John Boyer's death was the result of the first legal execution in Wyoming. He was the son of Jean-Baptiste Bouyer, a French Canadian who was employed by the American Fur Company, trading with Sioux Indians in the Wyoming area. John's mother was a Sioux woman.
On October 27, 1871 John Boyer and several of his friends went to the Six Mile Ranch, a roadhouse frequented by various outlaws and sporting women near Fort Laramie, for a night of drinking and dancing. They checked their guns with the proprietor when entering as was the custom. This being done, Boyer's group engaged in drinking and dancing until a late hour. During the night, however, Boyer had some difficulty with James McClusky, a U. S. Army scout, and a man named Lowry. Soon after the disturbance, Boyer asked for his guns, saying that he wanted to go home. On receiving them, he got his horse and rode back to the door of the shanty, calling for the men with whom he had the dispute, saying that he could whip them. When they came to the door Boyer pulled a revolver, and shot and killed them both. Boyer immediately fled and sought the protection of the local Indians.
About five weeks later, a man named Reshaw entered the camp at Fort Fetterman and reported that the Sioux Chief, "Grass," had Boyer who had taken refuge first with the Cheyennes, who had turned him over to the Sioux. "Grass" had protected Boyer as he feared that if he was given up to the Army, the soldiers would kill him. Reshaw guided a company of soldiers to the Indian camp where they took Boyer into custody. Several chiefs, along with "Grass," accompanied the party back to the Fetterman where Major Chambers, commandant, assured Boyer's safety until he could be turned over to civil authorities. Boyer was subsequently escorted to Fort Laramie and then Cheyenne where he was tried and convicted in District Court of the double murder, being sentenced to death.
While incarcerated awaiting execution, Boyer escaped by simply walking past his guard. He was recaptured about a week later and, although he had made up his mind to "die brave," he objected to dying by freezing and starvation.
Boyer's execution was set for April 21, 1871 between 12 and 1 p. m. The place selected for his execution was the old grout building, nearly in front of the jail. This building was selected by officials because of their desire to have the proceedings as secluded as possible. About fifteen minutes before the execution took place, Boyer spoke with the few individuals allowed to view the event. He stated that he believed he was going to the "happy hunting ground," and that he was glad he was going to meet his father and brother who had gone before him. He said, "Tell my mother I died brave, without a whimper." At half past twelve Boyer was brought from the jail and placed on the scaffold. He was dressed neatly, in a clean white shirt. The sheriff read the sentence of death, and asked Boyer if he had anything to say. He stated, "Look at me," he said, "I no cry; I no woman; I man; I die brave." He said he loved the Great Spirit, and that he was going to see him. Rev. J. D. Davis then offered a fervent prayer, commending the prisoner to the mercy and care of his Maker.
According to historical documents, after the execution was completed, Boyer's remains were placed in a coffin and prepared for proper burial in the city cemetery (now Lakeview), in accordance with the desire of the deceased.
His burial is not listed in the Lakeview Cemetery index maintained by the Cheyenne City Clerk. No headstone has been found to date for his grave. The burial is most likely in the section designated Potters Field.
On October 27, 1871 John Boyer and several of his friends went to the Six Mile Ranch, a roadhouse frequented by various outlaws and sporting women near Fort Laramie, for a night of drinking and dancing. They checked their guns with the proprietor when entering as was the custom. This being done, Boyer's group engaged in drinking and dancing until a late hour. During the night, however, Boyer had some difficulty with James McClusky, a U. S. Army scout, and a man named Lowry. Soon after the disturbance, Boyer asked for his guns, saying that he wanted to go home. On receiving them, he got his horse and rode back to the door of the shanty, calling for the men with whom he had the dispute, saying that he could whip them. When they came to the door Boyer pulled a revolver, and shot and killed them both. Boyer immediately fled and sought the protection of the local Indians.
About five weeks later, a man named Reshaw entered the camp at Fort Fetterman and reported that the Sioux Chief, "Grass," had Boyer who had taken refuge first with the Cheyennes, who had turned him over to the Sioux. "Grass" had protected Boyer as he feared that if he was given up to the Army, the soldiers would kill him. Reshaw guided a company of soldiers to the Indian camp where they took Boyer into custody. Several chiefs, along with "Grass," accompanied the party back to the Fetterman where Major Chambers, commandant, assured Boyer's safety until he could be turned over to civil authorities. Boyer was subsequently escorted to Fort Laramie and then Cheyenne where he was tried and convicted in District Court of the double murder, being sentenced to death.
While incarcerated awaiting execution, Boyer escaped by simply walking past his guard. He was recaptured about a week later and, although he had made up his mind to "die brave," he objected to dying by freezing and starvation.
Boyer's execution was set for April 21, 1871 between 12 and 1 p. m. The place selected for his execution was the old grout building, nearly in front of the jail. This building was selected by officials because of their desire to have the proceedings as secluded as possible. About fifteen minutes before the execution took place, Boyer spoke with the few individuals allowed to view the event. He stated that he believed he was going to the "happy hunting ground," and that he was glad he was going to meet his father and brother who had gone before him. He said, "Tell my mother I died brave, without a whimper." At half past twelve Boyer was brought from the jail and placed on the scaffold. He was dressed neatly, in a clean white shirt. The sheriff read the sentence of death, and asked Boyer if he had anything to say. He stated, "Look at me," he said, "I no cry; I no woman; I man; I die brave." He said he loved the Great Spirit, and that he was going to see him. Rev. J. D. Davis then offered a fervent prayer, commending the prisoner to the mercy and care of his Maker.
According to historical documents, after the execution was completed, Boyer's remains were placed in a coffin and prepared for proper burial in the city cemetery (now Lakeview), in accordance with the desire of the deceased.
His burial is not listed in the Lakeview Cemetery index maintained by the Cheyenne City Clerk. No headstone has been found to date for his grave. The burial is most likely in the section designated Potters Field.
John Boyer's death was the result of the first legal execution in Wyoming. He was the son of Jean-Baptiste Bouyer, a French Canadian who was employed by the American Fur Company, trading with Sioux Indians in the Wyoming area. John's mother was a Sioux woman.
On October 27, 1871 John Boyer and several of his friends went to the Six Mile Ranch, a roadhouse frequented by various outlaws and sporting women near Fort Laramie, for a night of drinking and dancing. They checked their guns with the proprietor when entering as was the custom. This being done, Boyer's group engaged in drinking and dancing until a late hour. During the night, however, Boyer had some difficulty with James McClusky, a U. S. Army scout, and a man named Lowry. Soon after the disturbance, Boyer asked for his guns, saying that he wanted to go home. On receiving them, he got his horse and rode back to the door of the shanty, calling for the men with whom he had the dispute, saying that he could whip them. When they came to the door Boyer pulled a revolver, and shot and killed them both. Boyer immediately fled and sought the protection of the local Indians.
About five weeks later, a man named Reshaw entered the camp at Fort Fetterman and reported that the Sioux Chief, "Grass," had Boyer who had taken refuge first with the Cheyennes, who had turned him over to the Sioux. "Grass" had protected Boyer as he feared that if he was given up to the Army, the soldiers would kill him. Reshaw guided a company of soldiers to the Indian camp where they took Boyer into custody. Several chiefs, along with "Grass," accompanied the party back to the Fetterman where Major Chambers, commandant, assured Boyer's safety until he could be turned over to civil authorities. Boyer was subsequently escorted to Fort Laramie and then Cheyenne where he was tried and convicted in District Court of the double murder, being sentenced to death.
While incarcerated awaiting execution, Boyer escaped by simply walking past his guard. He was recaptured about a week later and, although he had made up his mind to "die brave," he objected to dying by freezing and starvation.
Boyer's execution was set for April 21, 1871 between 12 and 1 p. m. The place selected for his execution was the old grout building, nearly in front of the jail. This building was selected by officials because of their desire to have the proceedings as secluded as possible. About fifteen minutes before the execution took place, Boyer spoke with the few individuals allowed to view the event. He stated that he believed he was going to the "happy hunting ground," and that he was glad he was going to meet his father and brother who had gone before him. He said, "Tell my mother I died brave, without a whimper." At half past twelve Boyer was brought from the jail and placed on the scaffold. He was dressed neatly, in a clean white shirt. The sheriff read the sentence of death, and asked Boyer if he had anything to say. He stated, "Look at me," he said, "I no cry; I no woman; I man; I die brave." He said he loved the Great Spirit, and that he was going to see him. Rev. J. D. Davis then offered a fervent prayer, commending the prisoner to the mercy and care of his Maker.
According to historical documents, after the execution was completed, Boyer's remains were placed in a coffin and prepared for proper burial in the city cemetery (now Lakeview), in accordance with the desire of the deceased.
His burial is not listed in the Lakeview Cemetery index maintained by the Cheyenne City Clerk. No headstone has been found to date for his grave. The burial is most likely in the section designated Potters Field.
On October 27, 1871 John Boyer and several of his friends went to the Six Mile Ranch, a roadhouse frequented by various outlaws and sporting women near Fort Laramie, for a night of drinking and dancing. They checked their guns with the proprietor when entering as was the custom. This being done, Boyer's group engaged in drinking and dancing until a late hour. During the night, however, Boyer had some difficulty with James McClusky, a U. S. Army scout, and a man named Lowry. Soon after the disturbance, Boyer asked for his guns, saying that he wanted to go home. On receiving them, he got his horse and rode back to the door of the shanty, calling for the men with whom he had the dispute, saying that he could whip them. When they came to the door Boyer pulled a revolver, and shot and killed them both. Boyer immediately fled and sought the protection of the local Indians.
About five weeks later, a man named Reshaw entered the camp at Fort Fetterman and reported that the Sioux Chief, "Grass," had Boyer who had taken refuge first with the Cheyennes, who had turned him over to the Sioux. "Grass" had protected Boyer as he feared that if he was given up to the Army, the soldiers would kill him. Reshaw guided a company of soldiers to the Indian camp where they took Boyer into custody. Several chiefs, along with "Grass," accompanied the party back to the Fetterman where Major Chambers, commandant, assured Boyer's safety until he could be turned over to civil authorities. Boyer was subsequently escorted to Fort Laramie and then Cheyenne where he was tried and convicted in District Court of the double murder, being sentenced to death.
While incarcerated awaiting execution, Boyer escaped by simply walking past his guard. He was recaptured about a week later and, although he had made up his mind to "die brave," he objected to dying by freezing and starvation.
Boyer's execution was set for April 21, 1871 between 12 and 1 p. m. The place selected for his execution was the old grout building, nearly in front of the jail. This building was selected by officials because of their desire to have the proceedings as secluded as possible. About fifteen minutes before the execution took place, Boyer spoke with the few individuals allowed to view the event. He stated that he believed he was going to the "happy hunting ground," and that he was glad he was going to meet his father and brother who had gone before him. He said, "Tell my mother I died brave, without a whimper." At half past twelve Boyer was brought from the jail and placed on the scaffold. He was dressed neatly, in a clean white shirt. The sheriff read the sentence of death, and asked Boyer if he had anything to say. He stated, "Look at me," he said, "I no cry; I no woman; I man; I die brave." He said he loved the Great Spirit, and that he was going to see him. Rev. J. D. Davis then offered a fervent prayer, commending the prisoner to the mercy and care of his Maker.
According to historical documents, after the execution was completed, Boyer's remains were placed in a coffin and prepared for proper burial in the city cemetery (now Lakeview), in accordance with the desire of the deceased.
His burial is not listed in the Lakeview Cemetery index maintained by the Cheyenne City Clerk. No headstone has been found to date for his grave. The burial is most likely in the section designated Potters Field.
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