On the morning of March 27, 1900 Frank was asked by a deputy sheriff to become a member of a posse attempting to capture a gang of outlaws camped nearby. It was thought the gang was led by Bronco Bill, a notorious horse thief. Upon arriving at the camp it was learned that the gang had been in a shoot out with Sheriff Beeler and fled. The sheriff was in pursuit of the outlaws and had left word for late arrivals to follow. Frank was among the late arrivals along with Gus Gibbons and Gus' uncle, Dick Gibbons, and 5 others. They followed the trail for some distance and decided to split up. Dick Gibbons and 3 others took a route they thought might head off the gang. Frank, Gus, and two others would continue following the trail of the gang and the sheriff. It was agreed that they would meet at Cedro Creek. At Cedro creek Dick discovered that Frank and Gus had not arrived and was informed by a sheepherder that the outlaws had turned south and the other party was following them. With tired horses, Dick decided to return to St. Johns and take up the trail the next morning. The other four, following the trail also decided to split up and rest for the night. Two were to go to Cedro and Frank and Gus were to follow the trail as far as Joe Carns ranch and stay there for the night. They never made the ranch. The next day another posse was formed to search for Frank and Gus. Following the trail of the two and the outlaws they came upon some rough country and almost immediately discovered the two bodies. Gus had been shot in the head three times and several other parts of his body. Frank had been shot in the back, once between the eyes and a third bullet had broken his leg. The outlaws were never captured.