Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-07-08
AN EARLY JESSE JAMES.
doc" Middleton, a Hishwayman,
Brisand and Desperate.
Out of the Penitsntiay Ready for Business
Between Cheyenne ard Dead~ood-
Operations of His Gaug.

"Doc" Middleton, says the Denver
Tribune, whose exploits rs highway.
man, brigand and desperate are part
of the early history of Colorado, wy
omiDg and Nebraska, and who has been
serving a five years sentence IN the
penitentiary for stealing cattle Ia the
NuIlh Park, Wa discharged from thai
institution last Friday, aud immediate
iy boarded the eastward bound train.
His destination IL unknown, but he in
formed the prison officials that be wa
going to new country where the name
of Middleton was unknown, aud where
he would have al opportunity OF lie al
ing new life among strangers. Dur
my his long confinement in the prison
he behaved himself like a man, aud
conformed to the rules of the prison u
the letter, not receiving one black mark.
A few days before his discharge, while
at work in one of the shops in the
prison, and intently rejecting on toe
lew days more of prison life, he put one
of his fingers too near the buzz.saW,
cutting it off. The prison physician
attended 10 the finger, and the next day
Middleton reported TO the warden that
he was ready for some light work. He
was told that he migut 90 into tho
hospital for repairs, il he choose; but he
answered that his service belonged to
the State, and he was ready to put In
the time faithfully.
During the early days Of the Black
Hills excitement "Doc" and his gang
operated on the road between Cheyenne
and Deadw wood City, at times varying
the business of robbing stage coaches
by stealing cattle. Once lie Was CAP
tured and tried by crowd of cowboys,
and sentenced to be hung. His arms
and legs were bound, and he wss
mounted on q horse and driven under
limb of q large tree, from which q rope
hung. A moose was made and tied UNI
der his neck, and the horse driven
away, leaving Middleton suspended Ia
mid. air. Two OF the members OF his
gang happened to be in the neighbour.
hood, aud after the cowboys had ridden
away they cut doc" down, and after
TWO hours' hard work resuscltated him.
For several years after this occurrence
it WAS claimed that "DOc's' ghost
haunted the Tersitory, and innuner.
able stories we're written OF itseXploits
One Eight the ghost attacked a stage
coach and one of the more courageous
passengers shot at and wounded Tue
ghost, which proved to be the veritable
Middleton masquerading in the guise
of a ghost, and carrying on his usual
avocations. A very lurid account OF
the exploits of "MiddletOn's Ghost
written by Stanley Huntly, then an at
tache of paper in Dakota, to the
brooklyn Eagle, was the means Of hls
employ ment as q Regular correspond.
ent, and no doubt contributed to the
later success of the Spoopendyke pa
pers. During the early part Of the
year 1875, Middleton and a pal planned
and executed bold bank robbery Al
Deadwood City, which was fora long
time laid at the door Ofthe James gang,
and Pinkerton's detectives spent thouS-
ands Of dollars hunting them, while
Middleton with his swag remained
quietly in Deadwood laughing in his
sleeve