The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1894-10-20
TROUBLE AT CRIPPLE
DEPUTY KILLS a PRISONER.
James Canon Killed snd Thomas Short
wounded by Deputy sterljux.--The
Men Had Been Arrested for Robbery
and Wero Trying to Escape.

Denver, Oct. ia special dispatch
from Colorado Springs to the Times
Sun, says:
Deputy Sheriff X. G. Sterling at mid
night last night, shot and killed Jas.
Cannon. and wounded Thomas Short,
two prisoners he was bringing from
Victor to Colorado Springs. The shoot-
Ing occurred ut Divide station, and
was, 1t Is claimed. in self defense. the
men having endeayoreI to escape. Can
non and Short We're arrested for being
implicated in holdup of the faro bank
at the Victor hotel on Saturday morn
Ing. They were taken to the lock up
at Cripple Greek. The arrest caused
great ill-feeling among the associates
of the two men, both OF whom have
been employed as miners In the Night
ingale. 1t was claimed by their friends
that Short and Cannon were attending
dance at the time OF the robbery
and were in no way connected wits
it. 1t was rumored in Cripple Creek
on Saturday that an attempt would be
made to rescue them from the Jail.
Deputy Sterling accordingly decided to
bring the men to Colorado Springs for
ooiN hIOpihS- Ilt 5-l oul ldSL
In wagon. Beside the prisoners aud
himself there were two guards.
On arriving at Divide, about mid
night, the wagon was stopped in front
OF livery stable and the two men
taken out and told to go inside. Some
guns which Sterling carried, and also
his belt and his pistol, were taken
in and he and the guard went out at
ter blankets. When they returned they
found the prisoners in possession of
the guns. They coyared him and he
ordered them TO lay them down. A
struggle ensued, daring which the
men threw down the guns. but held the
pistols and ran out OF the door. They
went in the direction of the railroad
track and Sterling followed. He coin
manded them to halt. but they refused
to do SO. They got behind some ties.
They. rs Sterling states, said that they
would surrender. He walked up to
them and they fired two shots at him.
He returned them. There was no more
firing and he walked up TO the place
where the men were. He found Cannon
lying on his face on the ground. He
was dying from n bullet wound In the
heart. He had also been shot In the
face. Short was wounded in the leg,
but not dangerously.
Cannon expired within few mln-
utcs. The sheriff and coroner at this
place We're notified and the body OF
Cannon was removed to the morgue
here. Short was brought AS prison
er. and Is now In the FL Paso county
jail. Sterling used Il shotgun In re-
turning the lire, and Cannon's face
shows the result of the powder marks.
The above story is az told by the dep
uty.
Advlccs from Victor state that the
most instcnse excitement over the
shooting exists. The friends OF the
two men were very angry mt the arrest
in the first place and Its tragic term
lnatiOn may cause more trouble in the
district The miners side of the story
IL that the arrest was made on very
little ground. and that others have been
arrested and taken TO Colorado Springs.
A coroncr's jury was called and after
hearing the Testimony of Short and
Sterling, cxoncrated the latter from
blame.