, 1884-12-11
COVERED CRIME.
The Coroner's Jury Unable to Re-
move the Mystery.
Little Doubt That Seth Gambell
Was Murdered.
Further Particulars of the Tragedy
at Rawhlde Buttes.

Coroner Chafin returned yesterday
from Rawhide Buttes where he was called
to hold an inquest over the body of a man
found not far from the Buttes. A Especial
dispatch to THE LEADER, published sew
eral days ago, gave a short account of the
finding of the body and referred to an ex.
listing belief hat the remains were those
of the son of Mr.. A. d. Gambell, Of
Hartville and Running Water.
Coroner Chafin arrived in Rawhide
Buttes last Friday morning, and held the
inquest Friday afternoon. The jury con-
sisted of Messrs. C. c. Charlton, Edward
Mays, Henry Chase, Henry Strunyar,
Charles johnson and William Quinn.
The dead mans body was found in a
gulch about a mile and a half from the
main road. One bullet had entered the
back and passed out through the breast
near the right nipple. Upon the head
were two bullet wounds. These were
quite close together and pierced the skull
on the left side. Passing out Just over the
right ear the bullets tore away a consid-
cradle portion of the skull and left a large
hole upon that side of the head.
The body was badly decomposed and
while complete Identification was not pos
sible the belief that the remains are those
of Seth D. Gambell appears to be well es-
tablished by the circumstances.
Last July, Mr.. S. D. Gambell, the son
Of A. D. Gamble, took his wife,
who was about to become a mother, to
Hsrtville, and left her at the hotel kept
by George Hawks. 1t is stated that
some family difficulties existed in the
Gambell family and that, owing to un-
pleasant relations, young Gambell took
his wife from Running Water to Hart
vile ut the time mentioned. At any rate
the woman was left at the hotel. Subse-
quently Gambell started toward Rawhide
BGttes riding his horse. A bill Of some
sixty dollars was due the hotel and think
ing a forced collection would be the only
method of obtaining payment, the creditor
sent a Constable after Gambell. The
officer overlook his man and attached the
horse for the debt. When the Constable
left Gambell the latter started on foot
towards Whalen canyon and that was the
last time he was seen or heard of.
The body was found about twelve miles
from the place where Gambel and the
officer parted. 1t was clothed in common
rough apparel and near it lay a bag con-
tanning a few articles of clothing. Upon
the bag was a mark which the the elder
Gambell states identifies it as the property
of his son. The father also stated that
upon the instep of his sons left foot was
a lump caused by a cut inflicted some
years ago. After Mr.. Gambell had made
that statement the left boot was carefully
u from the foot and the lump was found
just as described.
For some reason no positive testimony
could be obtained Identifying the body and
the jury decided that the mar came to his
death from gunshot wounds inflicted by
persons unknown to the jury. 1t appears
that the complete identification of the
body as hat of Gambell might result in
suspicious as to the responsibility of the
crime, but lacking such Identification such
suspicious are not warranted. Although
the evidence before the jury was unsatis-
factory there exists but little doubt that
Gambell was killed either at the place
where the body was found or that he was
murdered elsewhere and the body hidden
in the gulch or gorge where it wal discov.
cred. 1t is possible that the matter will
be laid before Governor Hale and that a
reward will be offered for the discovery Of
the murderer or ~murderers.
The deceased. ifhe be Gambell, leaves
a wife and child but no property. Coro-
ner Chafin says there are Eve graves in
the little cemetery at Rawhide Buttes.
Three of these contain the bodies of MUIR
dered men over whom the Coroner held
inquests, and the other two are those of
men who died by violence.