The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-07-20
The COLORADO TRAGEDY.
Massacre of Commissioners in
Grand County.
Particulars of the Bloody I'm
counter.
denver Telegram.l

From a multitude of conflicting reports
constantly being received concerning the
Grand county tragedy, 1T is difficult to get
the real facts in the case. Texas Charley
tells the following story of the fight, which
is deemed authentic:
Day, Weber and Dean left Mrs Young's
boarding house for town, and when about
twenty five PAGES from the house were pass
ing lot of pines and rocks, Weber walk
ing thirty steps behind Dean and Day
Four masked men jumped out from behind
the rocks and pines and shot Webber in the
back. just above the hips, the ball passing
through his body. Weber cried: Il am
shot, and ran toward Day and Dean, and
fell before them The leader of the
masked party Mills then sprang on Dean,
knocking him down, and began pounding
him over the head with his gun Day drew
his revolver aud shot Mills behind the ear,
the powder from the pistol burning his hair.
Mills fell on top of Dean. AS soon as Day
was shot the man ran back toward Mrs
Youngs ice-house, and some masked men
came up behind him. Day shot at him, and
il is believed wounded him. shot from
behind struck Day and the ball passed
through his heart He ran fifteen steps and
fell dead in the path Webber was uncon
scious after falling, and at III 30 the same
night was dying. His last words were:
bers and Days bodies were taken to Web
bers ranch on Frazer's farm, from whence
Days body was taken to the springs, where
it will be buried. Mills will be buried at
Grand Lake. Dean is at Grand Lake alive at
last accounts Coffin, Martin and William
Redmon, supposed to be of the attacking
party, have so far eluded arrest
The trouble that led to the shooting was
the result of an old feud, dating back to
1879 when the county was created by act OF
the Legislature and the seat located at Hot
Sulphur Springs. AT the election held In
1880, the people by vote changed the
county seat TO Grand Lake. The matter
was taken to the District Court and then to
the Supreme Court Meanwhile the hatred
existing between the two factions was
growing in intensity, eliminating yesterday
In the bloody work Grand county has
three Commissioners-Barney Day, II.
G.. Mills, and T. p Weber, major
ity OF whom, Day and Mills, were
in favor of declaring the vote illegal
that created Grand Lake the county seat and
removing the records back to the Springs
The Commissioners had a regular meeting
at Grand Lake. Just what was done is not
positively known, but 1t is reported they de-
cided to declare the office of County
Treasurer vacant because of his refusal to
file satisfactory bond During the meet
lug Day Weber and Clerk Dean stopped at
Mrs. Young boarding house. a quarter OF a
mile around the end of small lake The
road leading from Mrs Young's TO town is
through q thicket of small pines 1t was
while passing this point that the officials
were shot down in the manner described. /
j. G. Mills, one of the Commissioners
killed was man of unenviable reputation |!
He came to this State from Mississippi a
fugitive from justice, having, in company,
with one o. s Lee shot and killed w. H. :
Hill and Thomas Ballard The affair oc-
Cured Oct |, 1875, in Holmes county. Mills
was for time local editor of the Cheyenne
Leader, leaving that paper in 1879 and going
directly into Grand county, and became
identified with the North Park Miner He
was bold writer, and bore the reputation
of being a whole-souled fellow. He was q
native of Vermont {;
f. p Weber was young and energetic
lawyer, who was for five years Assistant
States Attorney for the State of Ill nois, at
Chicago. He was man generally well
liked and preferred the law to violence in
the settlement of any question, although he
was by no means a coward.
Barney Day was an old timer in Colorado,
having been one of the first to come over
land TO Denver about twenty years ago. He
emigrated to Middle Park in 1875, and has
lived there almost continuously ever since
He had large number of warm personal
friends, and leaves wife and one child
Il. J. Dean was a native of Michigan. He
entered the army at the breaking out OF the
war and distinguished himself for bravery
and ability and was breveted Colonel He
was afterward wounded and token prisoner.
and was for long time one of the unfortu-
mates who were confined in Libby prison
lie was disabled from his wounds losing one
eve and being otherwise seriously hurt
Upon getting out of prison he came to Col
orado, and has been here since. He went to
Middle Park in 1874 or 1873 He is about 55
years of age. He was for long time SUI
perintendent of Public Schools of Clear
Creek county, and afterward held the posi-
ton of County Judge OF Grand county.