The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-16
THE DEATH OF JOE DYE.
After Many Close Calls, He Net
His Fate in Los Angeles.

The telegraph yesterday morning brought
the news OF the killing of Joe Dye at Los
Angeles by Nate BraJfeId. Dye has only
met the fate he meetted out to so many
others. He has probably killed eight or ten
men, and some of them not always in fair
fight Dye went to Los Angeles about
twenty-one years ago from Montana, from
which place 1t was currently reported he
had been driven by the yigiantes after
killing three men. He was known as
bad man" and as Los Angeles at that time
was infested by some pretty tough eharac-
tiers, he readily secured a position on the
police force. About one of his first man
killing episodes. after his a pointnent, was
the deliberate killing of a horse-thief whom
he was conducting to Jail. and who broke
and ran away from him on Spring street.
Jumping low, three-boarded fence and fee
ing across the open lot. Dye called on him
to halt which the man not doing he deliber-
ately rested his pistol on the top board OF
the fence and shot the fleeing man through
the back killing him almost instantly. A
short time after this he shot another man
under similar circumstances.
The circumstance which brought him
most prominently before the Los Angeles
public as tighter and man-kller was his
| fght with and killing of BILLY Warren"
the Town Marshal. The trouble arose over
| the reward offered by q Chinese for the re-
| covery Of lis reputed wife. Warren and
| Dye were both working on the case. The
| woman was Secreted on the stage and got
! out of town, but the stage was pursued. aud
/ at the second stopping place, about twenty
| five miles from Los Angeles, was over
| taken, and the woman captured by Dye
/ and brought back TO town. Some trumpet
up charge was preferred against her and
/ she was put ON trial. just at the close of
| -. Il and
| wIangling as &c who was entitled to the
| 500 reward for the capture. Warren was
| noted for his fearlessneSs and hardness
| with his gun" and when wrangling with
| Dye he held cooked derringer in his left
| hand behind his back, leaving his right hand
/ free to use his siX-ShoOter. Dye was a large
powerful man, nearly six feet tall, while
| Warren was of slight build and not more
| than feet inches Warren was standing
outside OF the sidewalk and Dye on the
curb. In the course of the wTangle Dye gave
| Warren the lie, just what he WAS fishing for.
| wien, quick as a flash, Warren threw up
his left hand with the derringer, and, put
ting it within a few inches of Dyes face,
fired. lie made a miss, just grazing the
side Of Dyes head, which caused him TO
whir around. AS he made the swing he
| drew his pistol and Warren did the same.
As Dye faced about they both commenced
firing Warren was noted as dead shot,
! but he lost his head, and "a soon as the
shooting commenced he began jumping from
side 10 side TO prevent Dye hitting him,
while Dye stood perfectly still and erect
and put five or six balls into Warren, and
was only touched on the arm by Warren'S
bullet One of Dyes bullets struck War
| ren's silver watch aud was firmly imbedded.
The cool manner in which Dye conducted
himself during the encounter raised HIM In
the estimation Of the Los Angeles people,
and he was made Marshal some short time
after. AT the inquest on Warren, Dye was
eXonerated, it being case Of justiiable
homicide. Whenever Dye would make an
arrest. no matter what the circumstances,
he would always get the drop" on his man,
as he said HE wasn't taking any chances"
Dyes latest killing is noted in the dispatch
as being that of a man who accused him Of
assaultng his wife. Dye, like wild Bill,
Jack Harvey" his partner, BILLY, the
KID" and others of his ilk, may have been
of some use to the world, but peace loving
citizens will not shed many tears over their
taking off. or complain of the manner in
| which it is done.