Burt Alvord was a lawman who turned outlaw in the Wild West. He began his career as a deputy under Cochise County Sheriff John Slaughter in 1886 and would eventually become a notorious train robber at the beginning of the 20th century.
Early Life
Burt Alvord was born in Plumas County, California, to Charles E. Alvord and his wife Lucy on September 11, 1867.
Burt's father was a native New Yorker who worked as a prospector and as a mechanic for mining companies and would eventually have a political career and serve in public offices such as constable and justice of the peace.
Due to his dad's occupation, Burt moved often, and the family did not settle until 1879, when they made a home in Pima County, Arizona, and eventually moved to Tombstone.
He did not have public education but learned much from his father and spent much time working at the O.K. Corral, where he began to learn about the townspeople.
He may have witnessed the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral between the Cowboys and Wyatt Earp, but there is nothing documented.
Becoming a Lawman
Burt Alvord acquired a reputation for frequenting saloons and participating in many bar altercations. Despite that reputation, Sheriff John Slaughter recruited him to be his deputy and be the muscle behind his operations.
His lack of experience and finesse showed quickly as he made many questionable decisions. It was said about him that he was "not noble, temperate, far-seeing, or unselfish." While he did help Sheriff Slaughter apprehend many rustlers and outlaws from 1886 - 1889, his image never improved. His alcoholism continued to get worse, and he began hanging out with gamblers and known criminals.
Learning of Alvord's behavior, Sheriff Slaughter confronted him, and Alvord quit.
During the 1890s, he worked as a lawman in several towns in Arizona and married. He married Lola Ochoa and moved to Cochise County. There, he and his wife purchased a ranch and settled down. He took a position as a sheriff's deputy, and all seemed to be normal in a once chaotic life.
However, two years later, Alvord's father died, and his life began to take a turn. He suddenly resigned his post of deputy sheriff and would begin his trek into the life of an outlaw.
The Outlaw
Almost immediately after turning in his badge, Alvord left his wife and turned to crime. He formed a gang with outlaws Billy Stiles and "Three Fingered Jack" Dunlop, men he had once pursued during his career as a law officer.
Alvord's gang committed several armed robberies in Cochise County, where he and Stiles were both captured. Somehow, they managed to escape. On February 15, 1900, "Three Fingers Jack" was killed by lawman Jeff Milton during a bungled train robbery in Fairbank, Arizona.
Gang recruit Bravo Juan Yoas was wounded. Later that year, Alvord was again captured and taken to Tombstone. Billy Stiles rode to Tombstone and wounded the deputy on duty, allowing Alvord and 24 other prisoners to escape.
In 1902, Burt Alvord helped Captain Burton C. Mossman capture the notorious Mexican bandit Augustine Chacon in exchange for reward money and a reduced sentence. After Chacon's sentence was carried out, Alvord went back on his word and did not surrender to law enforcement.
Alvord and Billy Stiles instead returned to crime, now pursued by the Arizona Rangers. They were captured in December 1903 but again managed to escape.
Alvord even made a crude attempt at faking their deaths, using the bodies of two unknown Mexicans. Alvord sent the bodies to Tombstone, claiming they were himself and Stiles. However, an examination quickly showed the dead men were not the two "gringos".
The Arizona Rangers had had enough of Burt Alvord and his partners. They began the pursuit of the outlaws and captured them. Alvord spent two years in Yuma prison and was released. After his release, he told everyone he was going by ship to start fresh in Central America.
He was last seen in 1910 working as a canal employee. His last years are unknown.