The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-25
a CHASTITY CRIME.
Horrible Story Told by q Colorado
"Man-Eater.~


Horrible Story Told by a Colorado
"Man-Eater.~
The trial of Alfred Packer for murder and
cannibalism, which has just been concluded
at Gunnison, Col, and with resulted in
Packers being sentenced to forty years in
the penitentiary, was one Of the most remark
able cases known. The last day Packer him.
self was placed on the stand and testified as
follows:
"My name is Alfred Packer. I have been
In the mountains many years 1 was in
Utah in 1873, and worked in the mines
there until I became loaded. CThis Is form
Of lead collie peculiar to the men employed in
vicinity of the smelters in Utah aud Neya-
da) Then came to Salt Lake, and there
worked awhile in q smelter. I was still at
ficted, and In the fall Of 1873 I joined party
at Bingham Canon for q prospecting trip to
the San Juan country, in Colorado Territory.
We reached Dry Greek, near Chief Ourays
separated. Israel Swan, George Noon, Frank
Miller, James Humphreys and Shannon. Viii
son Bell and myself started from Ourays
camp for the San Juan. Itwas cold, the
snow was deep and travel difficult. We
gave up our boots and tied blankets about
our feet We had to do it to keep them from
freezing Gid man Swan gave out first. he
on the ninth day. We had eaten only one
meal q day during the last few days, because
it was storming and blowing so that we
could not see few feet before us. We were
keeping up toward the summit Of the hills,
aiming for Los Pinos Agency. Bell first
gave up his moccasins, and we made one
meal of those, boiling them. I next gave up
nj, and fhav fho nth Ro11 hod O hof of
Noon had gun, but carried the gun about
half the time. I think we mNst have been
out in the mountains several weeks after rum
ming out of food The men were getting
desperate and Bell seemed to be getting
crazy. His eyes protruded from his head.
While the others complained and talked he
remained silent The men cried for salt
They did not ask for food; it was only salt,
salt. We had been eating willow and rose
buds for several days, having found some
in the valley near the lake, where
Lake City now stands We had run out Of
mat ,hes and carried fire with us in coffee
pot. One day we saw game trail upon the
mountains, and 1t was agreed that should
20 on the trail, as l was the strongest. I
took the WINCHESTER rife and searched. In
the morning left the men crazy with hun;
GER In the evening when returned bad
found bunch OF rose bushes and had
a good dinner from them, but no game.
1 felt stronger. As approached
the fire I saw Bell bending over the
fire, cooking some meat spoke to him,
and Immediately he rose and started for me
with q batchet. Il ran back down the bluff
! but fell, and while down shot bim through
the side as no approached me- He fell and
the hatchet dropped by me- Isnatched itup
and threw it at him and struck him in the
head. I went up to the camp again and
found that The rest OF them We're dead
and that the meat that Bel WIS cook
ing was flesh from Humphreys leg, I stayed
in camp the rest Of that night. / then made
my camp Off short distance and stayed
there for possibly fifteen days During this
time was crazy with hunger and cut the
flesh from Bells leg and boiled it in a tin cup
and ate it. It made me very sick. My stom
ach was empty and weak and vomited very
violently that night After this frequently
ate the meat and several times tried to get
out Of the country. I would climb up the
mountain, but failing to see sny hope would
return again to the camp and again cut the
flesh from the liubs Of the dead men and eat
it. Twas about forty miles from Los Pinos
Agency and did not know the exact direc-,
| ton This was along in April" :,
The witness then narrated at great length
how he wandered from day to day over the
| mountains, having supply of human flesh
along, and finally, in the last days Of April,
be found his way to sazuachs.
For five hours Packer occupied the stand,
and proved the most remarkable witness that
was ever placed uron the stand in this
country. il old attorneys may be believed
In 1888 Packer was convicted Of his COM
rades' murder, and sentenced to death, but
escaped the gallows through legal technicali-
ties, and eyer since has been awaiting .
second trial This has finally taken place,
| n resulted, as above stated, In yer dict Of
aorty years imprisonment