The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-03-03
A TRAGEDY AT HAGERMAN.
Jim Cross Arrested for Robbery Kills
Two Witnesses Murderer
Landed in the Logan County
Jail.

"A epcCIdI ulop1Icu from bliss 10
the Statesman gives an account of
a cold blooded double murder
which occurred at Hagerman, a
settlement on the Snake river ten
miles from Bliss, on the evening of
the 18th. The particulars of the
tragedy are as follows:
About six months ago Jack Cross
and Bill Henderson came from
Ogden and were working placer
claim near the Briggs settlement
on Snake river. There are several
miners cabins and a few ranches
in this neighborhood and somebody
has lately been looting their cabins
and ranches and carrying off tools
and provisions. About two weeks
ago there was a dance at Hager-
man and both Cross and Hender-
son attended. That evening sew
eral sets of harness were cut to
pieces. Suspicion rested on these
two men and warrant was sworn
out charging them with larceny.
Roy Boyer. constable Of Hager
man precinct, arrested them and
took them to Sam Barker's place.
This was about II o'clock Thurs
day night. Bob Wilson was at
that time spending the evening
with Barker.
1t is not known who filed the
complaint, but Cross blamed Will
son for the arrest. The consta BILE
laid down his pistol and stepped
outside for some wood. As soon
as he had gone Cross picked up the
weapon and deliberately shot Will
son without any warning. The
shot passed through Wilson's body
and he died about four hours after
wards. Seeing Wilson fall Barker
jumped up and grabbed Cross
around the body from behind.
This pressed Cross right hand,
which held the pistol, around to
wards Barker's left side. Cross
showed his pistol against Barker
and fired, the bullet passing
directly through his heart, killing
him instantly.
Constable Boyer then rushed in
and Cross turned to shoot him.
:. Boyer jupmed in behind Hender-
son and grabbing him up as a
shield and begged for his life.
Cross then got on the consta ble's
horse and rode off in the darkness.
Early the next morning a posse of
seven persons started in pursuit of
him, who is supposed to have gone
first to his cabin, where he QUILTED
himself with provisions. In addi-
ton to this posse, the sheriff sent
out men from Shoshone.
Henderson is in Jail. He is said
to be a tough character. When
the constable arrested him he drew
a revolver aud forced him to desist.
When told the charge was nothing
more serious than malicious mis-
chief, he consented to go with the
officer, but would not allow the
consta BILE to disarm him. He had
his revolver on when Cross did the
shooting, but did not attempt to
use it.
CROSS CAPTURED
The particulars of the discovery
and capture of jim Cross, the bur
glar, barn thief and double muir
derer, are given in Minedoka dis
dispatch to the Statesman, Febru-
airy 2lst, as follows:
jim Cross, who shot Robert Will
son and Samuel Barker at Hager-
man Thursday night, was captured
Tuesday noon in the Goose Creek
mountains about eight miles south
west Of Oakley by Deputy Sheriff
Dilatush, Constable John Adams
and posse of six men.
The posse had been following
him close since shutdown Sunday
night, travelling through a binding
snow storm. Monday afternoon
about 5 O'clock a man by the name
Of John Iverson met the posse and
told them that Cross had been at
Chris Nelson's ranch about an
hour before, but towing to the severe
storm, they were unable to find his
tracks.
The posse turned back and
stayed over night at VERSIONS.
Early the next morning they
started out in the direction OF
Goose creek. Discovering Cross
track about ten miles from Iver-