The Delta independent., 1889-05-07
KILLED By TRAMPS.
The Operator at Fountain Murde red
in HisOffice.


COLORADO SPRINGS, April 29.-In-
tense excitement was caused in this city
and neighboring towns this morning by
the announcement that A. S. Hastings,
night operator of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa F'e at Fountain station, had been
murdered last night by tramps. The facts
which have been learned about the crime
60 to prove that the murder was one of the
most cold blooded and atrocious ever com
mitted IN this county. The facts about
the crime are meager up TO a late hour to-
night, as Hastings died without giving
much information and no one else but the
cruel murderers were present.
J. c. Denny, station agent for the Santa
Fe company, when seen today said
| About 2:1O O'Clock this morning l heard
some one rapping and calling, %, Denny
| at my bedroom window in the Brunswick
Hotel, which is about two blocks from the
Santa Fe station. l did not know who
was at the window, but as the person was
| groaniug knew whoever it was. was in
| distress, and | asked who was there, to
which the person on the outside said,
| Hastings. am shot
/ Immediately got up and went outside,
| where l found Hastings lying under the
window, evidently mortally wounded and
rapidly sinking. Carrying him into the
hotel, l called for help, and we worked
| with him, but he was already beyond aid.
| l asked him how he was shot, to which he
| replied, ''They held me up. / am shot"
l asked who did it, and he answered,
| ''Tramps; wire Mr.. Wright, Tappan, Ohio
they took the keys to the office"
Hastings asked for water. drank it, and a
| moment later was dead. Thus the only
| lips which could have given any substan,
| tial clue to the mysterious murder and its
| brutal perpetrators were forever sealed.
The murder must have been committed
about 2:os O'Clock this morning. The Santa
Fe freight No. 81 had just pulled out from
| Fountain going north, and Hastings had
| reported its passage. 1t must have been
| Immediately after he sent this report that
the fatal shot was fired. The only object
murderers could have had was robbery,
and an examination proved that S2-l5 was
| the total amount obtained. Five minutes
after the report of the freight train had
been sent Hastings called Denny up at the
Brunswick Hotel, and few minutes later
was a corpse.
The most probable theory of the murder
is that the murderers were two and posi-
bly, three tramps, who either came in on the
freight or were lying around waiting for it
to pass before they attempted the dastardly
deed. 1t is supposed the party knew there
was some money in the safe in the station
office. and it is Mr.. Denny's opinion that
the men tried to make Hastings tell the
safe combination. But as Hastings did
not know the combination he could not give
it and the robbers probably thought he was
deceiving them, and becoming cxaspcratcd
shot him.
| Hastings was shot in the back, the ball
passing clear through the body, and it was
afterwards found on the floor. 1t was from
a Ss-calihcr revolver.
| The appearance at the office indicates
that desperate struggle between the man
and the villains occurred, Hastings finally
succeeding in escaping from the station.
After his departure the murdcrers made a
hasty investigation of the drawers and
closets, finding only small sums. Is
which they took and departed. Thel,
tracks as they fed are plainly discernibl.
in the snow for short distance and ar
the only clues to the perpetrators of the
| foul deed.
Hastings had watch and chain and -
on his person which the murderers failet
to get. The safe contained 500 which wa.
also untouched.
Sheriff jackson and other authoritie.
were notified of the murder and went t,
work on the case at once, but thus far al
efforts to solve the mystery have been baf
fled and there is possibility that the mur
dercrs may escape, though, as the whole
country is aroused, that would seem i'm
| probable.
Adolpn S. Hastings was % years old
He has been at tho Fountain Office abou
ono year, coming originally from New
Comcrstown, Ohio. He had, rs he init
mated before he died, also relatives n
Tappan, Ohio. He was considcred q Goot
| operator and faithful, trustworthy en-
ployc.
Tho Santa Fe officials have offered go
reward for the arrest of the murderers, and
no.expcnsc or efforts will be spared In hunt
| ing thcm down.