Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-14
KNOWN AS THE BOY SHERIFF.
Quiet Fad Who Had to Make Funerals
to Restore order.

From the Denver Republican
Lying helpless on one of the little white
cots in the mems wards at st. Iuke's Hos
pital. his body nearly broken in two and
emaciated from long suffering, is Charles
f. Aver. the boy sheriff" of Decatur
county, Kan, once known throughout the
entire west as among the most daring of
peace officers, at time when man
cepted an office such he held knowing
well that did he ever finch or show a mo-
ments hesitation when dealing with tie
outlaws who were his especial charge his
life would pay the penalty.
When but twenty-one years old Aver was
appointed sheriff of Decatur county by
Gov. John p. st. John of Kansas The
county had but recently been organized,
and the man elected to the Office OF sheriff,
after looking over the ground and becom-
ing acquainted with the characters with
whom he would have to deal. never quail
fled. Young Aver had already been slated
as deputy. and when the first place was
made vacant expressed a Willingness to &C
cept 1t. No one else wanted the job
Oberlin. the county seat, was the center
of large range country, and also the rem
devious of the Lincoln county outlaws.
Who came there after the memorable county
seat wars Bad men of all degrees locked
to the new county and county seat. They
found their match in the young sheriff.
How many of them fell before his unerring
cantly. that soon there was a sort of I'M
derstanding between him and the despera-
does and there was no further trouble" But
this was not brought about easily. On one
occasion. during the sheriff's absence from
Oberlin. he was riding over the prairie after
a fleeing band of disturbers when a crowd
from New Mexico rode into town. and.
finding Aver absent, proceeded to shoot
up the town in the approved fashion of the
day They literally took possession of the
frontier village, breaking into stores and
saloons that had been closed when they ap-
peared. Citizens who dared show them
selves were beaten with the butts of the
outlaws rifles, all the provisions they could
carry were stolen and others destroyed and
the store of liquor in the saloons was con-
sumed. The invaders were some of BILLY
the Kid gang. the most vicious of the
desperadoes. Among them was Charles
Best. alias John Henry, who acted as
leader.
When the sheriff returned the bad men
had left and the town was reasonably quiet.
But John Henry and his followers remained.
The leader was emholdened by his seeming
success. even to the extent of Dragging that
he would remain in town until he got the
sheriff. The day after Ayers return he was
in barber shop. and few doors away
Henry sat in a lawyers office. apparently
him by other MEANS he shot off one of his
revolvers. knowing that when he heard the
report Aver would; Tush out to learn the
cause Of the shooting. In this he was cor
rect, for Aver jumped from the BARRIERS
chair and rushed to the door Of the lawyers
office. As he stepped in Henry aimed and
fired at him, but missed. He never got a
second shot There may have been men
who could draw a gun quicker than the boy
sheriff. but they were not common for
western Kansas. When Henry was picked
up it was found that two bullets had pen
etrated his body either one of which would
have finished him. Just after the second
shot Aver was grabbed from behind and
his arms pinioned. aiow he freed himself
from the strong arms of Henrys followers
Aver cannot tell but he threw him cut Of
the office. firing at the same time. the bull
let passing through the mans breast. There
was double funeral that afternoon and
no more was heard of Billy the Kids
gang. Aver restored peace and order in De-
funerals before the desired end was reached.
He Is modest. as are most brave men, but
in relating few incidents of mis- life in the
early days of Kansas his piercing gray eyes
sparkled. and he drew himself up as best
old DAYS came back to him.
But 1 don't like to talk about these
things" he said, slight groan escaping
him. as his bruises were painful II did
only my duty. and in proof of this can cite
the fact that I won the respect of all good
people in the county. They reelected me
sheriff after my first term. and afterward
served as United States marshal of the dis
trict."
Eleven years ago Aver moved to Colo
RADIO. and has since lived in Routt county,
where he owns a large ranch and a big herd