw down the box -- Fiasco at Funk Hill -- Black Bart throws up the sponge -- That telltale handkerchief -- A war of words -- San Quentin sojourn -- I have abandoned crime of every kind -- Black Bart rides again -- Myth and mystery. John Boessenecker. Includes bibliographical references (pages 331-360) and index. n-us-ca Black Bart 1829- Brigands and robbers California Biography Outlaws California Biography Stagecoach robberies Frontier and pioneer life California California History 1850-1950 Black Bart 1829- Brigands and robbers Frontier and pioneer life Outlaws Stagecoach robberies California 1850-1950 fast F866.B59 B67 2023 979.4/04092 B 9781335449429 1335449426 pda,print NjBwBT 230303 20250318220553.4 in00004749507 eng