The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-09
BATTLE TO
THE DEATH
DEADLY DUEL Between MON
TANA SHERIFF AND WYOM-
ING HORSE THIEF.
Potter of Red Lodge County Braves
the Fire of an Outlaw and Sends
Bullet Through the Heart of the
Desperate, Who Tries. While
Dying, to End the Life of
the Officer.
Especial to Inter Mountain.)

~
Red Lodge Aug. 9-Bily Johns a
horse thief from Wyoming. is in jail here,
while his partner, Jack Sloan, is in the
mo1sue. with a big bullet hole in his
chest. The 10 horses the men had III
their possession are being cared for by
the authorities, who will return them to
their owners.
Yesterday afternoon Sheriff Potter re-
ceived a message from Deputy Sheriff
James of Big Horn coupnty. Wyoming,
stating that Johns and Sloan were
headed this way With a small band of
stolen horses. and asking that they be
arrested if possible. Sheriff Potter at
once started a search for the two men,
with the results narrated above.
Johns. it appears. after establishing
camp a few miles out. which Sloan was
left to guard. came 10 Red Lodge and
went to a harness shop. where he was
found by the officers. He made an at
tempt 10 draw his revolver , but was
covered by two guns and warned that
a second move upon his part would re-
suit in his instant death. He surrendered
without another word, and told where
Sloan could be found
In Sloan the officers found they had
man different from Johns to deal With.
He was found sitting in front of the
camp, watching the horses, which We're
pasturing in the neighborhood When
the sheriff and his deputy approached he
sprang to his feet and pulled his re-
volver.
Throw up your hands. Sloan!" called
out the sheriff. We want you. You
have no chance to get away, SO you
might as we'll give up without fight
Take me if you cam" responded the
horse thief as he fired a shot at the Of
ficers. The bullet whstled harmlessly
over their heads, and before they could
reply the hunted man had ducked down
behind the bank of an irrigation ditch.
While the outlaw was securely en-
trenched the two officers We're exposed
to his merciless fire. and for few min
utes a leaden hail kept them jumping
from side to side in an endeavor to dodge
the bullets coming their way. Then there
was pause-the outlaw had stopped
shooting in order to reload his revolvers.
Taking advantage of the cessation of
the fire the sheriff ran forward in an en-
deavor to get pot shot at his man. AS
he came within 20 or 80 feet of the out
laws little fort Sloan arose, each hand
holding a As revolver, which he turned
upon the rapidly advancing officer
Sheriff Potter, seeing that it was either
his life or the life of the outlaw, pointed
his weapon, and, taking a hasty aim,
fired endeavoring to strike the despe-
RADIO in a vital spot. At the report OF
the revolver Sloan dropped his guns,
threw up his hands and pitched forward.
He was not dead. however, for as the
sheriff approached he raised himself upon
his elbow, seized one of his revolvers and
attempted to shoot the officer. He lacked
strength to pull the trigger, and sank back
with curse upon his lips.
Il surrender d you," he groaned,
as he looked into the face of the officer.
you got me for sure, and it's all UP
With me-
Making a hasty examination of the
man. the sheriff found that his bullet had
struck Sloan in the center OF the chest
missing the heart by the fraction OF an
inch. and tearing an ugly hole through
the lungs. team was procured, and
the wounded man brought to this city
where he died fe whours later after de.
claring that his true name was Sloar
and his home is in Chicago.
Johns, when informed that his partnel
had been shot to death by the sheriff
declined to make statement, furthe
than that he was sorry the duel had no
resulted in the killing of the sheriff, in
stead of Sloan.
The horses found in possession Of Sloal
bear the brand described by the Wyo
ming deputy. sheriff in his. message t
Sheriff Potter. They are all valuable an
imals. and show signs of having beef
hard driven.