, 1890-07-03
A DELIBERATE MURDER.
Such Was the Killing of LEIPZIG
by Knapp.
LEIPZIG Shot to Death Like a Grip
pied Dog.
A Woman's Attempt TO Avert the
Tragedy.

Particulars of the killing Of Leppie by
Knapp on Horse creek Monday after
noon were received yesterday morn
ing, and could not hut carry the convic-
ton that a deliberate murder had been
committed, with a quiet young man as
the victim.
Leppie was an employe of the Tusler
estate outht. This isa cattle company as
big as was the Swan concern ten wears
ago. He was holding a bunch of horses
near the ranch of Knapp, who objected to
his choosing that vicinage as a grazing
ground, aud who was not a little
irritated over the presence OF the horses
and their herder.
Knapp was sitting at his ranch chatting
with Mrs. Knapp and Mrs. Nelson. wife
of the Tusler foreman. LEIPZIG and his
horses were in sight, and Knapp fire.
q%uently interrupted the conversation
with querelous remarks about them.
Finally he seemed to become very much
excited. and with tie remark that "he
would just go down and shoot that -
of a b" took his Winchester and
walked rapidly toward where Leppie lay
on the grass reading.
Mrs. Nelson Immediately started to one
of the camps with the news of the i'm
pending tragedy. Knapp's general repu-
tation had been that he would shoot to
kill When opportunity offered and Mrs.
Nelson, a brave woman Of quick decis-
ion rightly conjectured that bloodshed
was imminent.
B. Duel was the first man met by Mrs.
Nelson and she quickly gave him the
story. he at once saddled a horse and
started in the direction advised by Mrs.
Nelson.
Though he made desperate haste, DUEL
was too late. He met Knapp returning
to the house. but was near enough be-
fore the murder was committed to give a
graphic account OF it.
Knapp approached within a few yards
of LEIPZIG and applying a vile nan to the
defenseless man asked him what he was
dong there.
The only answer to Knapp's question
was a shot fIom his own weapon. He
missed the prostrate target. The second
time he took careful aim and a heavy
bullet landed in poor LeppIe's abdomen.
The entrals ~protuudod and the man
groaned a few times and then became
motionless.
George A. Wilson and Duell carried
Leppie to a neighboring ranch where he
died in a Few minutes.
When L.. G. Crockett, a line rider,
heard the news he struck for Silas
Doty's ranch, reaching it at midnight.
They started after Knapp, who probably
took to the sandhills.
The pursuit is still on, and a large num-
Der of good men have been placed in the
field by Sheriff Martin. 1t is expected
that Knapp will be taken before night.
On the request of Prosecuting Attor-
ney Campbell, Acting Governor Medium
has issued a proclamation offering on be-
half of Laramie county a reward of $500
for the capture of Knapp.
The Knapp ranch, 1t is learned by con-
sulting land Office records here, is a tim
Der claim half a mile inside Wyoming.
The man is a granger and small stock
raiser, and has always had a weakness for
making gun plays.
1t is to be regretted that Nelson, the
Tusler foreman. was not on hand during
the shooting. He is something of a bad
man himself, When ~rustlers become
troublesome he takes the trail against
them, and these same thieves trouble him
no more, On his last visit to Sidney he
rode over the outfit of a photographer
taking street views, and then shot at the
wreck several times. After laughing at
the ruin be paid the picture man the
sun claimed for damages. something like
AU