Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-10-17
A Phase I'm western Lifs--A Murderer 4
:. Trial. .af' --' g. I

The following letter from Denver City, Sept.
esth, win give our readers fair idea Of inter
esting phass In western life Gordon, notorious
delinquent and fugitive criminal, captured at
cor., brought to Denver to be tried for murder.
The rest the letter tells for itself: ,4 /,
He was escorted by an immense crowd Of peo-
pie to q grove the bank Of the Platte; a court
was speedily organized by the nomination and
eifctiOn Of MIR. Mcdowell, chief justice; Dr.. Peck
and It H. Warren, associates. AS the attorney
foe the defense announced readiness to proceed,
Judge Bennett was nominated prosecuting attor-
ney, The Judge came forward and declined the
position unless the case could be postponed until
tomorrow morning at O'Clock, a new jnry to be
selected, and he TO have the privilege Of determ-
ining whether the trial should eeed TO- morrow
or deferred until the arrival of important wit
ntsses who were now in the States, or on their
The question was s.bmitted to- the crowd
whether to adjourn or aot and decided ppani-
rnously in the Affirmative The ON GERS, with their
frisoner, with bis heavy chains still. attached to
his ankles returned, followed by a large con-
course Of citizens, TO a room procured an tempo
rary prison. in which the wretcbed man il now
confined, surrounded by strong guard. o
= Gordon is a young man, not over IS years Of
age, Of rather mild and gentle expression Of coun
teancerendering 1t di fcult to realize that he is
HIS youthful appearance excited great deal Of
sympathy for him among the rough men by W hom
he was surrounded, and from the remarks made
In the crowd not few would rejoice at his es-
the same Inen who a few days ago were leud In
their threats TO hang him at once on his arrival
. are now disposed TO deal gently with him, and
verify believe would rejoice at his acquitted by
the jury. e "a. . =. -
Ii the attorneys for the defense manage their
ease shrewdly, and make a passionate appeal in
behalf OF thsir client, exciting the sympathy Of
the jury and the people, his escape Is not at all
improbable. Carl Wood, notorious Character
implicated In all the murders that have taken
place here for the last two years the companion
hyfa nES alaf
- editor Of the News, against whom there was a
ms 81 intense feeliag of hatred and fixed determi-
nation that be shonld die, was brought before the
peoples court for trial, and the case pteceeded
from day TO day until at the last people became
cool and tired of 1t, when proposition that he
should be ''let of - on condition that he would
trtorsed by the unstable mob, and W. ood was re-
leased, to the apparent satisfaction Of majority
Of our citizens
Gordon stood well in this community up to the
time OF his attack upon and assassination Of a
peaceable German in a saloon in this CITY, No one
here believes that Gordon premeditated the assas-
stnaton Of any one, but that he was crazy. under
the influence OF hquor which frenzfed him and
drove him to the commission of deed Of which
Tor time he was unconscious, the pnormity of
which he couid not comprehend until some da, 9
after the event. when the effects Of the whisky had
passed away and he WIS restored to his right
mind. .-.. -.---.. ..--.. =, -
How be escaped pursuit as he did has been a
wonder to our people, many Of whom supposed
bim dead from the effect Of the shot disc hareed
at him, killing the horse on which he was riding:
but none of them as slnce ascertained took cf,ect
upon his person. Unfortunately for Gordon he
mailed a letter to some one here, which came safe
U hand. In which he gave a minute account of
his escape from his pursuers-that he was travel
ing towards the States under an assumed name
with some emigrants, by the Arkansas route; also
giving the name he had assumed, and his proba,
bic destination. The letter. by some means or
other, reached the Committee Of Vigilance and
Sheriff Middaugh was dispatched TO Eastern X m
sas to oyertake arrest and bring him 70 this CITY
for tial, which he has at last accomplished. y, :.