The Meeker herald., 1888-04-21
A SHOOTING AFFRAY
Tony Thompson Killed by q
Ranchman Named
MoliaT.
The AssasAin 10 Duiy Anuihtiaied BY
Lewis riamtn~r....Desaiis Of
the had Anair.

ltlNc creek, III Wntch TWO men met Nio-
lent deaths. The Glenwood News OF
Tuesday gives the following account OF
the affair:
Judge Sale, who went down Into the
Rifle creek district last Sunday morn
ing on legal business, found the people
In the vicinity Of the c. G. 4 l. mines In
great state Of excitement Ner the
shooting Of Tony Thompson. Later In
the evening. Lewis plummer came
down and gave himself up to Justice
James Stevenson OF that place, stating
that he had killed Aioilar. the murderer
Of young Thompson. An examination
WAS had and the evidence goes 10 show
that on SUNDAY morning John Manning.
Tony Thompson and another man by the
name OF Thompson, but no relative Of
young Thompson. went up the canon OF
the middle fork Of ltiiie creek on bear
hunt and when they reached a narrow
point III the canon about u mile and u
half above tho McAionigal ranch, they
were fired on from ambush, the ball
striking young Tony Thompson In the
groin. mortaily wounding him. lie
lived but fifteen minutes. \ second
shot was fired. the bali passing through
the sleeve Of John Manning. The party
who did the shooting, sprang from his
hiding place and disappeared In u
thicLc, almost Immediately. lie was
In view Ion. enough to bc recognized by
Manning ms a tancliuian named Moliar.
Shortly afterwards Constable II. e..
Brown who had been notified OF the
shooting. came up aud organized u posse
Of pursuit. lie examined the ground
where the shooting occurred and at the
foot OF large pine tree about thirty
yards distant from the place where
Thompson fell. found two empty Win
chester shells OF 100 calibIc. lie also
found shes tracks leading away from
the tree with marks uf heavy hob nails
In sole ani heel. They followed the
tracks .or about mile mp the mountain.
Directing hts men TO follow the trail.
Brown returned Ia Soascrs camp for
tncn with which Ia picket the mountain
passes. lie detailed Ncwcomb. Plum
incr md young Muilcns 10 guard Null
lens ranch, believing that Moilar would
pass that way In a,i.npiin. his escape.
sunday evening about o'clock old man
Mullcns returned Ia his ranch with n
load OF potatoes and found thcrc Charles
Muilcns. his son. I.rw rlumncr and
S-wcomb. who had been detailed by
Constable brown Ia watch for Moliar at
that point. \ short time after supper.
about O'Clock. the dogs began bar king
and Muii-ns remarked that they hal
better get their guns and keep look.
oui. II WAS quite dark ouisId. nnd the
fugitive was close nj hand. lie crcpi
UP TO the house unnoiiccd and pccrcsi
into the window. lie did not sec
Plummcr standing outside but spoke
loudly. presenting his Winchester:
lis that you Mr. MuilcnsY' Plummcr
recognized the voice Of MollRr. and be-
fore Muiicns could reply from the In
side. Plummcr brought his rifle down on
Mollar aud spoke sharply put down
your gun This rather startled Mollar
but lie again askcdy "ls that you Null
ANUSs ~ uplt utssss stts Vsu'iVuSc.
replied rlummcr. put down your gun" 4"
Moliar said yes" but did not do as or
dcrcd. Plummcr again ordered him TO
put the gun down and Mollar leaned II
up against the house. Plummcr ordered
him to step away from his gun. Mollar
replied Eyes" but did not move. Plum
mcr was getting excited and cried. "if
YOU don, get away from your gun III
shoe, you!" Mollar getting dcsparn,c
stopped down, picked up his rifle.
turned TO face plummcr. bringing his
rifle down on him when Plummcr fired.
killing Mollar instantly. tho ball enter
ing the mouth and passing out between
the shoulder blades. Flumm.r came In
Monday morning and gave himself up
10 Justice James Stevenson. m stated
discharged Plummer. What motive
Mollar could have had In killing young
Thompson in such a cold bloo,lcd man
ner IL not known. No trouble was
known to exist between them. Mollar
has had considerable trouble and wran-
kilIlk WIN bilt IAluV CIVth iVi
several years over his ranch and water
rights. Thompson was hardly more
than boy and 1t is thought by some
that he was shooting nj one Of the other
parties and hit the wrong man. Mollar
was shot within six hours after shooting
Thompson and was killed instantly. and
had no time TO make any explanation
for his rash decd. Tony Thompson was
only about u years Of age, very popular
and OF n good Massachusetts family.
W. 7. Thompson, one OF his brothers.
was formerly a Leadville lawyer Ben
Thompson another brother. has n ranch
on Rifle creek. ffc offered SIOO reward
for the arrest Of Mollar. Thompscn's
sister. who is u teacher in the l.eadville
public school. arrived to-day.
-s>e
In subprnaing jurors last Monday the
Deputy Sheriff experienced no little
difficulty in getting the desired venirc.
Nearly every one whom ie ac-
costcd claimed to know all about
the case and had formed an opinion.
all of which the Deputy took in. Sew.
eral. however. did not have the requisite
amount Of gall. and consequently were
sinched. Paul Wagner proved himself
a diplomat of no small calibre in evad.