Delta chief., 1884-07-30
A PERSISTENT IIO8SE-TIIIEF.
The Final End Of u Negro Who was DC.
tcrIiained Oh Stealing n Horse.

campcd near Charles IIny's place, about four
miles below Delta, about Il We O'Clock in the
evening. After outspunnins and pitching
tent they went to one of the neighb"ring
ranches for supply Of vegetables for supper
and was absent probably three-luartcrs Of an
hour. When they returned they found that
their camp had been visited during their alb
sence and the entire contents of their grub.
box gotten away with. and the further dis.
covered that one of their horses. n saddle an
imal, which had been turned out with the
other horses to Craze without removing either
sa Idle or bride, had been stolen, and that
the thief had taken the trouble to unsaddle
the animal and substitute therefor n better
saddle that was carried in the wagon. leaving
the poorer one behind. Mr.. Violet immc-
diately saddled another animal and struck
the trail of the thief. who was seen by sever
al parties to take the Escalante road. He
followed the trail till dark closed down on
him, when he returned to camp for n change
of horses. At dav-hrcak Thursday morning
he again struck the trail. and when about
eight miles out met the stolen animal return
ing, with n negro folowin. carrying n bride.
endeavoring to catch it. Mr.. Violet hailed
the negro and warned him not to touch the
horse, as it belonged to him. The answer by
the negro was. ~ know who you nre. that
you own the horse; but I am going to catch
it and ride it off" He was warned by Mr..
Violet that if he touched the horse he would
shoot him, and cooked his Winche 'ter. The
negro answered. "Shoot and be ID; I'm
IN, I,,r hat hos Nr Ninl.f
ing that the horse would not let the negro
catch it. good.naturcdly fell in behind and
followed them to within two miles of camp.
when the negro threw down the bride. de-
claring he wonll follow the horse no further.
and started back toward the Escnlante. Mr..
Violet then took the horse to camp. and came
to Delta and swore out n warrant for the ne
gro's arrest. which was placed in the hands
of Sheriff Gheen for execution. The sheriff
and Mr.. Violet started about neon. and after
hard riding overlook the negro lying under
n cedar tree ut the edge of the trail. on the
side of n very steep, rocky sulch about fif-
teen miles due west from Delta. The first
the posse knew Of the negro's whereabouts
was being hailed by him, who demanded
their business. The sheriff dismourted. pass
ed the reins Of his horse to Mr.. Violet. and
informed the negro his business and COM
ma anded him to throw up his hand. and sur
render. The negro replied, Throw up moth.
ing! surrender nothing!" and ta-tcd down
the gulch. The sheriff attempt to forcibv ar.
rest the negro. when the negro turned and
commenced pelting him with rocks. On he.
ing warned that If he did not cease thr wing
rocks AMI snrren Ter the sheriff would shoot.
he replied. "shoot and he ID" AMI threw
rocks more wicked than ever. keepin. the
sheriff busy dodging. One rock grazcd the
sherf's head. when he shot once to s.are the
negro, but which seemel only to infurinte
him, and he rcdoublel his efforts with the
rocks. The sheriff shot the second time
the negro was in the act of gathering more
stones. The negro raised himself mp and
looked down at his breast. and then fell for.
ward down the hill. When the sheriff got to
him he was dead. The ball hal stuck him
in the right shoulder blade. and came ont at
the center of the breast. The sheriff and
Mr.. Violet then temporarily secure the body
from molestation. and returned to Delta.
Friday morning Coroner Brcese summoned
jury. consisting oI a. II. Ning, ]. IL. Nc
Granahan. W. o. Stephens. NJ. c. Nandcvcn-
ter, r. f. Egglcston and r. d. Blair, who re-
paired to the scene of the shooting. On hear
ing the evidence the jury returned the YER
dict that the negro came to his death by a
gunshot wound at the hands of the sheriff,
who was acting in the discharge of his duty.
The negro, or rather the mulntto. VIII ch he
was, was about six feet high. weighed about
100 pounds. was about 50 or 40 years of age,
bald-headed, large scar over the right eye,
and had one front tooth out. Nothing was
found on his person which gave any clue as
to who he was or where he came from. 1t is
known he came down the railrond track from
the direction of Montrose. Wednesday morn.
ing. lie was buried where he was, the grave
being indicated by plain headb"ard mark
ed, "Died July "a, 1884. Colored mnn-
name unknown"
Mr.. Violet followed the tracks Of tile thief
to the Escalante river, where he found his
saddle at a deserted cabin. The thief had
ridden the horse this far the night he stole it.
He had unsaIdled and unbridled the animal.
and turned 1t out to Craze. when 1t took the.
back track, and he endeavorcd to recover 1t,
with the seqnal as told.
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