Ambush: The Story of Bill Keys

by Art Kidwell, Alice (illustrator) Siebecker (Illustrator)

Scarce 5.5" x 8.5", 184 page hardcover with dustjacket titled THE STORY OF BILL KEYS by Art Kidwell /Pioneer Publishing, ISBN # 0-914330-31-4, First Edition (unstated), copyright 1979/ Describes a gunfight and subsequent imprisonment of the survivor, who was proved innocent of an ambush after many years, with the help of Earl Stanley Gardner's Court of Last Resort. On May 11, 1943 a rancher and miner named Bill Keys shot and killed his neighbor Worth Bagley. Both characters are shrouded in a bit of mystery. Keys was from either Nebraska or Russia depending upon the account you read. He moved into the area in 1910 or so. Bagley moved into the area in 1938 and was an ex-law enforcement officer who might have been mentally unstable. He developed a reputation of being a bit of a loose cannon. A dispute developed between the two (either over water or a roadway that passed near Bagley’s property, depending upon the version you read). Allegedly, Bagley approached Keys with a revolver one day. Keys reached for his rifle and waited for Bagley to fire the first shot. Bagley did and missed and Keys shot him. Keys turned himself in and was sentenced to 10 years. He served 5 1/2 of them and was released from prison moving back to the Desert Queen Ranch. Keys passed away in 1969. Illustrated with black & white photographs. The book is complete and in VERY GOOD condition with some overall wear including some small tears to the edges of the dustjacket. Signed by the author on the title half "To Bonnie & Jacque Minnotte. Best regards from the desert, Art Kidwell"

184 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1995

Reviews

[Laura Kaufmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book outside the park in Joshua Tree, where I love to go hiking. I was curious about Keys’ story after I saw the rock he engraved on the spot where he shot Bagley and because many places in the park are named after him. This book is a great little piece of local Americana. It’s pretty biased, but it’s entertaining and well-written for a local press. Recommended if you’re interested in learning more about Joshua Tree’s past.

[Marieta Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this easy-to-read, page-turner about Bill Keys, one of the historical personalities who owned land that eventually became part of Joshua Tree National Park. While the outcome at the end of the book is no secret, the method of reaching that conclusion carries a surprise.

[Ryan Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Approachable and well-edited book that follows the story of Bill Keys following the death of Worth Bagley. Read for work. The narrative of the court case was well transcribed and converted to an easy to read dialogue, though the narrative embellishments before the court case began were a little much for my taste. A lot of inference and artistic license for a book I was reading for an unbiased historical take. But if you're looking for a good story, that might just do the trick for you.