Jules Beni was a Wild West famous gunslinger, outlaw, and crooked businessman. He was a corrupt manager of the Central Overland California & Pike's Peak Express Company in Old Julesburg, Colorado.
Early Life
Not much is known about Jules Beni's early years except that he was French Canadian, which suggests that he lived around Quebec.
By the time he shows up in the West, he is nearing 50 years old.
Business and Outlaw Years
When he arrived in America, he built a small trading post and saloon along the Upper Crossing of the South Platte River. Prior to building the trading post, he had established good relations with the various Indian tribes in the region and traded with them
However, he abandoned much of this practice when it became more profitable to trade with emigrants traveling the Oregon and California trails out west.
The grizzled and sullen Beni, who was in his fifties at the time, was described to be bearlike in stature, was known to have a keen mind, was described as shrewd and mean, and had a reputation of a killer. He was more often known to locals and travelers as “Old Jules” due to his age.
Jules Beni's location soon became a rendezvous point for those traveling the trails, traders, Native warriors, buffalo hunters, and outlaws, and the population exploded. It became the largest settlement between Fort Kearny, Nebraska, and Denver, Colorado.
The settlement would be named after Jules Beni and was called Julesburg.
Jones & Russell Stagecoach Line
Two years prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, Julesburg had become a significant settlement and a nice location for a possible stagecoach line.
Jones & Russell Stagecoach Line was struggling and was looking for a new vision and location. Julesburg seemed to be the perfect location to diverge two westbound lines - one to Denver, Colorado, and the other to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jules Beni was the logical choice to manage the company. However, there were already some rumors and suspicions about Beni's actions.
There had been a number of travelers that had been brutally murdered and robbed. However, the easy target was to blame the Native Americans. At first, it worked, but then reports from survivors started to tell a different story. Instead of Native Americans attacking them, they reported white men were among the natives.
Released prisoners of these raids reported that the white men and natives were sharing the profit from these raids, and the rumors continued to grow. Jules Beni's name was mention and he was heavily involved, but nothing came of it.
Jules became station manager, and the crime increased, which led many to begin to question more. The wealthiest stagecoaches were consistently hit, and the station's property also began to disappear i.e. horses and supplies.
The Jones & Russell stagecoach failed but would be reorganized into a different company. The same president remained in charge of the company, and in 1860, they introduced the Pony Express.
Pony Express Reform
Joseph "Jack" Slade was hired to reform the Central Overland's Sweetwater Division.
Slade had a fearless reputation and quickly put in reforms to try and make the business more profitable. he covered the 500 miles from Julesburg to Rocky Ridge, Wyoming, which was the most dangerous portion of the 1,200-mile route between Missouri and Salt Lake City.
Slade needed to figure out this section of the route. It had been robbed, and many of the most valuable stagecoaches had been raided. He made some upgrades to various stations by improving the livestock and personnel.
While making the improvements, it became obvious to Slade that Jules Beni was a thief and mastermind behind many of the problems.
Slade's reputation initially kept Jules Beni in check, and it seemed as if the two were getting along. However, Slade knew what Beni was up to and began to throw around his weight, which caused Jules much anger. He once rode into one of Beni's corrals and relieved him of two horses that Beni had stolen from the company.
Although true, this action disgraced Jules Beni, and he swore vengeance on Slade.
He would get that vengeance in March 1860, about 3 weeks before the Pony Express was set to run.
Slade arrived in Julesburg for a routine inspection. He began walking towards the station, unarmed, when a man at the station yelled out to him, "Look out, Slade, Jules is going to shoot you!"
Before Slade could react, Beni fired 3 bullets into him and then grabbed a shotgun and emptied two barrels to finish the job. He then turned to traumatized stage drivers and said: "There are some blankets and a box - you can make him a coffin if you like."
Slade was then carried into the station and placed in a bunk, with bullets and buckshot all through his body. No one who witnessed the attack supposed he could survive an hour. Jules, who believed that Slade would never recover, stated within Slade’s hearing, “When he is dead, you can put him in one of these dry-goods boxes and bury him.”
To this statement, Slade rose in his bunk and exclaimed, “I shall live long enough to wear one of your ears on my watch chain. You needn’t trouble yourself about my burial.”
In the meantime, the overland coach arrived, bringing with it the superintendent of the road. Hearing of the assault and finding Slade writhing in mortal agony, he ordered that Jules be immediately arrested and executed. The men then built an improvised gallows and marched Beni to the site.
Though they tried three times to hang the shooter, Jules didn’t die. The superintendent then ordered Beni to leave the country or be hanged by an informal court. Beni immediately fled to Denver and then farther west.
The End
A Pony Express rider galloped to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, and brought back a military surgeon. To the doctor's surprise, Slade was still alive and would recover from his wounds. Slade returned to work by June and had begun hearing rumors that Jules Beni was going to "finish the job."
Jules Beni returned to where Slade was residing. Slade learned of his return and sent out 4 men to capture him. They returned with Beni tied up on the back of a horse. Slade then tied Jules Beni to a post in the corral and did what he promised he would do to Beni.
Slade shot Beni several times and cut his ears off. The ears he kept as souvenirs, using one of them as a watch fob.
Jules Beni's grave is unknown.