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Richard Barter Edit Profile

tax collector Turning outlaw

Richard H. Barter, known as "Rattlesnake Dick", was born in Quebec, Canada.

Career

Around 1850 he came to California and tried his luck at mining. Turning outlaw during the California Gold Rush, he joined a gang that was known for stagecoach robbery from 1855-1856. The theft went wrong when Cyrus and Barter missed the rendezvous having been captured with the stolen mules intended for the getaway.

George buried half the money in the Trinities.

The other half was turned over to the law by Carter, but George, having been killed in the capture, never revealed the location of the other $40,000 in gold which presumably remains hidden. Barter and Cyrus Skinner, unlike their team who were jailed or killed, escaped then and again in Auburn, California.

After Barter formed a new gang in San Francisco, the Vigilantes expelled him. Martin was killed, and Barter was injured but escaped.

His body was found the next day outside Auburn with two bullets in the chest and a third in his brain.

The identity of the person to finally kill Barter remains unknown.

Connections

companion:
George C. Johnston