The notorious Ashley gang, 1928

This image was used as the frontispiece illustration in the book The Notorious Ashley Gang, by Hix Cook Stuart (originally published in 1928 by St. Lucie Printing Company, Stuart Florida). Clockwise starting at top: John Ashley, Hanford Mobley, Clarence Middleton, Roy "Young" Matthews, Ray Lynn. Center: John Ashley and Laura Upthegrove, labeled "The King and Queen of the Everglades."

However, the middle image does not actually feature Laura Upthegrove and John Ashley. According to researchers Stephen Carr and Chessy Ricca, supported by interviews with Laura's niece Lisa Upthegrove Murtaugh, author Hix Stuart paid Laura's sister Evie and her husband to pose for this photo. There is a similarly posed authentic photo of Laura Upthegrove and John Ashley; perhaps the goal was to reenact this image.

Digital image gift of Stuart Heritage Museum.

No Copyright - In the United States: The Martin County Library System believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. For more information, visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Black and white 300 dpi digital image

English

Still image

SHM-2024-043-DVD11-003

2024.043

Digital image