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Shooting of John Doen, in Cheyenne, by Detective Carr and Devoe.

The plan worked. Doen soon put in an appearance. He found Carr and Devoe awaiting his arrival. The animal was accordingly put up, and a mock auction was gone through with. The horse was knocked down to Carr, and he requested a bill of sale, which was made out and signed by Doen, giving a description of the horse. Having procured this, Carr said:

“I think the description you have just given me corresponds exactly with the one I received this morning of a horse stolen from Denver.”

Doen seemed confused, and his confusion increased as Carr read the description from Denver, and his attempted explanations were a series of contradictions. Noticing the fellow’s embarrassment, Devoe stepped up, and, laying his hand upon Doen’s shoulder, said:

“I guess this thing has gone about far enough. You are in possession of a stolen horse, and I think you are the thief. I arrest you.”

Doen made no resistance and said nothing. He seemed inclined to make the best of a bad job, and the officers began to congratulate themselves that they had disposed of a disagreeable duty with but little trouble. They started off to the city jail with their man, and were proceeding leisurely along Eddy street, the prisoner being some eight or ten feet in advance of them. Having gained so much upon the detectives, the fellow started to run, and broke out suddenly for liberty. The officers started in pursuit, crying to the man to stop or be shot. But he paid no heed to their warning. Two shots were then fired into the air to frighten him into a surrender, but they had no more effect than the volley of words. Doen only ran the faster, and was gaining upon his pursuers all the time. It became apparent that he was in a fair way to make an effectual escape, and the officers increased their speed. Still the thief kept in advance. When he reached a point back of Recreation hall he placed his hands upon a high board fence and began to clamber over. When he reached the top of the fence he drew a pistol and leveled it at the officers. “Shoot him,” said Carr to Devoe. The officer sent a bullet whizzing through the air just as the fugitive fired. When the smoke cleared away Doen had disappeared from the fence. He was supposed to have continued his flight, and the officers had begun to fear that they had lost their prize. But in this supposition they were mistaken. When they came up to the fence they heard moans on the opposite side, and glancing over saw their prisoner lying on the ground, and the blood running from his wounds. He still held his pistol firmly, and showed more disposition to fight than ever.

“Throw away your pistol,” said Carr to him.