Outlaw. Real name William Ellsworth Lay. Born in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, he moved to Denver and became an outlaw after he mistakenly believed he had killed a man in a fight. In the 1890s Lay rode with Butch Cassidy and became one of his closest associates. He not only participated in many robberies, he also planned several of them. When the Wild Bunch broke up, Lay moved on to become a member of "Black Jack" Ketchum's gang. On July 11, 1899, the Ketchum gang unsuccessfully attempted to rob a train in New Mexico. During the botched robbery and escape, Lay was wounded. Surrounded by a posse, he attempted to shoot his way clear, but was captured. Sentenced to life in prison, he was pardoned in 1906 for helping stop a riot. After his release, he worked as a bartender in Wyoming and tried his hand at oil drilling. Finding no success in there, Lay moved to Califonia and eventually became the Watermaster for the Imperial Valley Irrigation System. He spent his last years in Los Angeles. Lay's exploits as an outlaw has been documented in many books, including "The Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters" and a segment on Court TV.
Outlaw. Real name William Ellsworth Lay. Born in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, he moved to Denver and became an outlaw after he mistakenly believed he had killed a man in a fight. In the 1890s Lay rode with Butch Cassidy and became one of his closest associates. He not only participated in many robberies, he also planned several of them. When the Wild Bunch broke up, Lay moved on to become a member of "Black Jack" Ketchum's gang. On July 11, 1899, the Ketchum gang unsuccessfully attempted to rob a train in New Mexico. During the botched robbery and escape, Lay was wounded. Surrounded by a posse, he attempted to shoot his way clear, but was captured. Sentenced to life in prison, he was pardoned in 1906 for helping stop a riot. After his release, he worked as a bartender in Wyoming and tried his hand at oil drilling. Finding no success in there, Lay moved to Califonia and eventually became the Watermaster for the Imperial Valley Irrigation System. He spent his last years in Los Angeles. Lay's exploits as an outlaw has been documented in many books, including "The Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters" and a segment on Court TV.
Bio by: Randy
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