Tag: Bill Keys

Bill Keys Gunfight – May 11, 1943

Posted on by

In the desolate expanse of California’s Mojave Desert, a violent clash unfolded on May 11, 1943, that would echo through the history of Joshua Tree National Park. The incident, known as the Bill Keys shootout, pitted William F. “Bill” Keys, a rugged homesteader and miner, against his neighbor, Worth Bagley, in a deadly confrontation rooted in a bitter land dispute. This account draws from historical records and firsthand sources to recount the events leading to the shootout, the incident itself, and its lasting impact.

Background: Bill Keys and the Desert Queen Ranch

Bill Keys was a stoic figure, shaped by the harsh realities of desert life. Born in either Nebraska or Russia—accounts vary—he arrived in the Joshua Tree area around 1910. After working as a ranch hand for Walter Scott in the Mojave and later managing the Desert Queen Mine, Keys acquired land through the Homestead Act when the mine closed in 1917. He named his property the Desert Queen Ranch, where he built a life with his wife, Frances, raising seven children, three of whom tragically died in early childhood. Keys was a self-reliant man, constructing a stamp mill, digging wells, and cultivating orchards and livestock in an environment that demanded relentless perseverance. His life was one of grit, ingenuity, and survival in an unforgiving landscape.

Worth Bagley, a former Los Angeles deputy sheriff, entered the scene in 1938. Described in some accounts as erratic or possibly mentally unstable, Bagley settled near Keys’ ranch, and tensions soon arose. The core of their conflict centered on a dirt road—variously called Quail Wash or Quail Springs Historic Trail—that Keys had used for decades to access his Wall Street Mill. Bagley claimed the road crossed his property and demanded Keys stop using it, escalating their feud with a threatening cardboard sign planted in the road: “KEYS, THIS IS MY LAST WARNING. STAY OFF MY PROPERTY.”

The establishment of Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936 added further strain. The monument’s boundaries enveloped Keys’ ranch, restricting his cattle grazing and fueling his resentment toward federal oversight. Bagley, too, clashed with Keys over property rights, and their disputes—whether over the road, water, or grazing land—grew increasingly volatile. By 1943, the stage was set for a confrontation that reflected the lingering lawlessness of the Old West.

The Shootout: May 11, 1943

William F. Keys reenacts the scene of the fatal shooting of Worth Bagley - Photo NPS
William F. Keys reenacts the scene of the fatal shooting of Worth Bagley – Photo NPS

On the morning of May 11, 1943, Bill Keys drove along the familiar dirt road toward his Wall Street Mill. As he approached the sign erected by Bagley, he stopped his car, acutely aware of the threat’s gravity. Keys, a seasoned desert dweller whose survival had long depended on keen observation, surveyed the surrounding terrain. According to Keys’ account, Bagley ambushed him, emerging from cover and opening fire. Keys, armed and prepared, returned fire in self-defense, fatally shooting Bagley. The exchange was swift, a brutal culmination of years of animosity.

Keys maintained that he acted to protect his life, but the legal system viewed the incident differently. Arrested and charged with murder, Keys faced a trial that many considered unjust. The prosecution painted him as the aggressor, and a jury convicted him of manslaughter, sentencing him to ten years in San Quentin State Penitentiary. The trial was marred by controversy, with some accounts suggesting bias against Keys, a solitary desert figure, in favor of Bagley, a former lawman.

Trail Map

Aftermath and Redemption

While incarcerated, Keys’ resilience and sharp mind—honed by years of navigating the desert’s challenges—kept him focused. His wife, Frances, sought help from Erle Stanley Gardner, a Ventura-based attorney and author of the Perry Mason novels, who was drawn to the desert and had befriended the Keys family during his visits to Joshua Tree. Gardner, through his Court of Last Resort, investigated Keys’ case, uncovering evidence of self-defense and procedural flaws in the trial. His advocacy, combined with growing public support, led to Keys’ parole after five years and a full pardon in 1956.

Upon his release, Keys returned to the Desert Queen Ranch, where he lived quietly until his death in 1969. In a defiant act of remembrance, he erected a stone marker at the site of the shootout, inscribed: “Here is where Worth Bagley bit the dust at the hand of W.F. Keys, May 11, 1943.” The original marker, vandalized in 2014, was replaced with a steel replica by the National Park Service, preserving the site’s historical significance along the Wall Street Mill Trail.

Legacy and Reflection

The Bill Keys shootout is a stark reminder of the rugged individualism and simmering tensions that defined life in the American West, even into the mid-20th century. It reflects not only a personal feud but also broader conflicts over land, resources, and autonomy in a region increasingly shaped by federal control. Keys’ story, as detailed in Art Kidwell’s Ambush: The Story of Bill Keys, challenges the romanticized narrative of the West, revealing a world where survival often hinged on quick decisions and deadly force.

Today, Joshua Tree National Park preserves the site as a tourist attraction, with rangers leading tours of the Desert Queen Ranch and recounting Keys’ tale. The shootout, though a footnote in the broader sweep of American history, remains a poignant chapter in the park’s cultural landscape, embodying the harsh realities and enduring spirit of those who carved out lives in the desert.

The Worth Bagley Stone

The Worth Bagley Stone is a historical marker located in Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino County, California, along the Wall Street Mill Trail, approximately 0.3 miles from the trailhead. The original marker was a granite stone, measuring approximately 78 cm high, 46 cm wide, and 12 cm thick, inscribed with the text: “Here is where Worth Bagly [sic] bit the dust at the hand of W.F. Keys, May 11, 1943.” The misspelling of “Bagley” as “Bagly” is notable on the marker. This stone was carved and erected by William F. (Bill) Keys to commemorate a deadly shootout between himself and Worth Bagley, a former Los Angeles deputy sheriff, over a land and water access dispute. Due to vandalism, including green paint defacement and the stone being broken off at its base in 2014, the original was removed by the National Park Service for safekeeping in the park’s museum. In February 2019, a replica made of ¾-inch steel was installed at the original site, crafted by artist Rebecca Lowry of JTLab in collaboration with park staff, Vagabond Welding, and Keys’ descendants. The replica closely mirrors the original’s design and lettering, ensuring the historical event remains marked for visitors.

History

The Worth Bagley Stone marks the site of a fatal confrontation on May 11, 1943, between Bill Keys, a rancher and miner who owned the Desert Queen Ranch and Wall Street Mill, and his neighbor, Worth Bagley. The two had a contentious relationship, primarily due to a dispute over access to a road leading to the Wall Street Mill, which Bagley claimed crossed his property. Bagley, known for his volatile temperament and history of conflict, had reportedly shot Keys’ cattle and posted a warning sign threatening Keys to stay off his land. On the day of the incident, Keys claimed Bagley ambushed him with a revolver along the road. Bagley fired and missed, and Keys returned fire with his rifle, killing Bagley. Keys turned himself in to authorities the same day.

In the subsequent trial, Keys was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to ten years in San Quentin State Prison, despite his self-defense claim. Evidence tampering and questionable expert testimony may have influenced the verdict. While in prison, Keys educated himself in the library, and his case gained attention from Erle Stanley Gardner, the creator of Perry Mason, who advocated for his release. Keys was paroled in 1948 after serving five years and received a full pardon in 1956. Upon returning to his Desert Queen Ranch, Keys carved and placed the granite marker at the shootout site in the 1950s to memorialize the event.

The stone stood as a testament to the rugged, lawless spirit of the desert and Keys’ determination to defend his rights, as he once stated, “If the law won’t uphold me, I’ll uphold myself.” However, by 2014, vandalism had damaged the marker, prompting its removal for preservation. The National Park Service, recognizing its historical significance, commissioned the steel replica to maintain the site’s historical narrative. The Worth Bagley Stone remains a poignant reminder of the violent disputes that shaped the history of Joshua Tree National Park, then known as Joshua Tree National Monument, and is a point of interest for hikers and history enthusiasts on the Wall Street Mill Trail.

Sources

  • Worth Bagley Stone Historical Marker, www.hmdb.org
  • People of the Desert: Joshua Tree National Park Exhibit, www.nps.gov
  • Marker Pinpoints 1943 Shootout At Joshua Tree National Park, www.nationalparkstraveler.org
  • Worth Bagley, Cali49, www.cali49.com
  • Historical Highlight: Shootout at the Wall Street Mill, z1077fm.com
  • Joshua Tree National Park Replaces Historic Marker, www.nps.gov
  • How Bill Keys Was Freed by the Court of Last Resort, www.thedesertway.com

The Battle of Wingate Pass – February 26, 1906

Posted on by
The Battle of Wingate pass as reports by Los Angeles herald (Los Angeles [Calif.]), March 21, 1906
The Battle of Wingate pass as reports by Los Angeles herald (Los Angeles [Calif.]), March 21, 1906

The so-called “Battle” of Wingate Pass, which occurred on February 26, 1906, in the rugged terrain of Death Valley, California, was not a genuine conflict but a staged hoax orchestrated by the infamous con artist Walter Edward Perry Scott, better known as “Death Valley Scotty.” This incident stemmed from Scotty’s elaborate schemes to defraud investors by promoting nonexistent gold mines in the desert. What followed the event was a chaotic sequence of retreats, media scrutiny, arrests, lawsuits, and jurisdictional disputes that exposed the fraud and led to short-lived legal repercussions. Below is a detailed chronological account of the events leading up to the “battle,” the incident itself, and the immediate aftermath, with a focus on the court actions that unfolded in the weeks and months following.

Background on Death Valley Scotty

Walter Scott (1872 - 1954)
Walter Scott (1872 – 1954)

Walter Edward Perry Scott (1872–1954), famously dubbed “Death Valley Scotty,” was born in Cynthiana, Kentucky, and rose to prominence as one of the American West’s most colorful con artists. Scotty began his career as a performer in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in the 1890s, where he honed his skills in showmanship and tall tales. By the early 1900s, he had relocated to California and began promoting himself as a wealthy gold prospector with secret mines in Death Valley, often flashing rolls of cash (later revealed to be “upholstered” with newspaper) to lure investors. His schemes involved “grubstakers”—investors who funded his expeditions in exchange for shares in supposed riches. Scotty’s charisma and exaggerated stories attracted figures like Chicago businessmen Albert M. Johnson and Edward A. Shedd, who invested $2,500 for a two-thirds stake in his fictional mine. However, as investors demanded proof, Scotty’s deceptions escalated, leading to elaborate hoaxes to maintain the illusion. His persona became synonymous with Death Valley, and he later lived at the opulent Scotty’s Castle (built by Johnson), perpetuating myths of hidden wealth until his death.

Events Leading Up to the “Battle”

Newspaper cartoon of "Death Valley Scotty", around 1905
Newspaper cartoon of “Death Valley Scotty”, around 1905

By early 1906, Scotty’s investors were growing suspicious. New England mining promoter A.Y. Pearl had introduced Scotty to Eastern bankers and businessmen eager to inspect his claimed gold properties in Death Valley. They insisted on an evaluation by Daniel E. Owen, a reputable Boston mining engineer based in Nevada. Fearing exposure—since Scotty had no real mine—he persuaded his associate Bill Keys (a prospector and half-Cherokee Indian) to allow the group to view Keys’ modest Desert Hound Mine as a stand-in. Still anxious that Owen would deem it unworthy, Scotty hatched a plan for a staged ambush to make the area seem too dangerous for further exploration.

On February 23, 1906, the party departed from Daggett, California, equipped with two wagons, mules, horses, provisions, and whiskey. The group included Scotty, Owen, Pearl, Albert M. Johnson (president of the National Life Insurance Company of Chicago), Scotty’s brothers Bill and Warner Scott, Bill Keys, A.W. DeLyle St. Clair (a Los Angeles miner), and Jack Brody (a local desert character). Keys and Brody were sent ahead to prepare the ambush, possibly with help from an Indian named Bob Belt. The party camped at Granite Wells on February 24 and proceeded toward Lone Willow Spring the next day, leaving Bill Scott behind to guard extra animals.

Description of the “Battle”

The hoax unfolded on February 25, 1906, as the group approached Wingate Pass near Dry Lake. Shots rang out from behind stone breastworks (five of which still exist today as historical remnants), simulating an attack by claim jumpers or bandits. An ex-deputy sheriff from Goldfield, Nevada, reported being ambushed earlier, causing his pack train to stampede, adding to the chaos. Scotty fired two warning shots, startling the mules and tipping Owen from his wagon. Then, a rifle shot from the hidden assailants struck Warner Scott in the groin, an accidental injury likely due to the ambushers’ drunkenness (possibly Bob Belt). Scotty galloped toward the “attackers,” yelling for them to stop, which inadvertently exposed the ruse to the suspicious Owen.

The “battle” was brief and one-sided, with no return fire from the party. Panic ensued, and the group retreated hastily to Daggett, abandoning provisions in the desert. Warner was rushed to Los Angeles for medical treatment, where he survived after surgery. The staged nature became evident through Scotty’s over-the-top reaction and the lack of pursuit by the “ambushers.” The event involved real bullets, turning a planned scare tactic into a near-tragedy due to poor execution.

Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons
Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons

Immediate Events Following the “Battle” (Late February to March 1906)

The group’s return to civilization sparked immediate chaos. Los Angeles newspapers sensationalized the story, with Pearl initially claiming it was a genuine fight against four outlaws who were “claim jumpers” guarding Scotty’s mine. However, Owen, suspecting foul play, reported the true details to the San Bernardino County sheriff and the press, asserting that Scotty had orchestrated the ambush in an attempt to kill him and cover up the fraud. This led to a public unraveling of the hoax, as investors like Johnson realized they had been duped—though Johnson would later reconcile with Scotty and fund the construction of Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley.

The sheriff’s investigation uncovered incriminating evidence: abandoned provisions at Scotty’s “Camp Holdout” and a witness statement from the Nevada lawman who spotted Keys fleeing the scene. Media coverage intensified, portraying Scotty as a swindler and the “battle” as a farce. Scotty, ever the showman, initially denied involvement but soon faced mounting pressure.

Court Actions and Legal Proceedings (March to April 1906)

The legal fallout began swiftly. On March 14, 1906, just over two weeks after the incident, the San Bernardino County District Attorney issued arrest warrants for Scotty, Bill Keys, and Jack Brody on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Scotty was arrested in Seattle on March 24 and released on $500 bail. He was rearrested two days later on March 26 but again released. On April 7, Scotty pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault in San Bernardino County Court and was freed on $2,000 bail.

Meanwhile, Warner Scott, seeking compensation for his injury, filed a civil lawsuit on or around April 1906 in Los Angeles County Court against Walter Scott, Bill Scott, Bill Keys, A.Y. Pearl, and a “John Doe” (likely Brody or another accomplice). The suit demanded $152,000 in damages for his wounds and related suffering.

Keys was apprehended on April 10 at Ballarat, a mining camp near Death Valley, and pleaded not guilty before being jailed in San Bernardino. On April 13, Scotty, Pearl, and Bill Scott were arrested once more and briefly jailed in San Bernardino. However, they were released the next day after a successful habeas corpus petition challenged their detention.

The cases collapsed on April 27, 1906, when all criminal charges were dismissed by the San Bernardino County Court due to a jurisdictional error: the “battle” had occurred in Inyo County, not San Bernardino County. Inyo County authorities declined to pursue the matter, possibly due to lack of evidence or interest. Scotty later boasted that he had moved a county boundary marker to create this confusion, though this claim remains unverified.

Warner eventually agreed to drop his damage suit on the condition that Scotty pay over $1,000 in medical bills owed to Dr. C.W. Lawton in Los Angeles. Scotty consented but never paid, leading to a default judgment against him—though he had no attachable assets at the time. This unresolved debt would resurface years later, culminating in Scotty’s 1912 contempt-of-court jailing and public confession to the hoax, but the immediate 1906 proceedings ended without convictions.

Broader Implications and Legacy

The “Battle” of Wingate Pass marked a turning point in Scotty’s career, exposing his deceptions to a wider audience and costing him most investors—except Johnson, who ironically became his lifelong patron. The event highlighted the lawlessness of the California desert frontier, where jurisdictional ambiguities often allowed scams to evade justice. While no one was ultimately prosecuted in 1906, the hoax cemented Scotty’s legend as a colorful charlatan, and Wingate Pass remains a footnote in Death Valley lore.

Participants of the Battle

Albert Mussey Johnson

 Albert Mussey Johnson – Death Valley Ranch Owner

Albert Mussey Johnson Albert Mussey Johnson (1872 - 1948) was a businessman and investor who received notoriety as the millionaire, who built “Scotty's Castle” in…
Walter Scott (1872 - 1954)

Walter Edward Perry Scott – “Death Valley Scotty”

Walter Edward Perry Scott  (September 20, 1872 – January 5, 1954), also known as "Death Valley Scotty", was a miner, prospector and conman who operated…

Warner Elmore Scott

Warner Elmore Scott (1865–1950) was a Kentucky native from a horse farming family who became entangled in his brother Walter "Death Valley Scotty" Scott's infamous…
William F. Keys reenacts the scene of the fatal shooting of Worth Bagley - Photo NPS

William Franklin Keys

William Franklin Keys (September 27, 1879–1969) was a rugged American frontiersman, rancher, and miner who became a notable figure in the history of the Mojave…

 Albert Mussey Johnson – Death Valley Ranch Owner

Posted on by
Albert Mussey Johnson
Albert Mussey Johnson

Albert Mussey Johnson (1872 – 1948) was a businessman and investor who received notoriety as the millionaire, who built “Scotty’s Castle” in Death Valley, California. He was born into a Quaker family n Oberlin Ohio and attended Cornell University to study engineering.

Johnson borrowed a sum of $40,000 from his father and invested in some mining operations in Joplin, Missouri. This initial investment returned five hundred percent dur to a zinc boom. Albert travelled across Utah and Colorado, in December if 1899, with his father looking for investment opportunities in power production or mining ventures. While on this trip, the father and son team are involved in a rail accident which kills his fater and leaves Albert bedridden with a broken back.

Johnson eventually recovered from his broken back but he suffered with chronic medical issues and walked with a noticeable limp. This injury caused Johnson to focus his professional efforts in economic investment pursuits. He pursue relationships with his fathers partners and soon built up a career as a vice president of the Arkansas Midland Railroad and later the president of the North American Cold Storage Company.

In 1904, Walter Scott AKA Death Valley Scotty ran into Johnson while Scotty is looking for new investors for his gold mines in Death Valley, California. Scott was a conman who would defraud investors of this infamous gold mines. Despite no return on is investment, Johnson continued to send Scott’s ventures.

Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons
Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons

Johnson first visited Death Valley in 1906 to tour Scott’s Gold Mines. The two became embroiled in the Battle of Wingate Pass, where Scott’s brother is shot in the groin. This injury forced a retreat from Death Valley. Johnson did not return to Death Valley for another three years. In 1909, he returned to the valley seeking to visit the mines in which he invested. It is said the dry air was a benefit to Johnson’s health. For whatever the reason, Johnson began purchasing land. Johnson purchased about 1500 acres of land. The Steininger Ranch was the most important parcel. Nestled in a spring-fed verdant valley, this was soon to be the site of the Death Valley Ranch.

Scotty's Castle located in Grapevine Canyon in Death Valley.
Scotty’s Castle located in Grapevine Canyon in Death Valley.

In 1922, Johnson started building Scotty’s castle as a vacation home.  When the size and scope of the property was realized, people assumed Scotty used the proceeds for his gold mine to pay for the Ranch.  Scotty, ever the promoter did nothing to correct the record and soon The Johnson’ vacation home.

Due to its remote location, the Death Valley Ranch needed to maintain its own power station and water supply and evaporation cooling system. Despite the conditions, Scotty’s Castle boasts a 1,121 pipe theater organ, fountains, clock tower and a massive unfinished swimming pool.

The stock market crash impacted Johnson’s fortune. He was not able to complete the Death Valley Ranch.

References

Walter Edward Perry Scott – “Death Valley Scotty”

Posted on by

Walter Edward Perry Scott  (September 20, 1872 – January 5, 1954), also known as “Death Valley Scotty”, was a miner, prospector and conman who operated around Death Valley, California. Later in life, he was befriended by Albert Johnson, who built the Death Valley Ranch in Grapevine Canyon in Death Valley, which is commonly known as “Scotty’s Castle“.

Walter Scott (1872 - 1954)
Walter Scott (1872 – 1954)

Early Life and Beginnings

Walter Edward Perry Scott, better known as “Death Valley Scotty,” was born on September 20, 1872, in Cynthiana, Kentucky, the youngest of six children in a family immersed in the harness racing circuit. His early years were spent traveling with his family, fostering a love for adventure and performance. At age 11, Scott left home to join his older brothers, Warner and Bill, on a ranch near Wells, Nevada. His first job in the West was as a water boy for a survey party along the California-Nevada border in 1884, which introduced him to the stark beauty of Death Valley. This early exposure to the desert marked the beginning of a lifelong connection to the region. By 16, his horsemanship skills earned him a spot as a stunt rider in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show, where he toured the United States and Europe for 12 years, honing his flair for showmanship and self-promotion.

The Conman’s Rise to Fame

After a falling out with Buffalo Bill in 1900, Scott turned to gold prospecting, leveraging his charisma to convince wealthy investors to fund his ventures. He claimed to have discovered a lucrative gold mine in Death Valley, a story that was entirely fabricated. In 1902, he began soliciting funds from wealthy backers, including a New Yorker who invested over $5,000 without seeing any returns. Scott’s schemes escalated in 1904 when he claimed to be transporting $12,000 in gold dust on an eastbound train, only for the bag to be “stolen” before reaching Philadelphia, a story that captivated newspapers and launched his reputation as a flamboyant hustler. His most audacious stunt came in 1905, when he chartered the “Coyote Special,” a three-car train, to break the rail speed record from Los Angeles to Chicago in just 44 hours and 54 minutes. The press dubbed him “Death Valley Scotty,” a moniker that stuck for life.

The Battle of Wingate Pass

One of Scott’s most infamous cons was the 1906 “Battle” of Wingate Pass, designed to convince a mining engineer, A.Y. Pearl, and his investors of the existence of his gold mine. When Pearl insisted on seeing the mine, Scott staged an elaborate hoax, leading the group into Death Valley. The expedition turned chaotic when gunfire erupted—likely orchestrated by Scott—creating the illusion of a dangerous ambush. The stunt backfired when investors grew suspicious, but it added to Scott’s growing legend as a roguish figure. Despite the fraud, Scott’s charm and storytelling kept him in the public eye.

Friendship with Albert Johnson and Scotty’s Castle

Scott’s most significant relationship was with Albert Mussey Johnson, a Chicago insurance executive he met in 1904. Johnson, intrigued by Scott’s tales, invested in his fictitious mines. In 1906, Johnson visited Death Valley to inspect the claims, enduring the Wingate Pass fiasco. Surprisingly, Johnson was not deterred by the deception. The desert’s dry air benefited his health, and he developed a genuine fondness for Scott’s eccentric personality. The two formed an unlikely lifelong friendship. In 1922, Johnson and his wife, Bessie, began constructing a lavish Spanish-style mansion in Grapevine Canyon, known as Death Valley Ranch but popularly called Scotty’s Castle. Scott falsely claimed he funded the $1.5–$2.5 million estate with his mining wealth, a myth he perpetuated by entertaining guests with tales of his secret mines. In reality, Johnson built the castle as a vacation home, incorporating luxurious features like a pipe organ, custom furniture, and a Chimes Tower with 25 carillon chimes. Scott lived primarily in a nearby five-room cabin at Lower Vine Ranch, making appearances at the castle to maintain his persona.

Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons
Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons

Dubious Reputation and Legal Troubles

Scott’s reputation as a conman was well-earned. He faced lawsuits from creditors in 1912 after falsely claiming to have sold a mine for $12 million, landing him in jail briefly. His schemes often involved fencing stolen high-grade ore, using leased mines as a front. Despite these misdeeds, Scott’s charisma and media savvy kept him a beloved figure. Newspapers called him the “Sphinx of the American Desert” and “King of the Desert Mine,” romanticizing his exploits. His friendship with Johnson shielded him from severe consequences, as Johnson continued to support him financially, even paying him a $30 monthly stipend.

Later Years and Legacy

Construction on Scotty’s Castle halted in the 1930s due to a surveying error revealing the land was federal property and Johnson’s financial troubles during the Great Depression. Johnson willed the estate to the Gospel Foundation, with the condition that Scott could live there until his death. Scott remained a fixture at the castle, regaling tourists with exaggerated stories of his adventures. He died on January 5, 1954, at age 82, and was buried on a hill overlooking the castle beside his dog, Windy. The National Park Service purchased the property in 1970 for $850,000, and it became a major attraction in Death Valley National Park, though it closed in 2015 due to flood damage and a 2021 fire.

Scott’s legacy is a blend of fact and fiction. His grave marker, dedicated by the Death Valley ’49ers Inc., bears his quote: “I got four things to live by. Don’t say anything that will hurt anybody. Don’t give advice—nobody will take it anyway. Don’t complain. Don’t explain.” This encapsulates his philosophy of living large without apology. While his scams and self-promotion earned him a dubious reputation, his friendship with Johnson and the enduring allure of Scotty’s Castle cemented his status as a colorful figure in American frontier history.

References

Warner Elmore Scott

Posted on by

Warner Elmore Scott (1865–1950) was a Kentucky native from a horse farming family who became entangled in his brother Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott’s infamous 1906 staged “Battle” of Wingate Pass, a hoax to deceive gold mine investors.

Early Life

Warner Elmore Scott was born in 1865 in Cynthiana, Kentucky, into a family deeply rooted in the region’s horse farming and harness racing traditions. He was the son of George E. Scott, a horse breeder, and Anna Calhoun (though some records list his mother as Elizabeth Perry, likely due to genealogical discrepancies). Warner was one of at least six children in the Scott family, which included his younger brother Walter Edward Perry Scott (born September 20, 1872), who would later become famously known as “Death Valley Scotty.” Other siblings included brothers Bill (possibly William), Lynn, and George, making Walter the youngest. The family traveled extensively along the harness racing circuit during Warner’s childhood, exposing him to a nomadic lifestyle from an early age.

As a young man, Warner ventured west to seek opportunities in the American frontier. By the early 1880s, he had settled in Nevada, where he worked as a cowhand on the ranch of John Sparks, a prominent cattleman who later became the governor of Nevada (serving from 1903 to 1908). Warner’s brother Bill joined him there, and the two established themselves in the rugged ranching life near Wells, Nevada. This move westward was emblematic of the era’s migration patterns, driven by the promise of land, work, and adventure in the expanding American West. In 1883, at the age of 11, their youngest brother Walter ran away from home in Kentucky to join them, marking the beginning of a lifelong, albeit tumultuous, familial bond. Walter’s arrival led to his first job as a water boy for a survey party on the California-Nevada border, but the brothers’ shared experiences in Nevada laid the foundation for their future entanglements.

Warner’s early career focused on ranching and related labor, including stints as a teamster hauling goods across the arid landscapes of Nevada and California. These roles honed his skills in survival and horsemanship, qualities that would later prove useful in the harsh environment of Death Valley. Little is documented about Warner’s personal life during this period, such as any marriages or children, suggesting he led a relatively private existence compared to his more flamboyant brother. Historical records portray him as a steady, if opportunistic, figure who occasionally collaborated with Walter on ventures that blurred the lines between legitimate prospecting and outright schemes.

Involvement with Death Valley Scotty and the Mining Schemes

Warner’s life became inextricably linked to his brother’s rising notoriety in the early 20th century. Walter Scott, after years as a performer in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show and various odd jobs, reinvented himself as “Death Valley Scotty,” a charismatic prospector who claimed to have discovered a fabulously rich gold mine in California’s Death Valley. This persona was largely a fabrication, designed to attract investors through tall tales and publicity stunts. Warner, with his Western experience, became involved in these escapades, serving as both a supporter and, at times, a reluctant participant.

By 1905, Walter had secured investments from prominent figures, including Chicago millionaire Albert Mussey Johnson and banker Edward A. Shedd, who contributed $2,500 for a stake in the supposed mine. When suspicions arose due to the lack of returns, the investors demanded an inspection. Walter, fearing exposure, orchestrated an elaborate hoax to deter them: a staged “ambush” in the remote Wingate Pass area of Death Valley. Warner played a key role in this plan, ostensibly working for Walter but secretly spying for the investors’ side, providing intelligence on the expedition’s progress.

The infamous “Battle of Wingate Pass” unfolded on February 25, 1906, near the California-Nevada border. Walter’s party, which included Warner, mining engineer Daniel E. Owen (representing the investors), Albert Johnson, and others, set out from Daggett, California, with wagons, mules, and supplies. Walter had arranged for accomplices— including Bill Keys, Jack Brody, and Bob Belt—to simulate an attack by “claim jumpers” to scare off the inspectors and preserve the myth of the mine’s dangers. As the group approached Wingate Pass, shots rang out from behind stone breastworks on a nearby cliff. Chaos ensued when Bob Belt, reportedly intoxicated, fired errantly and struck Warner in the groin (some accounts also mention a shoulder wound). The injury was severe, causing significant bleeding and pain.

Walter, in a panic, galloped toward the “ambushers” yelling for them to cease fire, inadvertently revealing the stunt’s fraudulent nature to Owen and the others. The party hastily retreated to Lone Willow Spring and then Daggett, where Warner received initial medical attention before being transported by train to Los Angeles on March 1, 1906, for further treatment under Dr. C.W. Lawton. Remarkably, Warner survived the ordeal, though the wound left him with lasting physical consequences.

The incident had immediate repercussions. Investor Daniel Owen reported the “attack” to the San Bernardino County sheriff, leading to arrest warrants for Walter, Bill Keys, and Jack Brody on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Walter evaded serious prosecution by cleverly exploiting a jurisdictional loophole: he had secretly moved the Inyo-San Bernardino county boundary marker six miles south, placing the site in Inyo County, where authorities showed little interest in pursuing the case. Walter spent several months in jail on related charges but ultimately confessed to fraud in a 1912 Los Angeles courtroom.

Warner’s response to the shooting further strained family ties. On April 7, 1906, he filed a $152,000 damage suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Walter, Bill Scott, Bill Keys, A.Y. Pearl, and an unnamed “John Doe.” He later dropped the suit on the condition that Walter cover his medical bills, which exceeded $1,000. Walter agreed but failed to pay, resulting in a court judgment against him that went unenforced due to his lack of assets.

Later Life and Legacy

After the Wingate Pass fiasco, Warner largely faded from public view, returning to a quieter existence. Historical records suggest he remained in the Western United States, possibly continuing ranching or other labor in Nevada or California, but details are sparse. Unlike his brother, who continued to captivate the public with stunts—like his record-breaking 1905 train ride from Los Angeles to Chicago funded by ill-gotten gains—Warner avoided the spotlight. He outlived much of the drama surrounding Death Valley Scotty’s legends, passing away in 1950 at the age of 85. His burial details are not well-documented, though family memorials link him to the Scott lineage.

Warner’s legacy is primarily preserved through his association with Death Valley Scotty. The Wingate Pass incident became a cornerstone of Scotty’s mythology, illustrating the lengths to which the brothers went in their cons. It also highlighted the era’s Wild West ethos, where fraud, gunplay, and frontier justice intertwined. Interestingly, some historical newspaper accounts from the time refer to him as “Warren Scott,” likely a typographical error or variant spelling, as seen in a 1906 Carson Daily Appeal report. This discrepancy underscores the challenges in documenting lesser-known figures from the period.

Despite his limited fame, Warner Elmore Scott embodies the supporting cast in the grand tale of American prospecting lore. His life reflects the hardships and opportunism of the late 19th and early 20th-century West, forever tied to the enigmatic figure of Death Valley Scotty and the enduring allure of hidden gold in the desert.