, 1888-12-07
NJ E D
W. ]. vannice Killed by an Unknown
Tramp.
He Pursues and Captures a Murder
GUS Sneak Thief.
Is BrutalIy Assassinated with His
Own Weapon.
To Escape Imprisonment the Tramp
Becomes a Murderer.
The Identity of the CowardIy Assds-
The Identity of the CowardIy Assds-
sin a Mystery.
A CHASTITY Find on the Public High
way at Midday.
MURDER.

rays Oh UOu 3 Deaulllul SuuSulne, MlInlu
sight of church spires, almost within hail
ing distance of a military post, an afro
cious murder as brutal as any that has yet
startled the people of Wyoming was com
mitted about noon yesterday. 1t was the
sort of crime that causes men to pale,
women to shudder and children to weep
in fear, a murder on the order that almost
invariably provokes the coward hating
residents of the West into assuming the
right to administer the laws of the land
without the intervention of courts of JUS
tice. The victim of the assassination-for
it was little less-was w. j. Vannice, a
respected citizen, who has made many
friends during his residence here.
THE DISCOVERY.
DR.. Carey and w. N. Jackson started
for the formers ranch about noon yester-
day. When near the old Valley ranch,
five miles north of the city, they noticed a
horse and phaeton about 200 yards west
OF the road. One remarked that there
was a lady in the buggy, but received no
reply.
The sight was so unusual that they left
the road and drove to the stationary rig.
Mr.. Jackson was the first to alight from
the carriage. He made a hasty examina-
ton of the phacton and driver and was
Mortified to discover that its occupant was
a man who had met a violent death but a
few minutes before. The two gentlemen
noticed blood about the head of the re-
mains of deceased and a pool of the life
fluid on the. ground. An arm was on the
wheel Of the buggy and the head hanging
on his breast. The reihs were tied to a
spoke Of one of the front wheels. Messrs.
Carey and Jackson unhitched the horse,
tethered it to a fence and drove 20 the
city as rapidly as possible. Here the
sheriff and coroner were notified.
RECEIVING H NEWS.
While the officials prepared for action
the news of the find spread rapidly. AT
that time the identity of the murdered
man was unknown and the manner of his
death a mystery. DR.. Carey was inclined
to the belief that a hemorrhage had ter
minated his existence. AS the news cir
culated all sorts of stories were told.
Suicide was a quite prevalent theory and
many were certain that the dead man was
Mr.. Weber. ST., the sewing machine
agent. Mr.. Weber. however, was alive
and well in his office. 1t didn't seem to
occur to anyone that a clue might be OBJ
tanned at a livery stable.
In the meantime Coroner Chafin sum
moned a jury including Ed. f. Stable, 7.
j. Fisher, G. G. Charlton, o. F. Rhodes,
j. p. Julian and Bert. Garrow. They in
one rig and Sheriff Sharpless, Deputy
Chas. Moore and Capt. Smith left for the
scene of the murder in a remarkably
short time after the announcement of the
tragedy by DR.. Careyland Mr.. Jackson.
The undertaker's wagon followed.
THE SCENE AND IDENTIFICATION.
The officials did not spare horse flesh
on their mission. They caught sight of
the buggy some time before reaching it,
as the scene of the crime was on
the open prairie. Everything was found
as LETT by the discoveries. There vas
great surprise and much SORROW when the
identity OF the dead man was announced.
Nearly all knew and respected deceased
and had never dreamt hat he would meet
a violent death. The body was yet
warm, although 1t must have been four
hours after the firing Of the shot by the
unknown assassin. The remains were
placed in a wagon and all set out for town.
A WEES GRIEF.
By a strange fatality-perhaps it was
for the best-Mrs. Vannice was one Of the
first to hear of the terrible affair, to learn
that her husband was most fouliy muir
dered. She reached the rooms of the
undertaken soon after the arrival of the
remains. Her sorrow was great. She
gave way to grief and moaned and cried
and sobbed. He had been a good bus
band and a loving father and his taking
off had been SO unexpected and 30 ter.
rible. To the dazed and weeping woman
the world was without attractions. None
could comfort her, Many citizens viewed
the remains at the undertaken and regret
was expressed by all.
THE WOUND.
A black powder mark and a large
wound Immediately below and behind the
left ear and another bloody aperture
above the right ear told of an ~instantane,
GUS and almost painless death. That the
powder mark was black is evidence con.
elusive that the weapon was held within
a very few inches of Mr.. Faunice's head.
His face was pale, but the features were
not distorted. The messenger of death
had done its work quickly and well
NOT ROBBERY.
IN. -