May 28, 1885—Indian Journal—The following dispatch to the Globe-Democrat from Ft. Smith, dated May 29^th, proves the identification of John Middleton without a doubt and also gives a short sketch of his career:

On Saturday last, deputy Sheriffs, Jack Duncan and J. H. Millsap, of Lamar County, Texas, who have been pursuing Middleton since last Christmas, arrived in the city for the purpose of investigating the matter. On Sunday last the officers, accompanied by the Globe—Democrat correspondent and Capt. J. C. West, United States Indian Police proceeded to the Choctaw Nation, where they body of man had been found in the river.

The Corpse Identified

Borrowing a couple of field hoes, we soon had the rude box containing the remains uncovered (he had only been put into the ground the depth of the box), and lifting the lid beheld the remains of the outlaw, for it was him, beyond a doubt. The three pistols he carried were fully identified by West, who had seen them before. The saddle was also fully identified as one which Mrs. Belle Star, the mistress of Middleton, had purchased for him a few days ago at Eufaula. After taking a good look at the remains of the man they had pursued so long, and cutting of a lock of his hair, the dirt was again piled over the box and the officers turned away.

Although a young man (probably 27 years old), John Middleton had become widely known as one of the most daring outlaws in the land, able to cope with the best officers that could be put on his trail. He made his debut as a criminal in Scott County, this state, at an early age, at first by committing petty depredations and misdemeanors. He was finally sent to the penitentiary one year for stealing a pair of boots, and made several reckless attempts to escape while being taken to the pen. At this time he was about 18 or 19 years old. Serving out his time he went to Scott County, and soon got into trouble again, and finally became a fugitive from justice, charged with burning the courthouse at Waldron. He finally fled to Texas and went to stealing horses, becoming very proficient in the business. He was at last caught and placed in jail at Paris, Texas, from where he escaped about a year ago and fled to the Indian country, where he became acquainted with Belle Starr, wife of Sam Starr, who made herself quite notorious about two years ago by being sent to Detroit, Mich., for horse stealing. Middleton’s handsome appearance and dashing manners, coupled with his name as a desperado, won the admiration of Belle to such an extent that she deserted her husband and joined fortunes with the outlaw, and her home, a secluded place on the Canadian River became the headquarters of Middleton and his gang. From there they would sally forth and commit depredations by stealing horses, robbing stores, etc.

In November last Middleton stole a horse in the Territory and going to Texas, murdered Sheriff J. H. Black of Lamar County. It is said he was hired to do this by ex-Sheriff Crook of the same county, who is now in jail at Sherman charged with being accessory to the crime. Jack Duncan, the officer mentioned above, is credited with having worked up the case against Crook and Middleton, and it was he who offered the $500 reward for the outlaw in addition to the $300 offered by the State. After this additional reward was offered, Middleton, who was well known to many in the Territory, was kept constantly on the dodge. The Belle Starr ranch was raided on one occasion by Duncan and Millsap, accompanied by John West, but the bird had flown and no one but Belle was found at home. She met them with her six-shooter belted around her (the identical pistol that Middleton had on the horn of his saddle when he drowned), and after giving John West a cursing for piloting the officers to her house, she cooled down and laughed at the officers for imagining they could take Middleton, ridiculing them in every way she could. However, the officers never relaxed their vigilance, and it finally became so hot for the hunted man that he and Belle laid their plans to seek a new field of operations, as he was not only being harassed by the Texas officers but also by the United States Marshals and Indian police, there being several writs for him from the United States Court here for horse-stealing, robbery, selling whiskey in the Indian Territory, etc. Accordingly they prepared to move, and on the 3^rd of the present month packed their effects in a wagon and started this direction, Belle Starr and her daughter Pearl, Middleton and two other men constituting the party. After crossing the Canadian River Middleton separated from them, taking Belle's six-shooter and leaving his shotgun in the wagon. He went to the neighborhood of Oklahoma and stole McCarty’s mare, and traveling through a remote part of the country struck the Poteau River twenty five miles, above this place in the night. The river was up and the current very swift, but nothing daunted him and he pushed into the stream and attempted to swim it, but lost his life in the attempt, and thus justice was cheated of one of its ripest criminals.

Transcribed & submitted by: Mollie Stehno

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