Willis "Skinny" Newton robbed over 80 banks and six trains from Texas to Canada with his brothers and other outlaws -- collectively known as "the Newton Gang" -- including the single biggest train robbery in U.S. history. They are reputed to have stolen more money than all other Old West outlaws at that time combined, although nobody (except a couple gang members) was ever hurt during one of their holdups. The Newton boys were a criminal gang composed of four brothers, Willis, Joe, Jess and Wylie (Doc), who operated mostly in Texas during the 1920s. Willis farmed in Texas with his wife Louise after a prison stretch. He died on August 22, 1979, at age 90.
"The Newton Boys," starring Matthew McConaughey as gang-leader Willis, was a 1998 Hollywood film about their exploits.
"The Newton Boys," starring Matthew McConaughey as gang-leader Willis, was a 1998 Hollywood film about their exploits.
Willis "Skinny" Newton robbed over 80 banks and six trains from Texas to Canada with his brothers and other outlaws -- collectively known as "the Newton Gang" -- including the single biggest train robbery in U.S. history. They are reputed to have stolen more money than all other Old West outlaws at that time combined, although nobody (except a couple gang members) was ever hurt during one of their holdups. The Newton boys were a criminal gang composed of four brothers, Willis, Joe, Jess and Wylie (Doc), who operated mostly in Texas during the 1920s. Willis farmed in Texas with his wife Louise after a prison stretch. He died on August 22, 1979, at age 90.
"The Newton Boys," starring Matthew McConaughey as gang-leader Willis, was a 1998 Hollywood film about their exploits.
"The Newton Boys," starring Matthew McConaughey as gang-leader Willis, was a 1998 Hollywood film about their exploits.
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