William L. "Billy" Brooks
Lawman. Circa 1832 - 1874
"Billy" Brooks had only a brief career as a lawman before turning to a life of crime. It is believed that he killed two men in Dodge City at the end of 1872 and was later arrested with a gang of mule thieves in the summer of 1874. Before justice could be carried out, Sumner County residents took matters into their own hands. Brooks and two other men were taken from the jail by an angry mob and hanged.
Entry: Brooks, William L. "Billy"
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: February 2011
Date Modified: March 2011
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
