16 Facts About Pony Diehl

Charles "Pony Diehl" Ray was an Old West outlaw in the New Mexico Territory and Arizona Territory.

Pony Diehl was accused by Wyatt Earp of having taken part in an attempt to kill his brother, Virgil Earp.

Pony Diehl was probably the son of German Americans Jeremiah and Mary Hagler Ray and was born in about 1848 in Rock Island, Illinois.

Pony Diehl first appeared in New Mexico during the 1870s, riding with the John Kinney Gang, then later with the Jesse Evans Gang.

Pony Diehl joined "Curly Bill" Brocius and "Turkey Creek" Jack Johnson in late 1878 on a cattle drive to Arizona Territory and Tombstone.

Pony Diehl became part of a loose federation of outlaw Cochise County Cowboys that included Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, Johnny Ringo and "Curly Bill" Brocius.

Pony Diehl was suspected of being involved in numerous robberies and cattle rustling in the Arizona Territory.

Pony Diehl was hit by three loads of buckshot from double-barreled shotguns from about 60 feet.

Pony Diehl gathered a posse which turned Charleston inside out looking for the Cowboys without success.

Pony Diehl concluded that the only way to deal with Morgan's assassins was to kill them all.

Pony Diehl formed a federal posse and set out in search of those he believed were responsible for attacking his brothers.

Pony Diehl later claimed he had killed gambler and Earp supporter Michael O'Rourke in 1882.

Pony Diehl was later arrested for a variety of crimes, including cattle rustling and robbery, and was sentenced to five years in prison at Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Pony Diehl escaped in February, 1885, but was recaptured four days later.

Pony Diehl was returned to prison and was finally released in March, 1887, where his name disappeared from public records, though there are some accounts he died in a gunfight.

Pony Diehl was portrayed by Fred Coby in the western television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.