Following the Land Run in September 1893, Frank Boydston set up a good cattle operation near Pond Creek, Oklahoma Territory. Boydston was well-liked and seen as “an honest and industrious follower of that business commonly called ‘cattle punching’ in the Cherokee Outlet south of the Kansas border.”

Boydston and his wife, Kittie, lived in Anthony, Kan. When in Anthony with nothing in particular to do, he was known to loaf at Jack Bogue’s barber shop. He would ride his pony to the front of the shop, step out of the saddle and drop the reins to the ground “cowboy style.” A trained horse would never move when so “ground tied.” Even though he might spend a great deal of time in the barber shop, his horse remained saddled and bridled, ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Boydston always sat in a certain place on a couch provided for customers. From his place on the couch, he could observe the entrance to the barber shop and command a view of the sidewalk through the window. Even so, he had never given anyone a reason to fear him in any way, at least not until Nov. 11, 1893.

The story began a few weeks earlier. Authorities were notified after a man who called himself “Johnson” shipped a set of cattle to the Wichita stockyards. The cattle were shipped on to St. Louis, but “Johnson” aroused suspicions among the stockyard men and an investigation was begun. In the meantime, T.S. and John Moffet found that over 50 head of cattle were missing from their range. The Moffet Brothers suspected that Frank Boydston had taken the cattle and reported the loss to local authorities.

The two investigations came together when it was found that Boydston had shipped two carloads of cattle by rail from Pond Creek to Wichita. John Moffet followed the cattle to St. Louis where they had been sold. Their cattle were gone. The money was traced to a bank in Winfield where it was deposited to the credit of one Frank Johnson. “Johnson” had not called for the money and the bank refused to release the money to the Moffets.

A warrant was issued and Deputy Sheriffs Johnnie Jones (some accounts call him Paul) and Jesse Hendrickson rode out the morning of Nov. 11, 1893, from Pond Creek to Boydston’s claim.

Boydston’s hired man Charley Neal was known to be with him. Deputy Hendrickson had known both men from Anthony, Kan., and believed that they would give themselves up without a fight.

At the cabin, the officers called for the two men to come out, but no one stirred. The officers dismounted, pulling their Winchesters from their rifle scabbards as they swung out of the saddle. Before their boots hit the ground, gunfire erupted from the cabin.

The first shot killed Jones’ horse and another bullet struck Hendrickson in the leg. Jones returned fire from behind the carcass of his horse, while Hendrickson crawled into a nearby depression. Both officers were pinned down, and Hendrickson’s horse had run off to a field near the house. Although wounded, Hendrickson told Jones he could “hold them off ” if Jones would ride for help.

Jones agreed, and proceeded to go after Hendrickson’s stray horse. Seeing his move- ment, the outlaws left the cabin to target Jones from behind a wagon. Hendrickson used the distraction to stumble to the corner of the cabin, but the now desperate men saw him moving and returned to the cabin. Being a primitive shelter, Hendrickson could be seen through cracks in the wall and was shot and killed.

Jones captured the stray horse and made his escape to Pond Creek with his hat and clothes riddled with bullet holes. Captain George A. Dodd, F Company, 3rd Cavalry, assigned 10 troopers to accompany Jones in pursuit of the Pond Creek murderers.

The posse followed them northwest toward Manchester, Oklahoma Territory. The troopers were not allowed to cross into Kansas and ended the pursuit at the border below Cameron, Kan. Kansas authorities took up the pursuit toward the rugged Gypsum Hills, but failed to catch the fugitives.

Newspapers across the state of Kansas reported updates for weeks, although no trace of Boydston or Neal was ever reported. Hoping to recover at least a portion of their loss, the Moffet brothers moved to “hold” 23 head of Boydston’s cattle at the Pond Creek claim, but were blocked by Mrs. Boydston.

Two suspects were arrested at Fort Scott, but they proved to be “the wrong party.” The outlaws had completely disappeared. Then, unexpectedly on Jan. 24, 1894, the Anthony Journal reported that Mrs.

Boydston felt “much-elated” that her husband would soon surrender to stand trial with evidence that would exonerate him.

However, as weeks wore on, nothing more was heard. Frank Boydson never returned to Anthony. He and Neal completely disappeared, even though detectives searched for years hoping to find the Pond Creek murderers on The Way West.

“The Cowboy,” Jim Gray can be reached at 220 21st Rd., Geneseo, KS. 67664. Phone (785) 531-2058 or kansascowboy@ kans.com.