Photo of Hart & Owens taken shortly before jailbreak
In 1920, the small town of Pendleton, Oregon was in an uproar. Their sheriff with a long history of catching do-no-gooders was fighting for his life. 5 men were on the run from the law. Within a week what seemed like the whole state of Oregon was involved - all combing the hills of the Blue Mountains. They would have their men, but not without one of the wildest chases in the history of the northwest.
In jail for a recent holdup, Jim Owens and Neil Hart were by all standards hardened criminals. They had been apprehended near Reith but not without incident. A gun duel between Owens & sheriff Til Taylor ended as predicted: Taylor got his man and no one was injured. "Wanted alive" was no doubt a motto Taylor lived by.
Jim Owens, the ringleader, had devised a scheme to break out and it worked. Within minutes of their newfound freedom, while looking for ammunition in the sheriff's office, in walked sheriff Taylor and another man. A scuffle ensued. Sheriff Taylor's gun suddenly became disconnected from its holster and a shot was fired. A miss! However, the next shot was not as fortunate for the 18-year lawman. The bullet would lead to his death the following day.
Neil Hart, with gun in hand, egged on by Owens shouting, "shoot him, shoot him," was now a cold-blooded killer. Soon, all 5 fugitives from justice were on the run. In fact, for the next several days they would be on the run for their lives. The length of the pursuit was exacerbated when upon leaving the courthouse they chanced upon a freight train headed toward the town of Mission.
On the Sunday following the murder, a posse of trackers encountered a tent-house of a French sheepherder at the posted coordinates. Desperate and exhausted Owens and Hart had fallen asleep and without much trouble were taken into custody. Within view of the Grande Ronde Valley, their safety only a matter of a few miles, it was over. They had made it to the 5700' summit but the week on the run had taken its toll. Hart would be hung within months and Owens soon to follow.