The following is part of the papers in the Oscar Hoback collection as collected by Edna Greet.
Frank Davis, Alias “Black Mike”
Frank Davis, alias “Black Mike Smith,” sneak thief, horse thief, check forger, and postoffice robber, on May 11, 1905, attempted to pass a forged check in the Wolton saloon, which caused trouble and in order to make his escape he pulled his six-shooter and shot promiscuously into the crowd. One bullet went through Pete Nutson’s hat and furrowed the top of his scalp. Manuel Armenta and Oscar Hoback, deputy sheriffs, then attempted to place Davis under arrest, and the fellow shot off Hoback’s thumb. Four shots were fired at the deputy sheriffs and Davis made his escape from the saloon. He ran to a cabin about 300 yards distant where he secured a rifle and fired several shots into the crowd of men. He then made a run for the hills, and after going about 200 yards dropped into a small ravine. He was surrounded by about twenty men, but he held them at bay by shooting at them, and although several of the men were hit, the remainder stood guard for several hours until Joe Marquis, Jack Peterson, and Manuel Armenta had filled a cart with bales of hay and bedding, and pushed it ahead of them to where the desperado was hidden in the ditch. Davis shot into the cart numerous times, but the men behind it were perfectly safe and proceeded on their way until they were within a distance of fifty yards of him. Davis then surrendered and was brought to Casper. He pleaded guilty to shooting at Nutson with the intent to commit murder and was sentenced by Judge Charles E. Carpenter to serve three years in the penitentiary. Davis had a number of forged checks on his person at the time he was arrested, and he was identified as the man who two months previous to his Wolton escapade held up the saloon at Lost Cabin and secured $200. He was also accused of being connected with the hold-up of the Cody bank where Cashier Middaugh was shot and killed. At the time these crimes were committed, there was no railroad west from Casper and the interior towns were easily robbed. After serving his sentence in the penitentiary, Davis went to Colorado and has not since made his appearance in Wyoming.
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I quickly looked but could not find more information on Frank Davis.
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What a story!