William Henry Rhodes

William Henry Rhodes (July 16, 1822–1876) is known for his short story, The Case of Summerfield, which appeared in 1871 in a San Francisco newspaper under the pseudonym Caxton.

Possessing a great ambition, and a mind superior to his companions, he became a leader among the young men of Galveston, where his father was located in his office as Consul.

Here he gathered around him an Association of young men, whose zealous natures were congenial to his lofty ambition In 1844, he entered Harvard law school, where he remained for two years.

The Case of Summerfield was published in the Sacramento Union newspaper in 1871 and included a character named Black Bart which later became the alias for Charles Bolles.

It was the story's villain, however, that caught Charles Bolles' attention and he later used the intimidating name which would be familiar to many in California as an alias in his poems left behind at crime scenes.