Born in 1828, Boone Helm headed for California in 1850 as part of the gold rush, killing his cousin before leaving. Helm was briefly institutionalized in an asylum before escaping. He moved around the country, robbing and killing people, occasionally teaming up with other fugitives on the run and eating them when rations were low. Once he ate a dead companion's leg, then wrapped up and took the other one for the road.
Helm was caught and executed by vigilantes in Montana in 1864, proclaiming: "Every man for his principles! Hurrah for Jeff Davis! Let 'er rip!"
More at Legends of America and Wikipedia.
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