The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-04-07
FROM DENVER CITY.
DENVER CRY, March II

W. Fl. &.
FROM DENVER CITY.
DENVER CRY, March II, 1850.
Friends Maynard & Prorost-It seems
my fortune only to write to you at times Of
great excitement. TO be candid, think !
have not seen q day since wrote last, 9th
er than one possessing some feature long to
be rememb cred by all now here.
Last week Con the It'll of this month)
there was duel fought. between j. S. Stone
Judge of the Miners Court, at Gregory's
Diggings, and S.W. Bliss, Acting Governor
Of this Territory. Stone sent the challenge,
which Bliss accepted; and of course, had
the choice Of weapons. He chose shot-guns,
loaded with ounce balls, distance, thirty pa
ces, the ground selected was on the other
side of the Platte, and about mile below
town; as was busy, | did not go to wit
ness the fight, but nm informed that both
shots were fred almost simultaneously
Bliss shot hitting Stone in the lower part
of the body. Bliss came off uninjured, as
Stones shot struck the ground some ten
feet in front of him.
Last Tuesday, about II o'clock, P. NJ,
our town was disgraced by one of the most
horrid murders think ever heard Of. 1t
may seem to me Of greater magnitude, for
the reason that it happened within $50 feet
of my shop, aud was committed in such cold
blood. heard the report of gun, and as
had business out of doors almost at the
same minute, my attention was drawn in
the direction from which the report came
There saw a man lying on the ground sur
rounded by crowd Of excited spectators, |
went to the spot, and found he had been shot,
fifteen buck shot having lodged in his right
side, just below his short ribs. He died in
about twenty minutes from the time he was
shot. -.4
The man who perpetrated this foul muir
der, was Moses Young, carpenter by
trade. After he had shot Mr.. Wess,he stood
and looked at his vietem for an Instant
then started away on wulk, at frst, then
on run and came very near escaping;
probably would, had not the whole commu-
nifty pursued him, after vigilant search he
was found, just before dark, in o garrett
The community was SO enraged that they
wanted to string him up as soon as they
found him, but, after agoodeal of persuad-
ing on the part of those more cool, be was
put under guard of twenty men, till Wed.
-nesdsy, when he was to have trial, before
a jury Of his peers. On Wednesday, near
ly all the most influential, and best of our
citizens assembled for the purpose of trying
the prisoner. At Q O'Clock Denver Hall was
crowded to its utmost capacity. A jury Of
IL of the most worthy men in town, and to
whom the murderer did not object, were
selected. Before these the prisoner brought
all the testimony in his power, which was
rather meager. That on the part of the ex-
prosecution was Overwhelming. After the
lawyers made their pleas, the jury retired
for the space of a few minutes, and return
ed a verdict of guilty. After the verdict
was read by the Judge, (Lynch) he asked
the citizens as they stood crowded together.
Gentlemen, what will you do with the ver
diet ? A motion was made that it be accept
ed as the opinion of the meeting, which
was carried without dissenting voice
The Judge called the prisoner up, and ask
ed him if he had any thing to say why sem
tencs should not be pronounced against
him? He said he had none. After which,
the Judge sentenced him to be hung the
next day, between the hours of three and
six, a guard was placed over him as on the
previous night. Sometime after dark, the
prisoner sent after the Rev. Mr.. KELLER,
the good old man came and saw him, and
prayed and talked with him nearly all night,
and left him in tho morning with the assu-
rance of his being q better man, if not a
christian. aE t@A yo Ja
At 5 O'Clock on the 18th, Thursday, the
Jefferson rangers marched up to where the
prisoner was kept. They entered the room,
and remained on vigilant guard until the
prisoner got through talking with his friends
and making his last arrangements for earth.
At few MINUTES past four the door was
opened, and the Rangers marched out and
formed a hollow sauare-in the center OF
which the prisoner was placed with the
minister on one side and friend on the
other with the officers of the Vigilance com
mittee surrounding them. In this form they
marched to the gallows, which was SO erec-
ted that the victim of the scaffold walked
over the ground where the murdered man
fell. lie walked up on to the scsffold, and
had his friends called, who one by one
mounted the platform. Col. o. B. lotion,
read what the prisoner wished the people to
know of his feelings towards them. lie
had written, that he had forgiven all his
enemies, even those most forward in his
prosecution while on trial, and that he felt
he was dying christian, and that he hoped
to meet his mother in heaven. After this
the Rev. Mr.. Keller knelt with him and
prayed, when he arose and shook hands, and
bid his friends farewell for the last time on
earth. After speaking few words With
the minister. and shaking his hand, and
parting, he turned to the assembled multi
tude, land with his hand waived last adieu;
then stepped upon the fatal trap, the black
cap was drawn over his face, his hands tied
behind his back the fatal moose put around
his neck, the prop drawn from under the
platform, and another soul launched into
eternity. THs
This is the first person | ever saw execut-
ed, and sincerely hope it may be the last.
l never again want to witness SO solemn a
sight. akt2'
The next time write to you will give
you some Of the future prospects Of the
country, and list Of the minerals, the