Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-04
TRUE EVEN UNTO DEATH.
The Desperate Devotion OF an Outlaw :
wife IN southern Colorado.


IDcnvcr News.I
Tho folloWing characteristic story OF
frontlcr life was told the reporter OF The
Nl,rs nv Mr.. Nelson franklin, who - IN
HE civ and whe has lived for some time
during the past two years in Silycrton and
other towns aud camps In southern Col
orado;
"a daring robbery had been committed.
The official. II well-known banking in
sttution in town in southern Colorado,
mon reaching The building one morang,
discovered that SidC-dOOr had been brokcn
omen. the fastening Of an inner door forced.
and the safe containing the banks vdluableS
drilled and blown and relieved Of ils r0n-
fonts. A careful search OF the premises
revealed the body OF the Waterman III an
adjoining vacant lot pierced with KNIFE
wounds and covered with bruises, show
ing tie evidence Of struggle. and thai
more than one person was engaged ~ the
murder aud robbery. soon the whole
community was aroused and the sherlii,
with p posse 81 armed aud mounted men.
was ready Ia start on the trail OF the
murdcrtrs. But who were they and where
could they he found were questions easier
10 ask than 10 answer.
"On The door Of the bankinp-room WIS
found large brimmed sombrcro. decorated
with REGULAR spanglcS. and which several
citizens identified o. having been worn by
one Of three strangers who came into town
the afternoon before and had been drink
ing at several saloons during the evening.
4 iolerably fair description Of these men
was obtained: also the information given
by ranchman who came into town during
the morning that three men answering the
descriItlon. armed and mounted on power
fu horses. had passed him while on his
WAY in about wight, going south at
rapid rate. evidently on their way 70 New
Mexico.
Upon hearing the ranchman'e story the
officers separated into three squads and
started ell well equipped for an encounter.
Every trail over the mOunl,sn was cX I'M
med and every possible clue followed for
several days. but 10 no purpose. The bank
OF; cials mavOr Of the town, and Governor
of The State offered rewards for the capture
Of the miscrcan!S, which in the aggregate
amounted 10 several thousands OF dollars.
This induced a large number OF deter
mined and brave men 10 Join in the pur-
suit. W hIch was prosecuted for more than
a week without result.
"FInallv one e these parties, compoScd
Of three OF the best irontiersmcn in the
country, came suddenly upon the fugltive'
in a rocky ca non in the Businesses ofthe
Needle mountains shortly after daybreak,
iusl as they were making preparations Tor
a rude breakfast. Calling upon them TO
surrender. they were answered 10y voliey
Of shots. which were at once returned.
The battle being one 81 life or death, the
fling lasted some minutes without result.
when one the dCSperadOcs fell MORALLY
wounded The others. apparentlya man
and boy. kept up the firing until their
ammunition was exhausted, when they
were compelled pcrf0rce 10 surrender. They
were taken back TO the camp or main rem
devious Of the pursuing party, together
with the body OF the dead man. There il
was proposed to lynch the Survivors. when
a singular thing happened. The boy. who
appeared to lie not over eighteen years OF
age and OF fair complexion and long hair,
addressed The as.emblage about a. fol-
lows: Gentlemen. suppose we have not
very long TO live, but before you carry your
purpose into execution allow me to say
that THIS man was innocent Of any CONF
plicity in the murder, but that the man
no is dead and myself killed him, and
your vengeance should fall upon me. the
Oily guilty one living
"Thc clear. musical, pleading voice.
the long hair streaming in the wind, and
the bright. sparkling eyes. which gi0wed
with animation and were suilu>c1 with
tears during the appeal, produced ~ i'm
preston upon these rough men for which
they If the time could not account. At
the conclusion, however. the other prisoner
suddenly started up and said: Gentle
men. don't believe the story told You.
This il my wife. who. from her
devotion to unworthy me, hts ac-
Companied me IN all my Wsnderings
dressed in the %lrb OF 4 man. She has in
many desperate encounters saved my life.
and, although dclicatelv reared has shared
in all the hardshipS, danger, and priya-
tiCns Of my rough llfe, and not only had
no share IN the transactions Of that evening,
hut would have prevented them could She
have done SO. Don't believe her; She
would save my life al the expense OF her
OWN
This stgcal, Of maniiucs, in a nttuI-' 80
apparently mean rather staggered The men
in their intentions Tor a few moments, but
pre- >cuiv Scmc Of the leaders. remember
me their purpose, ordered that prepare
lions should al once be made for The hang
ing OF The man. suddenly the woman
spIang up like a tiglc,S abou' - be de-
rIvcd OF her voung. and. >nltchlng Ms
t0l from the hcit OF one ol the men, delicd
them 10 hang her husband; then. IN another
spirit. She fell on her knees and pi,e-
ou>lv prayed tie stern men before her 10
,paIe her love, her life. The appeal
wa, most piicou> and affecting, aud at IT.
close she fell into dead swo0n. Carrying
Ter TO one side the gha~tly prcpirltiou>
were soon completed. and but few min
ute, later the body Of Jack Maitland Wa
swinging IN md-air and the punishment
for the cruel crime which had been COM
miitcd va, complete. The wife was con-
Vcvcd 10 town, and. after hoycrn< bee
tween life and death for weeks. finally r.
covered sufficiently 10 Dee sclt home 10
her friends in the East. who proved To- Doe
people Of wealth and Standing