Charlie Bassett

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This article is about the American lawman. For the American astronaut, see Charles Bassett.

Charles Bassett (c.1847–1896) was a lawman and saloon keeper associated with the early days of Dodge City in the American Old West.

[edit] Early life, career as a lawman

The "Dodge City Peace Commission" June 1883. Bassett is at far left, in a white coat. From left to right, standing: W.H. Harris, Luke Short, Bat Masterson, W.F. Petillon. Seated: Charlie Bassett, Wyatt Earp, Frank McLain and Neal Brown.

Bassett was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He fought for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Shortly after the war ended, Bassett migrated west, and eventually became the county Sheriff in Ford County, Kansas, serving with Bat Masterson, who was his under-sheriff. He received notoriety during his pursuit of outlaw Sam Bass following the latters robbery of a Union Pacific train in Big Springs, Nebraska. A local law prevented a sheriff from serving three consecutive terms, so Bat Masterson replaced him in that position, then appointed Bassett his under-sheriff.

When Ed Masterson, brother to Bat, was killed in a shooting in Dodge City, Kansas in April 1878, Bassett became the new Dodge City Marshal. His reputation quickly grew. During that same year, outlaw James Kennedy killed a woman named Fannie Keenan. Bassett pursued and captured Kennedy. Following that incident, he apprehended Frank Loving for the killing of Levi Richardson, during a gunfight that Loving started. During that time both Wyatt Earp and Wyatt's older brother James worked as deputies for him.

In November, 1879, Bassett resigned and moved west to New Mexico, where he worked as a guard for Adams Express Company. He was replaced in Dodge City by another of Bat Masterson's brothers, James Masterson, who had worked as a deputy for him. In 1880 Bassett mined for gold in and around Montana, eventually returning to Kansas. In 1883, after a dispute with a local politician, gunfighter and saloon owner, Luke Short, he left Dodge City, only to return shortly thereafter with several notable gunfighter friends: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday, M. F. McClain, Neil Brown, and W. F. Petillion. This became known as the Dodge City War.

Bassett worked in and owned several saloons in his later years, until his death by natural causes in Hot Springs, Kansas.