Outlaw for Life!: Secrets of the Notorious Waterloo Outlaws MC

Outlaw For Life!

Secrets of the Notorious Waterloo Outlaws MC

By Johnny Powers

Smashwords Edition

Published by Rebel Publications

Copyright 2015/19 Johnny Powers – Rebel Publications – All Rights Reserved

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Outlaw For Life!

CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 – Establish the Waterloo Outlaws MC

CHAPTER 2 – The Travesty Begins

CHAPTER 3 – Outlaws Discovered

CHAPTER 4 – Biker Life

CHAPTER 5 – Prospect

CHAPTER 6 – Initiation Run

CHAPTER 7 – Abolishing the 3-Man Council

CHAPTER 8 – The Challenged President

CHAPTER 9 – Death Moves Swiftly

CHAPTER 10 – Invasion and War

CHAPTER 11 – Cause and Effect

CHAPTER 12 – Battle for Control

CHAPTER 13 – Expansion

CHAPTER 14 – Colorado Run

CHAPTER 15 – Time to Hang It Up

CHAPTER 16 – Memorable Brothers

CHAPTER 17 – Outlaws Bikes

CHAPTER 18 – Short Stories

CHAPTER 19 – Outlaws Bars & Hangouts

CHAPTER 20 – Outlaws Women

CHAPTER 21 – Secret Club Laws

CHAPTER 22 – Forced to Return

CHAPTER 23 – Liars Betrayal & Fools

CHAPTER 24 – Final Road to Retirement

ADDITIONAL FACTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Outlaw For Life!

~INTRODUCTION~

As a farm boy in Iowa, I didn’t set out to become an outlaw biker. Actually, as I turned sixteen in January 1969, I had no idea who or what I wanted to be. But during my sixteenth year, my true destiny began to emerge and I soon realized there were only two things in my young life which excited me. Wild women and the outlaw biker lifestyle!

I was raised in a very rural area north of the city of Waterloo. My secluded childhood consisted of gardening, hay fields, horses, cattle, and all the work involved maintaining the animals on a small farm. I lived with my grandmother, until she passed when I was twelve. After she died, I was forced to move next door to live with my parents and a baby sister who never had a damn thing in common with me.

Within a two mile radius of our place growing up, there weren't any other boys my age to play with. My after school activities were always farm chores and my only enjoyment was riding a horse alone to the river over two miles away from the farm. I loved the river and the seclusion of the woods along it. It was my escape, my refuge, and the only place where I felt free.

My interaction with children my own age was limited to school and it often didn’t go well. Those boys were all interested in playing baseball, football, and riding bicycles. I didn’t know the first thing about those games, and didn’t even have a decent bicycle until I was about thirteen. The only skills I learned during my school years were how to deal with bullies, and how to physically defend myself in a fight. By junior high, I took those skills to the next level to become the guy who didn’t hesitate to fight with anyone who pushed too hard.

Within days of my sixteenth birthday, with a license to drive and a 57 Chevy, I escaped my boring restrictive life forever! It was new life of chopped motorcycles, hot women, and wild parties in the city! I was free at last, and embraced the Live Free – Ride Free lifestyle of an outlaw biker!

It was a time of nationwide anti-war and anti-discrimination protest demonstrations and a make love - not war hippy movement. Bras and panty-girdles were thrown aside in favor of skin-tight hip-huger bellbottom jeans and tie-dye tops. Bikers with free-flowing beards, long hair, and stripped down barebones Harleys ruled. Both sexes risked life and limb to straddle two wheels of pure raw power. And the ladies were more promiscuous than ever before!

This is a personal journey I traveled. It was a life choice, and a commitment, to an organized motorcycle club which provided a unique lifestyle, that was very exciting and satisfying. A lifestyle which always guaranteed a high level of danger, thrills, and risk, with few regrets and an abundance of fond memories.

There may be those today who will say there never was a chapter of the Outlaws MC in the city of Waterloo. There may even be those who will claim there never should have been a chapter in the state. Many false assumptions, legends, and myths exist today about the Waterloo Outlaws MC. But you my friend, are about to discover the truth!

All the members of the Waterloo Outlaws MC were outcasts of society. Several leaders and members became notorious outlaw bikers. Beginning in 1966, the club attracted a hardcore breed of unique bikers who took, held, and firmly controlled the whole territory of North East Iowa, as an unsanctioned branch of the one-percenter Outlaws Motorcycle Club for the next 20 years!

Since I hung up my colors for good, I’ve been asked many questions about my life as a member of the Waterloo Outlaws MC. Respect for club laws, combined with my own desire to keep the Outlaws side of my life private, forced my silence. But now it’s time... Time the world learns the truth about the most notorious motorcycle club in the history of the state!

You'll discover true facts about real members and events, without embellishment, and you'll learn secrets never divulged before. You'll be introduced to a lifestyle, which no longer exists, and begin to understand its influence still found in many outlaw motorcycle clubs today.

There is little doubt this information will be a real eye-opener for many readers. And it's a must-read for anyone interested in old-style custom motorcycles, the outlaw biker's lifestyle of the past, and those curious about why motorcycle clubs evolved to become what they are today.

This is the first twenty year history of one chapter of the Outlaws MC. An un-sanctioned chapter it's true, but now, for the first time, you'll find out why. You'll discover their enemies and their allies. And you'll finally understand why one of the most powerful motorcycle clubs of the day, whose territory covered three states in 1966, authorized this un-sanctioned club to control a border territory for twenty years.

We'll reveal the secret internal structure and the organization of the club. You will be able to experience runs and parties, and you'll meet several members. There are complete descriptions of several custom built motorcycles, and the men who built them. And you'll even meet a few of the ladies who hung-out with the club members.

Although I was an active member and officer of the Waterloo Outlaws MC for many years, this book is not just about me. Nor is it based on my personal experiences alone. There are facts directly from the club's secret records, and information from several period newspapers. And we've also included an abundant number of short stories, facts, and information collected from several club members too.

You'll come away with a greater understanding of why men join motorcycle clubs. And why bikers risk it all to wear the colors. And you, the reader, may even enjoy the thrill of the ride!

Warning: There are true accounts of sex, violence, wars, battles, club runs, and club parties contained in these pages. Some of the language used during the time period of these true accounts may not be socially acceptable today. Nothing contained herein is acceptable or suitable reading material for children. Specific names contained herein have been changed or omitted to protect the innocent.

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CHAPTER 1

~ESTABLISH THE WATERLOO OUTLAWS MC~

In 1966 three outlaw bikers, formally from Green Bay Wisconsin, established what would soon become the strongest most notorious 1%er motorcycle club in the history of the state of Iowa. The club soon became known as the Waterloo Outlaws MC.

The founder, Dirty Bob Miller, arrived in the city of Waterloo shortly after the police had run him out of the city of Green Bay. Prior to 1964, Dirty Bob rode with the Milwaukee Gipsy Outlaws. In July of 1964, the Chicago Outlaws sanctioned the Gipsy Outlaws and they became Chicago’s first Chapter and were renamed the Milwaukee Outlaws MC.

As the story goes, sometime after the Milwaukee Outlaws MC was sanctioned, several members became disenchanted with Chicago’s rule. They yearned for the independence they once had as Gipsy Outlaws. In time, the unrest grew and two separate factions formed within the club. Battles from within became common and blood was spilled.

Sometime in 1965, Dirty Bob and approximately five other Milwaukee Outlaws broke off and rode to Green Bay with the idea of perhaps forming a new independent Outlaws motorcycle club there. Once in Green Bay, they soon discovered Satan's Outcasts MC was already established in the area. Rumor was the Milwaukee Outlaws MC was seriously considering expansion to Green Bay too.

By 1966, Dirty Bob had several years in outlaw motorcycle clubs. He experienced firsthand the failures, flaws, and successes of these types of organizations. His goal was to take what worked in the past, enhance it, and update it to form a whole new outlaw motorcycle club. This new club would be a completely independent club which could stand alone with strength, high class and tight internal organization. The perfect location he discovered was Waterloo Iowa!

Shortly after arriving in Waterloo, Dirty Bob was joined by another rebel biker who was on the dodge from the law in Green Bay. He soon became known in Waterloo as Crazy Norbie. Sometime later, during a brief stay in Rochester Minnesota, after a disagreement with Dirty Bob, which cost him a front tooth, he also became known as Scabby Herb.

Those visionary bikers boldly chose the name Waterloo Outlaws MC for the new club. Dirty Bob assigned Crazy Norbie, who was a very talented artist, to design the colors for the club. Dirty Bob became the first President, and he appointed founding member Crazy Norbie the first Vice President.

By 1966 the Chicago Outlaws MC, established in 1935, had a firm foothold in Illinois and Milwaukee Wisconsin and flew the Skull & Pistons as their logo. Dirty Bob wanted to show the world his club was different and independent of all other Outlaws chapters in the country, so once the new colors design was completed, and personally approved by Dirty Bob, the Skull & Wings insignia became the permanent center rocker for the Waterloo Outlaws MC for the next 20 years.

It was decided the Waterloo Outlaws MC colors (rags) would only be mounted on leather jackets with no sleeves, which signified a higher level of class and status for the club and its members. (Chicago Outlaws and their sanctioned chapters allowed colors to be mounted on denim or leather) On the left front sat the 1% patch to signify the Waterloo Outlaws MC high level of independence apart from 99% of all other bikers in America. On the right front sat the Lucky Number 13 which signified the thirteenth letter of the alphabet and represented the words: Marijuana, Motorcycle, and Member.

On the back of the leathers in the area of the shoulder blades sat the top rocker. It was a piece of material cut in a slight arch shape embroidered with black border and Old English font on white material background, which read Outlaws. Right below it was the Skull & Wings insignia. It was embroidered with black border, black skull & bright yellow wings on white material background. Below the Skull & Wings center rocker, offset to the right, sat the letters MC, which stood for Motorcycle Club.

Unlike most other clubs of the day, whose focus was strength in numbers, Dirty Bob set a standard to recruit only top quality bikers as members for the Waterloo Outlaws MC. This high standard later became known and referred to as Outlaw Material. If a man didn’t live up to the standard, he wasn’t considered Outlaw Material and he wasn’t invited to join the club. The officer’s credo: I’d rather have twenty true Outlaws behind me, than one hundred bikers!

At first, with the basic groundwork laid, growth in the Waterloo Outlaws MC was slow. But the quality of those first new full members soon began to attract others of the same caliber and solid steady growth became standard.

The answer to the question what is Outlaw Material remained a secret to the outside world for over 20 years. Only those who wore the rags knew what it truly meant. In truth, it was the basic criteria to determine in advance if a man was worthy to fly the colors. Often it took a man from first introduction, to final initiation, a year or more to become a full member of the Waterloo Outlaws MC.

Those tough standards became the creed of all Waterloo Outlaws throughout the next two decades. As a result, all members were viewed as a rare breed, different and unyielding, mysterious and secretive by the outside world. Even other outlaw bikers, especially through the mid-70’s, misunderstood and were often confused and frustrated by the Waterloo Outlaws unique, often unorthodox actions.

Most outsiders just couldn’t comprehend how so few as twenty Waterloo Outlaws could stand alone, hold their ground, and successfully ward off all threats from all other bikers, all other clubs, and even the general public and local law enforcement for two decades.

The high level of commitment in recruiting only top quality men, combined with very tight organizational skills of the founders, which were later enhanced by VP and Council Member TJ Read, further enhanced by the officer team of Powers and North, and carried on by every subsequent ranking officer who ever wore the colors, was the major reason for the great long lasting domination of the Waterloo Outlaws MC!

This is not to say the Waterloo Outlaws MC was never challenged or threatened. They were repeatedly over the years. For example, in 1968 the Chicago Outlaws MC labeled them rebel outlaws. In 1983, it was rumored the Florida Outlaws MC called them fake outlaws. Other bike clubs, such as the Chosen Few, Brotherhood, El Forasteros, Nuggets, and Grim Reapers, among others, tried and failed to capture the territory held by the Waterloo Outlaws MC. Even individual small groups of local bikers which were labeled loners, free riders, and free loaders attempted feeble power-plays to establish themselves within the city of Waterloo. All attempts were crushed, and from 1966 through 1986 the Waterloo Outlaws MC held and controlled the city of Waterloo Iowa. After 1972, they also firmly held the entire north east part of the state!

Unlike most other bike clubs across the nation, who sought new members based on what a man rode, how often he rode, how he partied, or whether he was a badass in a brawl, those factors were not the primary criteria used by the Waterloo Outlaws to determine the worthiness or value of a potential new member. A man’s internal fortitude, trustworthiness, individual skills, abilities, and overall attitude were much more important and sought after qualities.

From the very beginning, the Waterloo Outlaws MC invited only those who were unique, above average, which stood out as special. All potential new members (Prospects) had to prove they were of a quality and class worthy to fly the colors. Fast growth or large numbers was not the primary goal for the club. To some, this may seem to suggest a certain level of arrogance and perhaps that’s true. But the high standards set by the founders, combined with the tight organization within the Waterloo Outlaws MC, proved year after year to be insurmountable against all who threatened their firm control.

Waterloo Outlaws MC 1966 – 1967

The following documentation was taken from club records and local newspapers of the time period. In addition, several witness accounts were passed on by members who rode with the club at the time.

Shortly after the founding members established the Waterloo Outlaws MC, they began recruitment efforts throughout the city. Although many bikers in town were not considered Outlaw Material, those few who qualified became the first Prospects in the new club and it steadily grew to a formidable size.

This noticeable growth of a new biker club in town didn’t set well with the Waterloo city fathers, and was especially not appreciated by the already stretched thin local law enforcement. With a strong and ever growing troublesome black population on the city’s north/east side, the cops didn’t need any bike club causing terror and havoc in the city of Waterloo.

Although the exact timeframe or level of authority within the city can not be confirmed, we do know secret plans were made by the city’s police force to infiltrate the Waterloo Outlaws MC with one of their own at the earliest possible moment. In the mean time, orders were given to all police officers in the city to investigate the current known members at every opportunity. Obviously the cop’s ultimate goal was to bust and/or disband the gang.

To assume the cops weren’t somewhat justified in their motives would be an inaccurate assumption. Several of the early members did have wide ranging criminal backgrounds. One of the founders was a fugitive from the law in another state, with a long police record, who had temporarily escaped to Waterloo in 1966.

Another member was arrested 45 times over a period of 15 years prior to, during, and after his club days. The same member once slit a man’s throat in a bar fight. Fortunately the victim did survive. He also witnessed a Bro being blasted in the side with a shotgun. He too miraculously survived.

But to imply the early members weren’t hardcore or weren’t involved in very bloody serious altercations, which obviously fell under the jurisdiction of the law, just isn’t accurate. It was a rough period of time and not everyone, especially the local police and most city officials, wanted the Waterloo Outlaws MC in their town!

In the 60’s normal average citizens across the country shared the opinion all bikers were just common criminals. It was an equally common assumption any biker gang was a bunch of lowlife thieves, terrorists, rapists and murders who rode together only to create havoc and terrorize local communities.

Most folks were still under the dilution the best way to rid their communities of bikers was a head-to-head, toe-to-toe fight. The younger men in the city used those tactics against the Waterloo Outlaws many, many times. The older citizens turned to the local police force and applied increasingly growing pressure on the city's politicians. By 1967 nearly everyone in the city wanted the Waterloo Outlaws MC gone!

Because of mounting pressure, several members, including the President Dirty Bob and his Vice President Crazy Norbie, had become primary targets of the Waterloo city police force and the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s department. The pigs theorized if they could take the leaders down, the rest of the gang would fall. In spite of all of their early multiple harassment tactics, the club remained strong and continued to grow.

During those first few years, there were several altercations with the local cops. Most were the result of fights and barroom brawls, but some were more serious. Harassment of all members by the cops increased noticeably. Dirty Bob stood his ground and remained in the city. Some other members occasionally took flight to other states to let the heat cool down.

On several one occasions, Crazy Norbie left the state of Iowa for parts unknown. This was not so much to avoid the cops, as it was for a change in scenery. Norbie never liked to stay in one place too long during those years. He was searching for something, he didn’t know what yet and it was illusive, so he kept on the move. He didn’t actually discover his true calling until about 1975.

Chicago Comes To Town…

In May of 1968, about ten members of the Chicago Outlaws MC rode in to the city of Waterloo to meet with Dirty Bob. Chicago and Milwaukee had heard of Dirty Bob’s new Outlaw club and they came in to see for themselves, with an eye on further expansion. After two days of discussion, Chicago offered Bob a sanction. Chicago Outlaws MC wanted a Skull & Pistons chapter in the state of Iowa. Dirty Bob turned them down flat!

Dirty Bob had already flown the Skull & Pistons while in Milwaukee and he wanted no outside control in Waterloo. He vowed to remain 100% independent! He also boldly claimed the whole state of Iowa as Waterloo Outlaws MC (Skull & Wings) territory.

Chicago was not pleased with Bob’s decision and attempted to apply pressure to swing things their way. Even though he knew he was vastly outnumbered should a war erupt, he stood his ground. Two of the members from Chicago knew Dirty Bob personally from his days with the Milwaukee Outlaws. They convinced the others threats wouldn’t work on Dirty Bob, and a war with his Waterloo club would not be wise.

After a few more days of negotiations, a deal was struck. Chicago hung the label rebel outlaws on the Waterloo club. From that day on, Chicago considered the Waterloo Outlaws MC allies, not enemies or a threat. Chicago came to town two more times in 1973, and 1977. Their respect for Dirty Bob’s agreement held firm. Their agreement and relationship stood well into the 80’s. Chicago and Milwaukee Outlaws MC were never a problem for Waterloo.

1968 – Cops, Politicians & Citizens Make Their Move…

On December 3, 1968 the headline in the local daily newspaper boasted: Outlaws Finished, Authorities Claim. Five More Accused of Sexual Offenses. In the article’s first paragraph, police and sheriff’s deputies were quoted as saying: The Outlaws have had it. There are no more Outlaws! They’re finished! Obviously their claims, at the very least, were greatly premature. What proved to be fact later, those statements were completely false! Sure, it was true the cops had busted several members of the club during the previous seven months, but they most certainly didn’t arrest or have them all behind bars! The Outlaws were far from finished!

The overly optimistic headline on December 3rd did not mark the beginning of the legal problems for the Waterloo Outlaws in 1968, oh no. It all started on Saturday June 15th at about 3:00 AM.

(The following true account contains quotes and/or facts from various cops, County Attorney Roger Peterson and Dave Dutton, 14 state witnesses, the defendant and his wife, Attorneys for the defendant, James Dunbar and Stephen Peterson. It also contains factual information from local newspapers and members of the Waterloo Outlaws who witnessed these events at the time)

It should be noted here, prior to June 15th 1968; no member of the Waterloo Outlaws MC had been convicted of any serious crime or felony offence in the city of Waterloo Iowa. Not One!

On June 16th 1968, the local newspaper headline announced: Fatal Shooting Follows Unexpected Visit to Home. The article goes on to say: A Waterloo man was fatally shot early yesterday when he and a companion made an unexpected call on a friend…Michael Hannan, 28, was killed at approximately 3:00AM when he was shot in the upper left chest by a shotgun blast fired by Robert Miller, 28, at Miller’s home on Randall Street. Miller was arrested yesterday and charged with manslaughter. His bond was set at $2,000.00. He posted bond last night.

The accused shooter was Dirty Bob Miller, President of the Waterloo Outlaws MC. On the early morning of June 15th, at about 3:00AM, Dirty Bob was abruptly awakened by his wife Barbara claiming she’d heard a: crashing noise downstairs. She told him: someone broke into the house. Groggy and still half drunk he grabbed his 12 gage shotgun, and headed for the staircase leading to the lower level of the house. Upon reaching the head of the stairs, he could see the shadow of a man crossing the room below the staircase. The only illumination came from a faint kitchen light. Dirty Bob was very near-sighted and he had failed to put on his eye-glasses before confronting the intruder, so his vision was greatly blurred.

It’s also important to mention here, Bob’s four young children were asleep upstairs on the night of the break-in. The man was defending his home and family against an unknown intruder! One witness later claimed Dirty Bob verbally confronted the man, demanding to know who he was and why he was in his house. Although the man did mumble something, nothing was really audible to Bob or his wife. As he started to descend down the staircase he warned the intruder he was armed. Bob later stated he assumed the intruder was a: nigger trying to rob him

As he came slowly down the stairs, the man suddenly turned to come up the steps toward him. When the two were only a few steps apart, near the bottom of the staircase, the man shouted: Give me that gun! He grabbed the barrel of the shotgun, and either pulled it toward him self or lost his balance and fell backwards. The 12 gage went off and a full load of shot struck the man in the upper left chest, and exited and splattered blood all over the wall and stairs behind. The man tumbled to the bottom of the stairs, and was dead almost instantly. He lay in a pool of blood on the floor at the bottom of the staircase until police arrived.

Records showed Dirty Bob’s wife called for an ambulance. The call was documented in hospital records at approximately 3:30AM. Bob stated at the time: Until I tried to revive the dead man, I didn’t know who he was!

Physical evidence at the scene supported Bob’s description of the events. The cops cleared the house and began their investigation. The back door had been kicked in, from the outside, to gain entrance. The only light was from the kitchen. Only one shot had been fired. No second empty shotgun shell casing was found at the scene. Only one spent round was found in the weapon. The only blood was on, and near, the staircase and the floor below. There was no blood found outside, as was later claimed by one state witness and presented in court by assistant County Attorney Dave Dutton. The body remained on the floor at the bottom of the staircase, and it had not been moved.

Police at the scene would later admit Bob was noticeably distraught. He even at one point vomited in the toilet upstairs. He and all other witnesses stated Dirty Bob himself tried to resuscitate and treat the victim’s wounds when the victim was recognized. At that point, he knew the man was a friend. This fact upset him immensely during the next several months.

The police investigated the crime scene throughout the day. After 4:00PM on June 15 1968, Robert L Miller was formally arrested and charged with the crime of manslaughter. The bond was set at $2,000.00, which was the maximum legal limit for the alleged crime at the time. The bail was posted, in cash, by the Waterloo Outlaws MC within a few hours later. Bob, his wife, and four children were taken by club members to a safe-house on the north/east side of the city. The family remained there for about two weeks, until a new residence could be located.

On Monday June 17th, Dirty Bob appeared before Municipal Judge Everett Scott. He was formally charged with manslaughter and a preliminary trial date was set for July 26th. In the meantime, he remained free on bond.

Local Political Influence…

Sometime between June 17th, and July 26th, the city's politicians stepped in. It is unclear just exactly what type of pressure was applied, or even who exactly the pressure was applied on. However as events unfolded in subsequent months, there is little doubt the always over zealous assistant County Attorney Dave Dutton planned to make a name for himself, and this was just the case he hoped to use for his personal rise to fame.

There is also little doubt Dutton was also encouraged by, and supported by, several higher political leaders. It was also obvious the case against the Outlaws President had the support of the statewide media and the majority of the citizens. This case was a big one. The biggest the city had seen in many years. The prosecution was determined to take outside opinions and support, and twist it to their advantage in the courtroom to secure a conviction.

Prior to the Robert Miller trial, Dutton was already known for twisting facts, creating distortions, and in some instances even presenting falsehoods in court, in an effort to win his cases. To many on both sides, the opinion was he had high political aspirations. In the opinion of those who witnessed the trial, he used, or attempted to use, every dirty trick in the book during the first trial of Dirty Bob Miller, President of the Waterloo Outlaws MC.

In layman terms, Dutton was a scheming slime ball throughout the whole trial! But the assistant prosecutor wasn’t alone, as you will soon discover. Again in layman terms, from the day of the preliminary trial, through until a verdict was reached, the whole case as presented by the state stunk to high heaven!

Under the American justice system, we as citizens assume an accused criminal is arrested, incarcerated, charged, brought to trial, and sentenced based on the circumstances of the alleged crime itself.

In this country, we also assume we have a legal right, under the protection of the United States Constitution, to defend and protect our property, family, and ourselves against all threats within our homes and on our own property.

In the 1968 Robert L. Miller case, in Waterloo Iowa, twisted state law prevailed and all Federal Constitutional protection laws were thrown right out the window.

There is little, if any, doubt Bob Miller was brought to trial, convicted, and sentenced based on whom and what he was, instead of the so-called crime itself. And therein is the travesty!

Since when did it become a crime to shoot an intruder who breaks into your home in the middle of the night where your wife and children are sleeping?! Where is the crime? Where is the justice in prosecuting a man for defending his home and family?!

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CHAPTER 2

~TRAVESTY BEGINS~

On July 26 1968, the man booked for manslaughter as Robert L Miller stepped into the courtroom to face Judge Peter Van Metre for the preliminary trial. On one side of the room stood County Attorney Roger Peterson and first assistant County Attorney David Dutton, who represented the prosecution for the state. On the opposing side, Defense Attorneys James Dunbar and Stephen Peterson also stood in the courtroom.

By the end of the proceedings, Bob was now charged with murder! His $2,000.00 bond was revoked and the new bond was set at $10,000.00. He was shackled and chained and whisked off by four armed deputies to the county jail. It was obvious the plan of the state was to make sure by whatever means, Bob would never breathe free air again!

In addition, Dirty Bob now faced a narcotics charge. The cops had raided his home after the shooting and found an undisclosed quantity of marijuana in a dresser. (The cops were later forced to drop the drug charges completely - It was only 5 joints)

In part, because of the state’s desire for a conviction for 1st Degree Murder, and because of the mounting pressure from those outside of the courtroom, the term President of the Outlaws gang became much more prevalent in all media reports. It meant so much to the state’s case in fact, David Dutton early on in the trial made a point of establishing the fact through direct testimony from witnesses, and those testifying, including Dirty Bob himself.

Dirty Bob Miller sat in the Black Hawk County jail for approximately two weeks before the club could raise the bail money. The cops weren’t happy when two members of the Outlaws walked in and slapped $10,000.00 in cash on the counter to bail their President out of jail. The cops stalled for nearly four hours, before finally releasing him.

By October 21st, the day before jury selection was to begin; the authorities and the media had done their jobs well. 99% of the folks in the state were convinced Dirty Bob Miller, President of the Outlaws motorcycle gang was guilty of murdering what was now referred to in the press as his BEST friend.

The local cops had been busy too, and did their very best to portray the whole club as a bunch of lowlife criminals. It was important to all involved to paint the illusion the Outlaws were the lowest form of life imaginable and had to be driven from the city! That atmosphere played right into the upcoming murder trial. And of course, information about each and every new arrest of any member of the Outlaws was immediately released to the now hungry media.

From June to October 22nd local law enforcement, through a combined effort, arrested over 18 members of the Waterloo Outlaws MC. In addition, from August through December of 1968, they also arrested five women who hung out with the Outlaws.

For the club members, the charges ranged from rape, sodomy, narcotics, possession of pot, assault with a chain, uttering a false instrument, and several other really minor charges. One member was arrested and charged with being the official photographer for the Outlaws. Pictures and film was seized depicting wild outlaw’s sex parties & alleged illegal sexual acts. Others were busted for being drunk, bar fights, etc.

Three of the women arrested were charged with being porn stars in Outlaws movies. One even received a year in prison for the part she played in a seized film. (She was later quickly paroled and the sentence was suspended. Of course they waited until AFTER Dirty Bob’s trial!)

In the end, although they managed to drag it all out until early 1969, only two other members received jail time for any charges brought against them during 1968. One other member who was originally charged with rape, but had the case thrown out because of lack of evidence, was rearrested two days later and charged with… Are you ready for this one? Breaking a showerhead while he was in jail! They hung a six month sentence