The True Story of Notorious Arizona Outlaw Augustine Chacón

The man behind the myth

By the time he was hanged in 1903, Augustine Chacón had become the most notorious Mexican outlaw in the Arizona Territory. His alleged crimes had made him a virtual legend, but the facts show Chacón wasn't the bloodthirsty fiend he was made out to be. Journalists of the era chased sensationalist stories, pandering to a readership who longed for excitement. Each retelling of Chacon's exploits added outlandish details, painting the escaped prisoner as a brutal gunman responsible for as many as fifty-two murders. In reality, Augustine Chacón may not even have killed the man he was hanged for shooting.

Join author David Grassé as he uncovers the true story of Arizona's most enduring criminal legend.