Jennings, Alphonso J. "Al"

Publication: Photographer unknown, Circa 1950's, NP, ca 1950s

Photograph 8"x10". Al and two other men are standing next to an old wagon. a clear, clean image. Also included in a 3'x5' slip of white paper signed by Al Jennings. Also Al's 2.375"x1.375" tan-colored Card, Identifying Al as a "Lecturer" and states that "Crime Does Not Pay". Al Jennings settled in El Reno, Oklahoma Territory and served as Canadian County, Oklahoma prosecuting attorney from 1892 until 1894. In 1895 he joined his brothers, Ed and John, in a law practice at Woodward. In October of that year Ed Jennings was killed, and John Jennings wounded, in a shootout with rival attorney, Temple Lea Houston. Jennings left Woodward following Houston's acquittal in 1896, eventually finding employment as a ranch hand in the Creek Nation. While working near present Bixby in Creek County, Jennings joined an outlaw band. During the summer and fall of 1897 the desperados often referred to as the "Jennings Gang", robbed trains, general stores and a post office. Jennings was wounded by law officers on November 30,1897, and captured one week later on Carr Creek near Onapa in McIntosh County, Oklahoma. In 1899, Al was sentenced to life in prison, but, due to the legal efforts of his brother John, his sentence was reduced to 5 years. He was freed on technicalities in 1902 and received a presidential pardon in 1904 by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1908, ironically with the assistance of well-known lawmen, Heck Thomas and Bill Tilghman, Jennings re-created one of his bank robberies for the film The Bank Robbery. The film was shot in Cache, Oklahoma, with Quanah Parker having a bit part. Al Jennings went on to star in many early silent westerns, as well as authoring books regarding his time in prison, and resultant relationship with short story writer, William Sidney Porter...O. Henry. An interesting character of the West.

Inventory Number: 51637