, 1891-03-28
DOC MIDDLETON.
The Old Time Wyoming Outlaw
Killed in Nebraska.
Twice Captured by Billy Lykins in
Early Days.
Two Exciting Fights With the
Noted Desperate.
Taken Through an Armed Mob of
Middlet0n's Friends.

A telegram from Omaha announcing
the shooting and death of Doc Middleton,
the notorious outlaw, ~revives interest here
in the Wyoming exploits OF Middleton in
the early days. Numerous stories have
been published about Middleton and his
Wyoming career, but few OF them have
been strictly true. From Billy Lykins,
who twice captured Middleton. the fol
lowing recount has been obtained and it
is thoroughly reliable.
Middleton came north from Texas in
1877. His real name was James Riley.
In 1870 he had been convicted of muir
der and sentenced to IMPRISONMENT for
lie. He escaped from prison alter a
confinement of six years. His first ex-
p]erience in the north was the theft OF a
horse for which he served eighteen months
in an Iowa jail. In the spring of 1877
he came to Sidney. Nebraska. Two days
alter his arrival he killed a soldier FROM
the Fort Sidney garrison. He was arrested
but the sheriff allowed him to escape to
get away from a mob which was march
ing on the Jail to lynch him.
In the ialI of 1878 he worked tor John
Sparks at Fort Laramie. Sparks had two
Texans, Jno. Baldridre and Henry
Skurry-Aerding horses for him. Middle
ton Joined then and the three stole forty
head of horses and started for the Repub-
lican river. Four days later Lykins went
after them. He overlook them at Jules
burg. They were trying to cross the
stock over the Platte river at that place.
Skurry and Baldridge skipped out when
they heard that LYkins was after them
and Middleton had a man named Tom
Smith helping him with the horses.
Lykins came on them twelve miles from
Julesburg. He had with him II half
breed Indian boy and a cowboy. After a
chase of eight miles Middleton and
Smiths horses began to play out n they
took to a high butte where they dis
mounted and fired eight or ten shots at
Lykins. Lykins sent his men to the OBJ
posite side of the bluff and returned the
fire. He lay fiat an the ground and soon
forced Middleton aud Smith into Il pile of
rocks. He then circled around the bluff
to find out that his men had pulled out
and left him. He moved up the hill and
came upon the fugitives suddenly, being
but fifty yards from them. Middleton
pulled down his gun on him and Lykins
could see the hole in the muzzle, so close
was he to him. The shot barely missed
him. He returned the fire, d%ismounting
from his horse as he did so. Then Smith
called out. I'VE surrender. Lykins told
them to throw down their guns and come
down singly. Smith came down first and
then Middleton. Lykins stood them ten
PAGES from him with their their hands
over their heads and took them to a ranch
near by and the following day gathered
up the stolen stock and took it with his
prisoners to Sidney.
The sheriff said it was no use TO put
the men in irons as he would keep a
strong guard over them, but that night
both men escaped. The sheriff had
helped them out. Smith went to the
Black Hills where Lyklns afterwards cap
tured him and he was sent to the peui-
t~entiary. Middleton was at large until
1879 aud had with him a band of fifteen
or twenty desperate men, who raIded Ne
braska and Eastern Wyoming, stealing
horses and cattle.
He frequently sent Lykins word he was
! uatnu IN lii btn, l.. H. n-r 1870
the Wyoming and Nebraska stockmen aud
the Union Pacific Railroad company
united in raising a big reward which they
offered LykIus for Middleton's capture.
Lykins took the field with two men
named Llewellen and Hazen, the latter OF
whom had~been in the Fort Dodge jail
with Middleton.
They caught up with Middleton, who
had four men with him. one Sunday
morning. Lykins was half a mile ahead
OF his men when Middleton and his gang
charged on him. Lykins fired four times
with his rifle but the cartridges failed to
explode. A tusilade of shots was being
poured in on him from Middleton $ party.
FINALLY he threw down his rifle and COM
menced shooting with his revolver. The
first shot struck Middleton in the
stomach. The ball passed entirely through
hun but Middleton stuck to his horse.
He turned and said "ruu boys, run. >
They all broke and ran and circled their
horses to where Lykins' man Hazen was
coming nm the road Ivkins shot ~
them but failed to hit. As they got to
where Hazen was Middleton's horse threw
him off. He gathered himself up and
shot at Hazen whose horse bucked and
threw him off. Middleton then walked
up to the PROSTATE man and shot him
three times in the body, neck and
shoulder. Strange to say Hazen was not
killed. LykIns came up as rapidly as