Kitty Leroy

Kitty Leroy (c. 1850 – December 6, 1877) was a dancer, gambler, and performer who lived in Deadwood, famous city of the American Old West, at the time of her death. She was murdered by her estranged husband in December 1877.

Biography Leroy's place of birth is unknown, though some sources suggest Michigan. Some reports, written after her death, claimed that she had begun dancing professionally by the age of 10.

Early in her life, Kitty apparently married a man named Captain E.H. Lewis of Bay City, Michigan.

Her touring took her to Texas, where she met a man known as Raymond; for the next 6 years they live together, during which time Kitty appears to have continued occasionally touring and performing.

Kitty and Raymond eventually travelled to California and then, in early 1877, to the Black Hills region. Once in Black Hills, Kitty and Raymond split up. Contrary to legend, there is no evidence that she ever traveled with Calamity Jane or other famous wild west figures.

Kitty Leroy, in addition to her renown as a performer, was a skilled with cards. In particular, she was a faro dealer, and many gamblers patronized The Mint. Kitty's beauty and charisma were also well known, and attracted many. Curley left for a different town, related as Cheyenne or Sidney in different tellings.

Another legend states that she married for a fourth time to a Prussian prospector. However, when his money ran out, they began to argue often. She hit him over the head with a bottle one night and threw him out, ending the relationship.

On the night of December 6, 1877, Curley shot and killed Leroy in the Lone Star Saloon, then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. then buried together.