The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-07-19
A BORDER TRAGEDY.
Assassination OF Officials in Grand
County, Col.
They Are Cruelty Shot Down in Cold
Blood.
Denver Telecram.l

lOenver leieeram.I
From . multitude of conflicting reports
constantly being received concerning the
Grand county tragedy, it il difficult to get
the real facts in the case Texas Charley
tells the following story Of the fight, which
II deemed authentic:
Day, Webber and Dean left Mrs Young's
boarding house for town, and when about
twenty i've PAGES from the house were pass
ing lot Of pines and rocks, Webber walk
-Four masked men jumped out from behind
the rocks and pines and shOt Webber in the
back. Just above the hips, the bal passing
through his body. Webb0r cried: L 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 Ald 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
loung's ice-house, and some masked men
came up behind him. Day shot OF him. and
it is believed wounded him A shot from
behind struck Day and the ball passed
through bis heart He ran fifteen steps and
scious after falling, and at II 80 the same
night was dying. His last words were:
sPour some water on my wounds Web
bers and Days bodies weuO Otaken to Web
ber's ranch on Frazer's farm, from whence
Days body was taken to the springs, where
1t will be buried. Mills will be buried ut
Grand Lake Dean IL at Grand Lake alive at
last accounts Coffin, Martin and William
Redmon. supposed to be Of the attacking
party, have 80 far eluded arrest
The trouble that led to the shooting was
the result of an old feud dating back to
18s9 when the county was created by act of
the Legislature and the seat located at Hot
sulphur Springa At the election held In
1850, the people by vote changed the
county seat to Grand Lake The matter
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 Commissioncrs-Barney Day, r
9. Mills, and E p. Webber-a 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 SpringA
The Commissioners had 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 Q satisfactory bond During the meet
ing Day, Webber and Clerk Dean stopped at
Mra Youngs boarding house. quarter Of .
road leading from Mrs loungs to town ID
through 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, .
fugitive from justice, having, in company.
with one @. A Lee, shot and killed w. II.
Hill and Thomas Ballard The affair oc-
CURED Oct l, 1873 in Holmes county. Mills
-. - - AHxH
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 q whole -souled fellow. He was .
native Of Vermont
E. p Webber was q young and energetic
lawyer. who was for tive years Assistant
States Attorney for the State of Illinois, ut
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 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 thefe almost continuously ever since.
He had large number Of warm personal
friends, and leaves wife and one child
L. ]. Dean was . 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 taken prisoner,
and was for long time one Of the unfortu-
Mates who were confined in Libby prison
He was disabled from his wounds, losing ono
eye 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 1Ssh He is about IS
years of age. He was for . long time Su-
perintendent Of Public Schools of Clear
Creek county, and afterwaId held the posi-
tion OF County Judge OF Grand county