Fergus County argus., 1901-08-14
sHtRGr PoTIIR KILLS A HORSE IHIu.
Ia an Exciting Duel Near Red Iodge-Ac-
Complice In Jail.

Red Lodge. Aug. 9.-Billy Jones, IA
horse thief from Wyoming, is In jail
here, while his partner, Jack Sloan,
IL In the morgue, with big bullet
hole in his chest. The 10 horses the
men had In their possession are ebeing
cared for by the authorities, who will
return them To their owners.
Yesterday afternoon Sheriff Potter
received message from Deputy Sher-
III James Of Big Horncounty, Wyom-
ing, stating that Johns aud Sloan
were headed this way with Il small
band of stolen horses, and asking
that they be arrested II possible.
Sheriff Potter at once started a
search for the two men, with the re-
suits narrated above.
Johns, it appears, after establish
ing IA camp few miles out, which
Sloan was left to guard, came To Red
Lodge and went To harness shop,
where he was found by the officers.
He made an attempt to draw his re-
volyer, but was covered by twOguns
and warned that second moveupon
his part would result In his instant
death. He surrendered without
another word, and told where Sloan
could he found.
In Sloan the officers found they had
IA man different from Johns to deal
with. He was found sitting in front
Of the camp, watching the horses,
which were pasturing in the neigh
bOrhoOd. When the sheriff and his
deputy approached he sprang to his
feet and pulled his revolver.
Throw up your hands, Sloan"
called out the sheriff. I'VE want
you. You have no chance to get
away, so you might as well give up
without fight"
Take me II you cnn," responded
the horsethief, as he fired shot at
the officers. The bullet whistled
harmlessly over their heads, and be-
fore 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 were ex-
posed to his merciless fire, and for a
few minutes u leaden hail kept them
Jumping from side to side in an en-
deavor to dodge the bullets coming
their way. Then there was a pause
the outlaw had stopped shooting
to reload his revOlvers.
Taking advantage OF the cessation
OF the fire the sheriff ran forward, in
an endeavor to get pot shot at his
man. As he came within 20 or 30ieet
of the outlaws littleiort Sloan arose,
, each hand holding 10 revolver,
which he turned upon the rapidly ad-
vancing officer.
Sheriff Potter, seeing that ii was
either his life or the life Of the outlaw
, pointed his weapon, and, taking u
hasty aim, fired, end, avoring to
strike the desporado in vital spot
, At the report of the revolver Sloan
. dropped his guns, threw up his hanC'
and pitched forward.
[ He was not dead, however, for as
= the sheriff approached he raised him
(. self upon his elbows, seized one OF hir
: revolvcrs and attempted oshoot the
officer. He lacked strength to pul
!. the trigger, and sank back with q
n curse upon his lips.
r "I surrender, d you" he groanet
e as he looked into the face of the Off
$ Ger. You got me for sure. and III
$ all up with me-"
V Making hasty examination of tht
/, man, the sheriff found that his bullcr
i had struck Sloan In the center of tn,
chest missing the heart by the frac
- ton Of an inch, and tearing an ugly
% hole through the lungs. A team waI
" procured, and the wounded maj
brought to this city, where he died ;
few hours later after declaring that
his name was Sloan and his home Il
. In Chicago. Johns, when informed
y that his partner had been shot Il
death by the sheriff, declined to maxi
:. n statement, further than that h,
y was sorry the duel had not resulte,
In the killing of the sheriff, instead O
" Sloan.
The horses found In possession o
L Sloan bear the brand described by tn
l. Wyoming deputy sheriff in his mes
sage to Sheriff Potter. They are al
n valuable animals, and show signs O