Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-02-26
JONATHAN LEAPER.
AN OLD.TIME RoBBER OF THE
ROCKIES.
From the Denver Tribune.

Below the salt works, in the
lower part of the South park, in
1862, there lived man named
Leaper, who was the RinaldO of
his time. He robbed not entirely
for gain, but for the pleasure
of the thing. He took delight in
torturing his victims For a per-
iod he was the terror of the noun
tains. He had cabin in a lone
ly gulch on the road leading to
Canon City. about ten miles from
the salt works. Here he cooked
his meals, but spent the most Of
his time concealed in the rocks
above the road. He seldom dis
turbed the travellers going into
the mountains, for they are gen.
orally broke, but upon those COM
ing out he pounced like a hawk
upon a chicken. One day an old
man and woman were driving
down the mountain in buggy,
and from their appearance Leap
or thought they had money. In
searching them he found none,
and was so mad that he pulled the
brides off the old mans horses
and started them running down
the hill. Fortunately they ran
until tired out and then they stop
ped themselves without injuring
any one. Many men passed him
without being robbed because
they travelled in company. 1t was
the single wayfarer he watched
for. AT times he had confeder-
ates, but they were never caught.
This man Leaper was very
powerfully built man, weighing
upwards Of two hundred pounds,
and stood six feet in his stockings.
His countenance looked more like
q beasts than humans. He had
small snake like eyes set deep 10
his head beneath a low forehead.
and thick black beard covered
his entire face. He had grum,
beastly voice and a maniac's laugh.
He was a man of few words-in
fact, he seldom spoke. He was
silent villain, with his mind upon
his hellish business.
The summer of '62 had been
a prosperous one in California,
Georgia and McNulty CLUTCHES, land
many roughly-dressed man hail
ing from them carried thousands
of dollars worth of dust in his
pockets. They usually travelled
In pairs, for protection. If SO,
Leaper let them alone, but woe to
the single pilgrim-he was in the
Jaws off tiger if he came by the
cabin. 1t was getting late in the
fall, when just at evening one day
there came pale looking man,
riding fine mule, and halted at
Leaper's cabin to inquire if he was
on the right road to Denver. He
was informed that he was not, and
that there was no other house
within twenty miles but if he
would dismount he was welcome
to stay during the night, and in
the morning Leaper would take
him across q mountain and put
him upon the road. The traveller
accepted the invitation, unsaddled
his mule, picketed him by the
roadside, and entered the cabin
The nights were getting cold, and
a good fifr felt comfortable after
the sun had gono down. Leaper
piled high the pine logs in the fire
place, and as they burned and
shone out upon the hearth the
Traveller felt cheerful, and whiled
away the time by relating his ex-
perience in prospecting. Injudi-
ciously, he boosted that he had q
thousand dollars in nuggets he
had washed from the earth that
season, little thinking he was set
ting a trap to lose his own life.
This was about the last chance
of the season for Leaper. A long
winter would soon set in and there
would be nobody to rob. Men
seldom travelled the mountains in
winter In those days, and it was
necessary the robber should be
prepared TO den no like the griz.
ely bear for another spring. When
morning came the traveller sad
ddlsd his mule, and Leaper his
horse, and they started across the
mountain to find the road to Den
yer. After travelling some dis
lance they dismounted in a gulch,
when Lsaper seized his victim by
the throat aud demanded his mon
ey and his pistol. He then order
ed him back ia his saddle, and
taking a long lariat lashed his feet
firmly beneath the mules belly
aud his hands behind him. This
done, the fiend pulled the bride