Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-01-08

Denver Letter to the Chicago Tribune

only t,CetUe years old, having been in
cerporated in 1861 but such is the fact.
Denver, however, has had its history,
as well as other towns in the West and
Tor long time it was the resort of a
gang of desperadoes, gamblers, and
thieves, who seized upon the offices of
the city, and really attempted to COM
INIT their crimes In the name of the law.
These cut-throats at one time controlled
everything,-elected the municipal of
ficers, possessed themselves of the
wealth of the city, inundated the ed
itors and Justices, and held high carni-
val of crime.
A desperate named James Gordon
killed an inoffensive German, and the
German people reused to action. Cor
don fled to rancho, and strong party
surrounded it, when the desperate came
forth on a swift horse and dashed
through his pursuers. A shower of bull
lets followed him, but he escaped un-
harmed. A mass meeting was then
called in Denver, money raised. and
officers sent after the fugitive. They
trailed him l, 700 miles, and at last cap
tured him near the Indian Territory,
and took him to Leavenworth. Here
Gordon's friends got a writ of habeas
corpus, and took him from the Denver
officers. Again Gordon was about to
escape; but the Germans of Leaven-
worth gathered in a mob, attacked the
officers of the law, and recaptured the
desperate. Three times the mob had
O rope around Gordon's neck, but were
prevented from hanging him by the
civil officers. In the scuffle the prison
er's clothes were torn from his back,
and he was so badly beaten that he
begged some one to shoot him en- the
spot. At last it was agreed that Cor
don should be taken back to Denver for
trial, and upon this promise the mob
dispersed. He was delivered over to
Mr.. Middaugh, the leading officer from
Denver. His trial was short, and he
was convicted of murder and sentenced
to be hanged. After a week given
him to prepare for death, he was exc
cuted.
! The editor of the Rocky Mountain
NetOs made some comments on a MUIR
der, which offended the desperadoes,
and they attacked his Office. While Mr..
Byers, one of the editors, was sitting in
an Office talking with three Northern
gentlemen, four gamblers rushed in,
seized him, dragged him to drinking
saloon, and would have murdered him
but for the interference of friends. The
gamblers then went to the printing
Office, but were prevented from destroy
ing 1t by the typos, who had armed
themselves with guns and revolvers.
Several shots were fred but the ruff
fans, seeing the citizens were arming,
fed and hid themselves. The aroused
citizens made general search, and
Steele, the ringleader of the band, was
taken and shot.
Another of the gamblers was captured,
and about to be hanged, when he begged
the people to spare his life and permit
him to leave the country. The ques-
ton was put to vote, and carried by
small majority, to spare him, on con-
dition that he would quit Denver at
once and forever which he did.
A man named Ford committed MUIR
der under peculiarly aggravatingc ircum-
stances, and was justified: but, being
bad man, and embroidered by his first
success, he soon afterward did MUIR
der in cold blood, when the people rose
and demanded his execution. Ford
fled, but committee of Vigilants fol-
lowed him, took him from a stage-coach,
and shot him by the roadside.
Another murderer fled to the Indians;
but the Vigilants followed day and
night, over mountain and plain, until he
was taken and hung.
Steele had brother, who had sworn
to take the life of Mr.. Pollock, who had
shot his brother. One day they met on
the highway In Denver but Pollock,
seeing Steele first, covered him with
his rifle, and called him to pass on.
Steele did so, the deadly tube bearing
on him until he was out of range. Two
years afterward these men met in New
Mexico, and simultaneously recognized
each other. Both fired ; but Pollock es-
capped, while Steele fell with ball
through his brain. 1t was over this
rough road of blood Denver found
peace, and became the quiet and orderly
city she is to-day. Her citizens banded
together for her defense, and became a
law unto themselves.
Dixon has told us that From three
to five persons were usually killed dur
ing the night, and sometimes in open
day, in Denver" and, although this
statement has been vigorously denied,
it is probable that, at one time in the
early history of the city, it came near
being the truth. Richardson tells us
the printing-ofices were arsenals, and
that both editors and tyros went armed
about their work, presenting between
themselves and the desperados sort of
earned neutrality" He also assures
us that he saw murderer condemned to
death In the following manner:
Judge -: "The jury have found
you guilty; have you anything to say
why sentence of death should not be
passed upon you ?"
Prisoner-"I have nothing to say"
Judge Then I will submit the
question to this assemblage [about 400
people]. ALI you who believe in this
verdict say Aye A roar of affirma-
tives. All who opposed, NO. A fee
BILE No. the prisoner alone voting in
the negative].
Judge" Prisoner, you will be hanged
L.