New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-03-09
SHOOTING A WESTERN DESPER4D0
THE FATE or A FIGHTING Man WHOSE PISTOL WAS
FMPTY.

tnr rELEGeAPI TO THE rgfncsr.
CurYrNNE, Wyoming, March S.-News has
lust reached this city Of the killing OF William Peyton in
liquor store In Sheridan. 10 which place hc went from
Allegheny. Penn. four years ago. Peyton was
a desperate character. For four years he and his
gang torrorizod Montana Wyoming. aud other Western
territory. Under the of "Dick Buckley he
was feared by every body. lie rcspeotor OF per
sons He was about twenty ve years OF age and OF SUI
peror muscular development. There was not man IN
the Territories who could match him in strength He was
a sure shot and when drunk would shoot man even II
he refused an driuk His boast was that there
wasn't man Ia the Territories who could arrest him.
Twice posse succeeded In getting him to tho lookup.
and there 10 took dozen 20 secure him. Pcyton
had a large following OF tough characters. mostly de-
serters from army and fugitves from justice from
all over the land fe was deserter himself from Fort
Magnni. but the officers although they knew That be
WA. in the country never made any effort 10 capture
him.
For the past three weeks the shooters rode around
the streets Of herdan shooting dogs and firing at per
sons Several OF the citizens were struck by The nyng
bullets and they finally determined to set rid of the rn'
fan party organized to capture PeytOn, nut he
was warned and rode rapidly out OF town. lie returned
the following night however with reyolyers and knives
iu his belt, denod the town and discharged his
pistol several tunes at pede rlans When 40 desirable
mark presented itself he made target OF doors and
windows ON Saturday morning notice 90 leave town
was served him, aud lac replied with oath that sc
would not 90 lie compelled several person. 10 drink
he incentive OF drawn pistol TO those
who disposed Ia comply with his request
The townspeope In the meantime were organizing To
arrest Peyton. when they arrived nj Reese cos
store Of which he had taken possession he was dead
He entered the saloon and called everybody nj to tho
bar All knew Peyton, and remembered tho fate OF
others who had refused To drink with him. SO they al
arose except l.. n. Jones' II miner .
Z" amt fccin' WELL DICK, said Jones, Z" ana don't
care to drink anyhow
You've to drink with me-" rcJoned Pcyton, cooking
his pistol and aiming IL al Jones.
"oh, well, Dick II you insist on IL I will We won't
quarrel about IT," answered Jones, laughing. lie rose
and walked to the bar but quickly stepped behind it
and grasped q double barreed shotgun, which stood
IN the corner. Pcyton "drew down" on Jones
and everybody stepped aside. Tho ba,ii.a1
fell, but tho pistol did not go ot
II snapped again twice IN succession without result
When Ieyton pulled the trigger the third time Jones
fred and discharged both barrels simultaneously, the
contents almost diseiabowens PcytoD who dropped TO
tla floor with his pistol still pointed at Jones. He nado
desperate effort 10 pull the trigger before he expired
but his strength failed him When Peytou's pistol was
examined, it was discovered that there three
empty and three full chambers The next time Peyton
coud have pulled the trigger. 1t would certainly have
been discharged.