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found guilty and sentenced to four years'
imprisonment. He served his time and in
his absence the gang scattered and the
cattle raisers breathed easier.

Before Middleton was run down and captured
he had become reckless and impudent.
In 1879, John A. Creighton and William
A. Paxton of Omaha and others who
had large herds in Nebraska met at Omaha
to discuss means of the outlaw chief's capture.
Middleton heard of the meeting and
sent word to the party that if he ever
caught any of them in the Niobrara valley
he would cut off their heads and send them
back to Omaha on poles. The stockmen
knew that he would keep his word and were
careful to avoid Doc's" domain.

Since his experience in prison Middleton
has led a much quieter life. He has a
ranch in Northern Nebraska where he
spends most of his time with his faithful
wife and his beautiful children. His wild
days are over and his friends are legion, but
he still has an antipathy to restraint and
his latch string does not hang out for
officers of the law. In appearance he is
still the typical cowboy, although the flowing
mustache and long dark hair are grizzled
and the fire of youth has fled. He is even
now a man with whom 'twere well to avoid
a quarrel.