Cornelius Donahue alias "Lame Johnny" (c.1850 in Philadelphia – 1878), was an American cattle rustler, horse thief and outlaw from the Black Hills of South Dakota.
His gang's most notorious robbery was probably $3,500 in currency, $500 in diamonds, hundreds of dollars' worth of jewelry and 700 pounds of gold dust, nuggets and bullion from a special treasure coach called the "Monitor" belonging to the Homestake Mine in October 1878.
Doug Engebretson in his book Empty saddles, forgotten names: Outlaws of the Black Hills and Wyoming has the following to say on Johnny's demise:[1] In July 1879 the coach going from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Deadwood, South Dakota carried captured stage robber Lame Johnny who was being returned to Deadwood for trial.
May and messenger Jesse Brown left the stage at Buffalo Gap and "Whispering" Smith, retained responsibility for Lame Johnny.
Lame Johnny was later apprehended and hanged in June 1879 by a group of vigilantes that quite likely included Daniel Boone May, who was a stage coach "messenger" (hired guard,) gunman, and part-time lawman in the Black Hills area.