Delta chief., 1883-08-22
LYNCHING AT CANON CITY.
L. +. watkins Hanged by a Gang of Blood
thirsty Cow Boys.

thirsty Cow Boys.
The Denver Republicans correspon-
dent gives the following account OF the horri-
Bile killing of L. E. Watkins at Canon City on
the morning of the 11th:
ST Witcher, of this county, swore out a com
plaint before Justice Minner, July %, for the
arrest of l.. f. Watkins a cattle man residing
in the upper part of the county near the Chat
fee county line, charging Watkins with steal
ing several cattle belonging to Mullock Broth
crs and others and mutilating the brands.
Watkins was arrested and brought to Canon
City for trial by Sheriff W. s. Jones, on Thurs
day of this week. Watkins waived an exami-
nation and was placed under 1000 bonds to
appear before the Grand Jury at it's next ses-
sion. 1t being represented that Watkins could
secure the required bail at Salida, he was
placed in charge of the sheriff to go to Salida to
find his bondsmen They returned on the 12 :15
midnight train of last night. The required
bond was furnished, all but 81 LOCO, and the
whole amount was to have been made up by
noon to-day. As soon as it WAS certainly
known that Sheriff Jones was returning with
the prisoner, yesterday, towards sunset, were
seen groups OF sinister faces, dark with more
ways and other retired places. After darkness
had settled upon our city, and midnight, low
ering with thick set clouds, had gathered in
appropriate blackness, might have been seen,
ps1pd.ofs rs4ag nu' % ss xs' ana sh5ee
gathering in silence behind the hog
back, on which is the reservoir, where four
teen or fifteen men met to engage In the work
Of death. The whistle Of the approaching train
was Watkins's death knell, and the signal that
time for action had come. The unsuspecting
sheriff had Just reached the southwest angle OF
the court house when he WAS seized by six men,
his hands tied behind his back, and he was
thrown violently to the ground A masked
face bending closely his ear whispered the
significant words. 'ff you behave yourself you
won't be hurt" The prisoner, Immediately di-
vining the object Of these men, started on the
run for the steps leading over the wire fence
near the county jail. Six or eight shots were
Intellectually fired and his pursuers In the
darkness fell into the wire fence. Some must
have been badly injured as the fence bore
marks Of severe struggle. One other shot
was fired toward the penitentisry as the pris-
oner was leaping ditch. The morning light
revealed the ghastly form of Watkins swinging
from the timber OF the upper bridge across the
examination reveals the fact that in all proba-
bility Watkins was dead before he was thrown
from the bridge. A No. A bullet passed one
inch above and one inch to the right Of the right
nipple, through the lungs and part Of the liver,
ranging downward and backward, and was
taken out near the last dorssl vertebr;e. Wat
kins leaves a wife. residing seven miles east Of
Salida. His father Is one OF the most respect
ed citizens Of Chaffee county, and is one Of his
bondsmen.
The coroners jury returned the following
verdict:
STATE OF CoLORADo,
County of Fremont.
An inquisition holden at Canon City. County
of Frement on the 18th day Of August. A. u.
1888 before /. l.. Hyde. Coroner Of said cOun-
ty, upon the dead body Of l.. +. Watkins, lying
there dead, by the Jurors whose names are
hereto subscribed. The said jurors upon their
oaths do say, that the said +. l.. Watkins came
to his death from gun shot wound made by d
party To this jury unknown, and by hanging by
the neck by some party or parties TO this jury
unknown, either Of which singly would produce
death, and that the same was feloniously com
mittcd. In witness whereof, the said jurors
have signed this verdict this, the 1lth day Of
August, A. d. 1888.
j.. 7. ALLING, Foreman,
G. c. RICHARD,
HENRY EARLE,
W. +. BAKER,
a. SARTEg,
j. q. PEABODY.
l. l., HYDE Coroner