The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-08-10
WILSON CLEARS UP THE TARS-
NEY OUTRAGE.
MAKES 4 CLEAN BREAST OF THE JOB
He duplicates Sheriff Bowcrs, a Captain
Of COIOradO's Militia, Deputy Sheriffs
and Others-A Woman Furnished
the Feathers From Ono of
Her PIlIOws-Details OF the
Conspiracy Made Public.

DENVER, Col, Aug. 6.-Joe r. Will
son, the FL Paso county deputy sheriff
who was captured by Adjutant GEN
eral Tarsney in Missouri, has made
full confession and given to Chief of
Police Armstrong the names of all of
the men connected with the outrage
committed IN Colorado Springs a few
weeks ago.
Wilson was brought back to Den
yer at noon yesterday by Officer Cross
and spent last night in the city Jail.
On the train going TO the Springs in
the morning he weakened and told
everything he knew of the affair
In his story of the experiences of
the eventful night the names of
Sheriff Bowers, Deputy Sheriff Bob
Mullins and Captain Saxton OF the
Colorado Springs militia company
were often mentioned. He confirmed
the story that a murderer out of the
FL Paso county jail was allowed to
help to put tar and feathers on Colo
radios adjutant general
Every detail of the tar and feathers
affair is now in possession of the Den
yer officers, and, however high posi-
ton the offenders may hold, they will
ultimately be brought to justice.
Wilson's confession clearly illustrates
one point: That the crime was COM
mite by the political enemies of
General Tarsney, and that the crimi-
nails were not the outcasts of the Bull
Hill army, but men OF, higher standing
in the community.
According to Wilson'S story, the
men engaged in the disgraceful en-
h do,
Bob Mullins, Captain Saxton of Troop
A, Sergeant William Bancroft of
Troop A, Deputy Sheriff j. R. Wilson,
Deputy Quackenbosh, Sherman Crum-
ley, Walter Crumley, Shorty" Allen,
Smith Shellenberger and perhaps one
or two others, including a woman.
The police now have three confessions
those of Wilson, Parker and a
prisoner in the Ell Paso county Jail,
who is being held as a witness to
murder committed in Cripple Creek.
These men will be brought before the
grand jury now sitting in Colorado
Springs. Their evidence has been
corroborated. All the mystery of the
great case has been laid bare, and in
its nakedness it stands a disgrace to
the state of Colorado.
Before he confessed Wilson feared
that some day he would receive a coat
of tar and feathers, similar to the one
he helped put on General Tarsney.
Protection was promised by Detective
Eales. Then Wilson demanded that
he should be taken back to Denver
at once. This also was agreed to.
Then he told his story.
The conspiracy was born at Gillette
and continued to grow until Tarsney
was found unguarded in the Alamo
hotel. The deputy sheriffs at Divide
had heard the false report from Den
yer that Tarsney had made the remark:
ST hope that every man in Bowers
army will be shipped in coffin" The
night the militia arrived at Gillette
and oamped near the deputies, Wilson,
Allen and others, backed by Bob
Mullins and members of the company
from Ell Paso club, arranged Il scheme
to kidnap Tarsney on the spot, but
for some reason this was abandoned
On the day that Tarsney appeared
at Colorado Springs for the purpose
of assisting in the defense of Bull
Hill prisoners the conspiracy to kid
nap him was formed. 1t was fairly
discussed in the county Jail and the
sheriff. Office, and when it once re-
ceived official support it progressed.
A signal was agreed upon. 1t was
announced also most publicly that all
who desired to take part in the plot
should meet in a saloon on TETON
street and enter with their right hand
stuck in the vest According to VIII
sons story Sheriff Bowers furnished
to Deputy Sheriff Quacken bosh tar
and Mrs. Quackenbosh prepared the
feathers, ripping open a large pillow.
Bowers in addition, ordered the re-
lease of the Cripple Creek murderer
and ordered him to follow Deputy
Sheriffs Allen and Shellenbarger.
Deputy Sheriff Mullins hired the
hacks from the two Crumleys, and
ordered them to drive to the Alamo
hotel. He paid them in advance. Will
son headed the party which went into
the Alamo hotel, and he confessed
that he was the man who pol1ed the
gun in Tarsney's face as Tarsney
come down to the Office to answer the
telephone. Bancroft, Allen and Smith
were the other men in the hotel Office.
SaXton, Bob Mullins and the others
waited outside.
Wilson described the drive out to
the open prairie and he said that most
horrible threats were made against
Tarsney. He was told that he was
being driven to place of execution,
where he would be tortured to death.
His captors gleefully told him that
they would first quarter him and then
chop off his head. Tarsney asked Tor
his life as any man would do under
the circumstances. On arriving at
the place of torture, Tarsney was
dragged from the hack by Allen, Ban
croft and Wilson and told to strip.
When he was informed that his life
would be spared he shook hands with
his prosecutors and thanked them.
Wilson said that he got tar on his
hands that n:rIi and so did Saxton,
Bancroft, Allen and all the rest. The
general was left alone, nearly crazy,
to wander over the fields
One result OF Wilson's confession
may be the release OF Jack j. Mullins.
Wilson says that Mullins started into
the conspiracy but did not appear on
the scene at the appointed hour.
wilson Is a young man, the son of a
Missouri farmer, at whose house he
was captured last week. He was
deputy sheriff at Colorado Springs.
where he has resided for several