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Some monsters aren't fiction – they're buried in Dodge City Cemetery beneath stones that read "beloved husband and father."

The story of Print Olive might be the most shocking true tale we've covered on Whiskey and Westerns. While sipping Bullet Bourbon (a fitting choice given Print's remarkable ability to absorb lead throughout his violent career), we unraveled the brutal history of a man whose sadistic tendencies would make even fictional villains seem tame.

Print began as a Texas cattle baron in the post-Civil War era, accumulating wealth by gathering "maverick" cattle – a term derived from Samuel Maverick, who famously refused to brand his herds. But Print's legacy wasn't built on business acumen alone. His reputation for horrific violence preceded him across the frontier. He once tied suspected rustlers to trees, wrapped them in freshly skinned wet cowhides, and watched as the rawhide slowly dried and crushed them to death in the hot Texas sun. Those who crossed the Olives had a tendency to "leave the country" permanently.

When Nebraska farmers Mitchell and Ketchum killed Print's brother Bob in self-defense, Print's revenge was swift and gruesome. After capturing the men through a bounty, Print hanged Ketchum while Mitchell remained handcuffed to him, forcing Mitchell to dangle by his arm while watching his partner strangle. Print then shot both men repeatedly before burning their bodies, earning the nickname "The Man-Burner." This incident forced Print to relocate to Dodge City, where he eventually met his own violent end in a Trail City saloon.

Perhaps most fascinating is how Print's brutal story influenced American literature. Larry McMurtry's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Lonesome Dove" contains characters and scenes directly inspired by Print Olive's life. Jake Spoon, the hanging scene, Dietz and PI – all have roots in the actual history of this forgotten frontier monster.

Want to learn more? Visit our website to download "Ladder of Rivers," the book that chronicles Print's complete story and likely inspired McMurtry's masterpiece. Our next episode will feature the Dora Hand story, another fascinating tale connected to Print's violent web of influence.

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