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Unknown to them, the original posse chasing them got tired and gave up within 2 days. They were only being trailed by a resident they had robbed along the way who was set on getting his stolen horses and guns back.

Of course the convicts didn't know they were almost in the clear! Sometime during the day of September 19th, a rider was catching up to the convicts. They feared it was the posse and planned an ambush.

Instead of the law, they ambushed an innocent 18 year Pony Express rider named Billy Poor. It was his first time delivering the mail. Once they had him, they couldn't let him go because he would tell others about them. They couldn't hold him hostage because he would slow them down. Jones and Leandor Morton both cold bloodily shot and killed young Billy Poor just east of Bridgeport.

Capturing and killing Billy Poor was a huge mistake because now the Convicts had murdered a local Mono County citizen. They had violated the community and the citizens were bent on revenge! Not realizing what they had brought down on themselves, they continued their flight south towards Benton Crossing, a settlement just east of here at the foot of the White Mountains, with plans to turn westward toward what was know as Monte Diablo Creek and Lake; then across the Sierra Nevada to safety. By Friday morning, September 22 a new posse of 10 men, lead by Sheriff George Hightowner and Benton Merchant Robert Morrison followed their guide, an Indian deputy named Mono Jim, who was hot on the convict's trail. By Friday evening the posse caught up with the convicts camped by, what was then called, Monte Diablo Creek. They decided to spend the night at a nearby ranch and to confront the convicts in the morning.                                             Read on . .