Barber turned outlaw; why not at the turn of the 20th century? America was in upheaval. The industrial revolution was erasing the farming and ranching heritage of the Great Lakes and Great Plains, the railroad was rapidly bringing the arid west into the national conversation, and the “End of the Frontier” was a melancholy statement to the future in the technologically advancing 20h century.
Outlaws either love or hate their nicknames. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids, along with Billy the Kid, top the list for popular monikers among the outlaws of the Old West. A few tried to get their names immortalized like “Persimmons Bill” and “Black Jack Slade,” but didn’t get quite the notoriety.
One outlaw from Fremont County was lost in the cobwebs of history, but comes to us as “Razor Dick.”
Richard Bronson was a barber in Lander in the 1890s, his ability with a straight razor, shaving the businessmen of the growing little community and cleaning up the cowboys and freighters on a Saturday afternoon for a night out on the town gave him his nickname.
A barber who didn’t nick you when shaving with a straight razor was in high demand. In the era before antibiotics, even a small nick could prove fatal. “Razor Dick” lived up to his reputation. He worked in the Fremont Hotel at Painter’s Barber Shop, a shop that eventually gained fame as Trimmers Barber Shop a few years later with the addition of more chairs, showers and baths.
His prowess as a barber was only surpassed by his skill with his hands as a boxer. Razor Bill was quick with a deadly one-two combination and a left hook that sent many “tough” cowboys to the canvas at impromptu smokers on Friday and Saturday nights in the Fremont County seat.
He was a popular young man, in many ways the pride of Fremont County.
Wind River Mountaineer – February 12, 1896
“Richard Brownson, familiarly known as “Razor Dick,” has turned his attention to scientific boxing. We knew that Dick was a pretty good fist and skill scrapper, but didn’t know that he laid any claim to science in the manly art.
We are in receipt of a flaming poster from Casper which reads as follows: “There will be a ten round glove contest, with regulation gloves, for points, between Richard Brownson of Lander, and Elmer Weikert of Buffalo, for a purse and gate receipts, on Monday, Feb. 17, 1896, at the town hall in Casper. Come early and secure a good seat. Performance begins at 8:30. Admission $1.00.”
Here’s to you, Dick, and may you knock your opponent into the middle of next week.”
There is no record of how Dick Bronson (the Brownson was a misspelling) did in that fight with Elmer Weikert, but his infamy returned to Lander six years later when he was on the other side of the law.
Bronson left Lander to parts unknown for a while, but reappeared near Medora, North Dakota in 1902. He and a partner stole a herd of horses from the Little Missouri Horse Company valued at $1500, about $60,000 today. They took the herd south through the Badlands of South Dakota toward the Hole-in-the-Wall near Kaycee.
They split up and a Johnson County deputy sheriff trailed Razor Dick through Lost Cabin before capturing him at Muskrat, a place southwest of present-day Shoshoni on the east side of the Wind River. Bronson made a run for it when the deputy closed in. The deputy fired at him, missing but killing his horse. Razor Dick fell to the ground and was apprehended.
He took the prisoner to the Buck Camp on the ranch of William Madden, a state senator from Fremont County. Madden was an imposing figure at 6-6 and nearly 300 pounds. Though he was already 41 years old, not many people wanted to tangle with the senator.
The deputy restrained Bronson and settled in for the night. At around 8 am, the deputy left Razor Dick unattended for a few minutes. In quick order he worked the ropes around his hands and feet loose. Quietly he sneaked into the house, grabbing the senator’s 30-30 Winchester rifle and a box of ammunition, then walked to the barn, saddled Mrs. Madden’s horse, led it away from the ranch, mounted up and headed north.
Madden was furious, he immediately offered a $100 reward for Bronson’s capture.
WIND RIVER MOUNTAINEER – August 3, 1902
HORSE THIEF ESCAPES
Razor Dick Bronson Rides to Liberty on Stolen Horse and Saddle.
“Monday night Sheriff Stough received a message from Senator Madden that a horse thief named Dick Bronson, or Razor Dick, had escaped from a Johnson County deputy sheriff at his place, taking Mrs. Madden’s saddle horse, saddle and bridle, and a .30-30 Winchester rifle belonging to the senator. Mr. Madden offered $100 reward for the man’s capture and had started out searching parties to find the trail. Thus far no trace has been found of the outlaw, but it is supposed he either went north or south.
He is well known to many citizens of Lander, having resided here about seven years ago and worked at his trade as a barber. He was known as a gun and knife man, willing to fight at any time, and a man of nerve. He was a good dresser and made a genteel appearance.
Sheriff Stough has sent out cards to all parts of the country describing Bronson, alias Hale, or Razor Dick, and it is thought the reward of $1500 may lead to his capture, although in the opinion of many it will not be an easy one.”
The prediction was correct. It wasn’t easy to catch Razor Dick. He rode north through Lost Cabin to DeRanch, a place friendly to outlaws with many of the residents having good connections with Elzy Lay, Butch Cassidy, Harry Longabaugh and Tom O’Day. Fremont County and Johnson County deputies looked for clues, questioned the locals and came up empty. The boys at DeRanch didn’t talk much to law enforcement.
As the chase continued local newspapers had a little fun at the expense of Fremont County Sheriff Charlie Stough.
Lander Clipper – August 22, 1902
“Razor Dick” Bronson is lost. Anyone finding him will please turn him over to The Clipper people who will in turn hand him over to Sheriff Stough and get that $1,200 reward. We haven’t time to look for him ourselves.”
Stough was a good humored man, but he didn’t appreciate the Clipper’s little joke.
Like many of the outlaws of the late 19th and early 20th century, Richard Bronson was an enigma. He dressed well, almost like a “dandy” the term used by westerners to describe eastern dudes coming out west in fancy clothes. He was well mannered, polite and a gentleman in regular societal circles, but he had a darker side. He was an outstanding boxer, a man who could take down someone much larger than himself with just a few quick punches.
His skill as a barber extended to his skill with a knife. He was a dangerous man if angered, cornered or jumped. Approaching with caution was the rule, even for seasoned sheriff’s deputies.
As the summer went on, Madden increased his reward to $200 and the Little Missouri Horse Company posted a bounty of an additional $1000. Razor Dick was a wanted man with sizeable price on his head.
In late summer, Bronson decided to head north toward Montana. He crossed Copper Mountain at Birdseye Pass, descending down to the little settlement of Thermopolis and rode along the Big Horn River north into Big Horn County.
Newspapers across Wyoming kept the story of Razor Dick alive.
Cheyenne Daily Leader August 21, 1902
CRIMINAL ESCAPES
“Word was received at Lander yesterday that the notorious horse thief known as Razor Dick, who was arrested last Sunday near Lost Cabin by a deputy sheriff of Johnson County, had escaped from custody and had stolen a horse, saddle and bridle and a Winchester from Senator Madden and left for parts unknown. There is a reward of $1,000 offered by the Little Missouri Horse company of North Dakota for his capture and an additional $200 by Senator Madden of Fremont County.
William Bronsen, or Razor Dick, is well known in Fremont County, having lived here some six or seven years ago. Several deputies are on his trail, and it is only a question of a short time when he will be captured.”
A few days later, Razor Dick’s escapade came to an end. He was captured by Big Horn County deputies near Greybull while camped out on the Big Horn River.
Cheyenne Daily Leader – August 25, 1902
Outlaw Captured
“A dispatch from Sheridan states that Razor Dick, William Bonson, has been captured near Greybull. He is the famous horse thief for which a reward of $1,000 has been standing for some time.”
It wasn’t clear if the deputies shared the $1200 reward.
Richard “Razor Dick” Bronson was shackled and extradited to North Dakota where he served time in the North Dakota Penitentiary before disappearing from public.