John Leslie Nagel was a notorious gunfighter and outlaw who terrorized the American frontier in the late 19th century. He was known for carrying two Dance.44-type guns, as well as a shotgun, and had a $25,000 bounty on his head. He was also said to have 34 notches on his gun, indicating the number of people he had killed. But who was John Leslie Nagel, and what made him the most dangerous man alive?
Early Life and Crimes
Not much is known about the early life of John Leslie Nagel. He was born around 1840, possibly in Texas or Missouri. He may have served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, but there is no conclusive evidence of his military service. He first appeared in the records of the law in 1868, when he was arrested for horse theft in Kansas. He escaped from jail and fled to New Mexico, where he joined a gang of outlaws led by John Kinney.
Nagel and his gang robbed stagecoaches, trains, banks, and ranches across New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. They also clashed with the law, rival gangs, and Native Americans. Nagel earned a reputation as a ruthless and fearless gunman, who never hesitated to shoot anyone who crossed his path. He was also known for his cunning and charisma, which helped him evade capture and recruit followers.
Encounter with Jim Hardie
One of the most famous incidents involving John Leslie Nagel occurred in 1877, when he met Jim Hardie, a Wells Fargo agent and former Texas Ranger. Hardie was on a mission to capture the Manning brothers, a gang of robbers who had been targeting Wells Fargo shipments. Hardie came across Nagel, who was stranded in the desert with a broken wagon. Hardie offered to help Nagel, unaware of his identity and bounty. Nagel accepted Hardie’s help, but was suspicious of his motives.
The two men traveled together for a while, until they reached a town where Nagel recognized a wanted poster of himself. He realized that Hardie was a lawman, and decided to kill him. However, before he could do so, they were attacked by the Manning brothers, who mistook Nagel for Hardie’s partner. Nagel and Hardie fought off the attackers, and Nagel saved Hardie’s life by shooting one of the robbers who was about to kill him.
Nagel then revealed his true identity to Hardie, and told him that he owed him a favor for saving his life. He asked Hardie to let him go, and promised not to harm him or Wells Fargo. Hardie agreed, and Nagel rode away. Hardie later said that he regretted his decision, but he felt that he had to honor his word. He also said that he saw a different side of Nagel, and that he was not as bad as he seemed.
Death and Legacy
The fate of John Leslie Nagel is unknown. Some sources say that he was killed by a posse in 1878, while others say that he disappeared and lived under an alias until his death in 1910. He was never captured or brought to justice. He remains one of the most elusive and mysterious figures of the Old West, and one of the most feared and respected gunfighters of all time.
According to Wikipedia[^1^][1], John Leslie Nagel was a fictional character, created for the TV series Tales of Wells Fargo[^2^][3] [^3^][4]. He was portrayed by Claude Akins, and appeared in the episode “The Most Dangerous Man Alive” in 1959. The episode was based on a short story by Frank Gruber, and was inspired by the real-life exploits of various outlaws and lawmen of the Old West. However, there is no historical evidence of the existence of John Leslie Nagel, or his encounter with Jim Hardie.