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 grizzles and the fire of youth has fled. He is eve now a man with whom 'twere well to avoid a quarrel.
