The Fremont County record. [volume] (Canon City, Colo.) 1877-18??, 1881-07-23
MURDERED IN NEW MEXICO.
A Former Citizen of this County Foully
Butchered.

Butchered.
The following associated press dis
patch was sent out of Santa Fe dated
the 18th inst. :se.
Tho New Mexican tomorrow will
contain an account of horrible MUIR
der which was committed on the
eighth, on Animas river, Rio Arriba
county, New Mexico, about twenty
miles above Pennington. A family
named Lewis moved into this coun-
try from Canon City, Colorado. They
were accompanied by a man named
T. H. jennings. 1t seems that an un-
due intimacy has for long time been
existing between Mrs. Lewis and
Jennings. Between the two a plan
was arranged by which the husband,
Lewis, should be murdered aud the
guilty pair go back to Missouri and
be married. The plan was carried
INTO execution on the eighth instant.
Lewis was killed by Jennings, his
body hid in the bushes during the
day and buried at night in a hole
alongside an irrigation ditch, and the
water run over the ground in order
70 eradicate all signs of the crime.
The absence of Lewis was noticed
and Sheriff Blanchett at once set to
| work to- investigate the matter. With
skill equal TO that of an experienced
detective. he managed to find the
body and fixed the murder on Jen-
nings. A party was formed to lynch
Jennings, but by the great influence
possessed by Capt. Haines and Sher-
i'll Blanchett, this was prevented.
Jennings, upon the assurance of these
gentlemen that he should not be
lynched. made full confession, stat
ing that the woman was the cause of
the entire matter, and upon promise
of marriage from her he committed
the deed. After the coroner's in
quest an examination was held be-
fore Captain Haines, justice of the
peace. at which the woman also con-
fessed to being implicated in the MUIR
der. Both of the prisoners were
committed, and viii be taken to Sicr-
ra Amarillo TO be placed in jail.
Jesse Lewis, the murdered man,
was well-known in Canon City and
counted his friends host. Himself
and family lived for several years up
on ranch on Four Mile creek. Some
two years ago, we believe, he became
interested in property in New Mexico
and Jennings was a partner in the
business with him, and had lived
with him here as hired man. About
six months ago Mr.. Lewis moved his
family down to their new home. He
was nephew of Mrs. Geo. t. Phillips
of this city, aud man respected and
liked by all who knew him. His wife
is a neice of j. j. Minor, Esq, and
lived in his family about six months
when they were residents of Sioux
City, Iowa. She was never liked by
many and bore an unenviable repu-
tation for her violent and ungovern-
able temper. The first news of the
horrible crime received here was on
Sunday night i'll letter from the
woman to Mr.. Minor, begging him
to come for her children as she was
in Jail, and a letter to Mr.. Phillips
from w. 3. uaines, Esq, the Justice
before whom the criminals were ex-
amined. No particulars were given
in either letter. Mr.. Minor left for
the scene on Monday.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
The following letter was received
here Thursday evening. 1t was
mailed al Pennington, N. Nj, on the
18th:
RIO ARRIBA Co., N. NJ,
July 18th, 1881.
Mr.. James Minor.
DEAR SIR-It is a very painful
duty that 1 have to perform. There
was one of the most horrible murders
committed here on the 9Th of this
month that was ever on record.
Mrs. Lewis and IIumph. jennings
formed n conspiracy together and
butchered Jesse Lewis. The citizens
turned out and found him buried in
hole and head of water turned on
TO hide the sign, but we found the
place where he was killed and track
ed them up. Molly planned and
HumPh. did the killing. He knocked
MIN down with club and then shot
him twice, once in the neck and once
behind the right ear, the ball coming
out at the top of the head. Humph.
made full confession. He said that
the plan was made before they left
Four Mile aud Molly told me that she
knew he was going to kill Jesse.
They have had their trial and gone
to Jail one hundred miles from here.
Molly told me to write to you, tell
you TO come and get the children and
send them to her mother. Be sure
and come. Ifyon could see the poor
pitiful things crying. 1t is enough
to bleed the heart of stone. Poor
Ida cannot believe her ma is guilty.
Come, for Gods sake, come. I will
have To quit, II cannot write any
more. Direct TO Aztec postoffice.
J. L. FAULKNER.
Ice has gone up in Denver at one
Jump from twenty-five TO fifty cents
per hundred pounds.