(82)SOMETIME during the seventies, probably about 1876, a single horseman, just at evening, rode up to the house of Mr. Caldwell and asked to stop for the night. This request was readily granted, for in those days a traveler was always welcome at the home of any of the settlers. Mr. Caldwell lived in Beaver Creek valley, just at the west line of Boone County and about three miles from the southwest corner of Antelope County. The stranger was a good looking young man, of slender build, somewhat above medium height, and had a gold tooth that plainly showed when he smiled or when engaged in conversation. His horse, a good one, appeared tired and jaded, as though he had been ridden a long way. The horse being cared for, and supper served, the young man, complaining of being weary, was shown to his bed. The next morning Mr. Caldwell's son, on going to the stable to look after the horses, found the stranger's horse in the stall all right, but their own riding horse was missing. On going to the house to report the fact, the stranger's bed was found empty. He had gone in the night without disturbing any one, leaving his own tired horse and taking Mr. Caldwell's fresh one instead. Mr. Caldwell, thinking he had no great cause to be dissatisfied, the horse that was left behind being a better one than the one taken, let the matter go and made no effort to recover his own horse.

     That same morning, just after the family of D. E. Beckwith had finished breakfast, a stranger rode up to the door and asked for something to eat. He stated that he had lost his way, and had slept in a straw stack the latter part (83) of the night. Mr. Beckwith, at that time, lived on his claim just six miles south of Neligh. The horse was taken to the stable and fed, and Mrs. Beckwith at once prepared breakfast for the stranger. She noticed that when her guest removed his coat to wash and comb, which he did with great care, that he carried a belt filled with cartridges and a revolver attached. These he did not remove. She also noticed that in talking he exposed a gold tooth. Her guest was the same who had stopped the night before at Mr. Caldwell's, on Beaver Creek. After breakfast he offered to pay for his fare, and, asking the distance to Neligh, mounted his horse and rode away. Mr. Beckwith's boys observed, however, that he followed the Neligh road only about half a mile, and then, turning to the west, struck off over the prairie at a gallop. This was the notorious "Doc" Middleton, or "Gold tooth Jack," or just "Jack," as he was known to his confederates.

     After the Indians had given up making raids on the settlers it was no uncommon thing for some settler in Boone or Antelope County, and especially in Holt County, to lose a riding horse or sometimes a team. Usually the theft could be traced to some member of a gang of horse and cattle thieves who had their head-quarters somewhere on the Niobrara River, and this "Doc" Middleton was the head man of this gang of thieves. Middleton and his gang conducted operations somewhat on the Robin Hood order. While they did not rob the rich to give to the poor, after the manner of the renowned Robin Hood, they did manage generally to keep on good terms with their near neighbors, and their neighbors were in turn expected to keep quiet and never betray any member of the gang to the officers who might be looking for them, or to give any information that would lead to their arrest. The country in western Holt County was filling up somewhat with cattle ranches, and an occasional settler.

     The members of the Middleton gang made themselves friendly with these stockmen and settlers, and at the same time gave them to understand that it would be for their (84) interest to keep quiet. It is said, too, that they paid very liberally for meals or other accommodations which they received from settlers who were poor. Any who were suspected of being unfriendly to them were notified to leave, and if this notice was not quickly obeyed their stock would be driven off and their lives threatened.

     At the same time the mills at Neligh and Oakdale were sending supplies of flour and feed to these cattle ranches, and also to the Black Hills. The teamsters, in making these trips, had become more or less acquainted with Middleton and his men and of course kept on good terms with them, as it was to their interests to do. If, however, any one traveled through that country who was thought to be a detective or a spy, he was at once sent out of the country. One detective who succeeded in getting into the haunts of this gang, was caught by them, his horse, saddle, and revolver taken from him, and he was told that "the walking was good -- he had better get     out." He took the hint and walked down to O'Neil, where he took the stage.

     Just at what time this gang began to operate in this country is not known, but it probably was as early as the year 1874. It is certain that they had confederates in Holt and Antelope counties, and men in Boone and Madison counties were strongly suspected of being in league with them. After the gang was broken up it was found that they had confederates as far east as central Iowa, but nothing definite is known as to the number of men actually engaged in this business. Their plan of operation was to steal horses and cattle, going a considerable distance from their headquarters for them, driving them to their rendezvous, branding them, and afterwards sending them to market farther east; but they never trespassed upon their immediate neighbors provided, of course, that these neighbors were friendly. After marketing their stolen stock, they were very apt to steal horses from some of the settlers in the border counties to ride back home on. 

     (85) In making their raids to steal stock they did not always meet with complete success. At one time they found a camp of Yankton Indians, who were on a hunt, being camped on a tributary of the Loup River in the sand-hill country. Waiting until after dark, when all was quiet, they "rushed" the camp, firing their revolvers and endeavoring to stampede the Indians' horses. They did succeed in getting away with thirteen of the horses, but they lost Tom Brown, one of their men, who was killed by a shot fired at random in the darkness by one of the Indians. This circumstance was related by Longfoot one of the Indians who was in the fray. Some effort was put forth to procure the arrest of "Doc" Middleton, not only by the settlers of Antelope and adjoining counties, but by other sections of the country as well, for the depredations of the gang extended at least as far south as the Platte River and northwest to the Black Hills. These efforts, however, were at first unsuccessful. Any move for the capture of the gang was pretty sure to be reported by some of their friends along the line. Besides, it was not safe for a small party to penetrate to their haunts with hostile intent.

     In the spring of 1878 Sheriff Hopkins was notified by A. H. Snider of three horses that had been stolen from the Black Hills. Mr. Snider had just returned from the Hills, and having seen the owner of the horses, had received from him a minute description of them which he turned over to the sheriff. It was thought that the horses were held by parties this side of the Niobrara River. Sheriff Hopkins took with him two men, D. V. Coe and Lauren Means, and made the trip to the Niobrara River in search of the stolen property. Two of the horses were found at or near Carberry's ranch, where Atkinson now is, and the other was caught at Morrison's bridge, on the Niobrara. They were all brought down and afterwards restored to the owner. This was an unexpected visit, or it would not have been successful. Middleton sent word to Hopkins, advising him not to come again.

     The character of the country on the Niobrara and its (86) tributaries was favorable to these outlaws. The country was extremely rough and well timbered, affording shelter and hundreds of hiding places. If a small force were sent against them, it was easy to waylay and to kill or capture them all. If a large force should invade their territory, they could scatter out among the hills and timbered canons and elude capture easily.

     Being emboldened by their success in eluding pursuit and capture, they became less vigilant, and this led to the capture of three of them. Four of their number had stolen a span of horses and two mules from two German settlers of Holt County, who had not shown as much friendliness to the gang as was demanded and expected. With these they made across the country to the Platte valley. It was no doubt their intention to dispose of this property and then make a raid on some ranch, gather up a bunch of horses, and run them across the country to their rendezvous on the Niobrara. They stopped at North Platte and at night attended a dance. The sheriff of Lincoln County, getting wind of their presence, raided the dance-hall and captured three of them, one of them being Charley Fuget, who was reputed to be the second in command of the gang. Middleton himself escaped. He supposed, however, that the bridge across the North Platte was guarded and expected a fight there if he resisted arrest. He made up his mind to fight it out, and on approaching the south end of the bridge, took the bridle reins in his teeth, a revolver in each hand, and spurring his horse to a run, crossed the bridge, firing the revolvers as he went. The ammunition was wasted; the bridge was not guarded. These facts are partly obtained from Lauren Means, who had become quite well acquainted with Middleton while teaming to the Niobrara ranches and to the Black Hills. Afterwards, when Middleton himself was captured, he talked freely of these things.