Dash Cogburn was an outlaw and gunman. He was the leader of a band of out of work cowboys who were down on their luck. They took up with Dash for a means to gain some fast spending money, liquor and good times. After a few robberies, and some cattle rustling that went very well, the bunch of down and out cowhands stayed with him and had no trouble taking his orders. Dash had a rude personality and was rugged and unkempt in his appearance. He did some time in Yuma prison, and by the way his life was now going, it wouldn't be long before he would make a visit back to Yuma prison permanently.

J. W. Powell was a good looking, clean shaven, young cowboy who stayed on with the bunch because he did not have to work so hard for the easy money