Delta chief., 1883-08-01
A SAD END.
Sheriff Roger Takes His Own Life With
a Pistol at Georgetown.
Could 1t Have Been Murder" The Coro
ner Says No, Emphatically.
All Theories Fail to Give Sufficient
Reason for the WOeful Act.
A Sketch of His Life.

GEORGETOWN, July 16.-Chsrles w.
Royer Sheriff of Grand county, shot himself
here to-day.
From the Denver Tribune.
GEORGETOWN July l6.-[Special. CHARLES
W. Roger Sheriff of Grand county, committed
suicide this evening" somewhere between and
9 O'Clock, by shooting himself with thirty
eight calibre Colts revolver, the ball entering
just above the right ear and passing through
his head. Royer was born in Louisville, Ken
tucky, and is about 81 years old. His mother
is still living in Louisville. He has sister,
Miss Mamie Roger, residing in Washington,
District Of Columbia, employed in one Of the
departments, and brother residing in Lead
Vile. Royer has resided in Middle Park since
1874, and has until within a year ago been en-
gagged in business at the Hot Sulphur Springs,
with Charles II. Hook, the firm being Hook x
Royer. They were engaged in general mer-
chandise business and also in running line of
coaches between Georgetown and Hot Sulphur
Springs and Steamboat Springs. He was es-
teemed by mary Of the best citizens Of George
town and Grand county, and his untimely
death is by one and all deeply deplored. Since
his body was first discovered, about o'clock
this evening there have been hundreds Of our
citizens to visit his remains.
Mrs. Ennis, who first found his dead body,
testified at the Coroner- inquest, held tonight,
that she last saw him between and O'Clock
this a m. He arrived at the Ennis house last
evening about 80 in company with Lou Pol
lard, county clerk OF Grand county, who slcp,
,efy
story Of building in the rear of the Ennis
house and nppurtenant to It. After partaking
of breakfast, Pollard wen, to the barber shop
to be shaved, and Royer was seen walking
about the streets apparently In good spirits.
This was early in the morning. Mrs. Ennis
says the building in which Roger was found was
unoccupied about one hour this morning, be-
tween $50 and $50 whilst the other people
were at breakfast. About : 30 this evening she
and her sister went TO the building to make up
the beds, when they found man lying on the
hoor whom they at first supposed 10 be drunk,
but soon determined to be dead, and they I'M
mediatcly called for assistance. There was but
one window In the room, In front Of which was
a chair in which Royer had evidently been sit
ting, and when found he was lying on his righ,
side and extended at full length The right
arm was raised and perfectly rigid, as were the
fingers Of the hand, the thumb and forcfnger
being crooked as they were In graspng the re-
volver with which he was killed The revolver
was found lying on the floor behind trunk.
His head rested in large POOL Of clot,ed blood,
showing that he had been dead for some time.
Lou Pollard testified before the jury that he
knew Of no cause for the act unless II was the
reflections of the Denver press upon his official
conduct In the late Grand county trouble, and
said he never saw him In better humor than
yesterday. Pollard declares that Royer was
not mt Grand Lake, at the time OF the tragedy
there. On the other hand, some think he was
cognizant OF what was going to happen, and re-
morse prompted him 10 sclf-murder. Among
the papers found ON his person was an unsigned
letter dated July II, which was identified BY c.
n. Hook MS coming from him Ulook), warning
Roger Of threatened violence, by people nj the
Springs. The letter also contained a clause IN
which 'scncrnl Hamill was represented as hnv
ing said to the writer that Roger could procure
all the bond he wanted (see General nnmill's
testimony below. The citation issued by the
County Commissioners to Roger to appear on
the 4th day Of July 10 show cause why he
should not furnish new bond was also found
on his person, and a true copy thereof is here
to appended. Below will be found the evidence
before the Coroner In full
cory or CITATION.
"To O. W. Roger, Sheriff:
you will please take notice that, pursuant
to certain resolution by the Board OF County
Commissioners upon the third day Of July, A,
ID. 1888, duly passed, you are summoned TO be
and appear before the Board Of County Com
lnissioncrs of Grand County, Mt their office in
the village Of Grand Lake, in the county of
day OF July, A. d. 1888, at 10 o'clock a. IN. OF
said day, then and there to show cause why
you should not be required TO give new bond
with sufficient security.
T.. p. WEBER,
Chairman BID Of Co. Com. for Grand Co.
Seal Of Colorado.
| Attest. EVERETT NJ HAsMoS,
Clerk pro tenn.