The Springfield herald., 1898-03-18
OUTLAWS RUN DOWN.
STORY OF THE RECENT LYNCH
ING.
Detail. of the Capture of the Men Who
Killed Deputy sheriff Hoy In Western
Colorado.

Craig this evening. having in custody
Harry Tracy and David Liant, mem
bcrs of the Powder Springs gang Of
outlaws. From Sheriff Neiman the fol-
lowing details of the tragedies enact
ed in Browns Park We're gained:
I sheriff Neiman and Farnham left
Craig on February oath, for Browns
Park. with warrants for p. l.. Johnson
and John Bennett, charged with kill
ing steers belonging to V. $. Hoy
They were Joined by Boyd Vaughn at
Maybell. who accompanied them on the
entire Trip Just before reaching Yer
million creek on Sunday afternoon,
February 2Ith. they discovered three
men with pack horses Mr.. Farnham
rode in advance to ascertain the iden-
tity of the men. but when they saw
him they left the road and cut across
the hills at rapid rate towards Ladore
canon. The officers We're obliged to
give up the chase and proceeded to A.
II. Bnssett's. mt the Ladore postoffice,
where they spent the night. There
they met John Strang, whose brother
had been killed by johnson. This was
the first information that Neiman hhd
received of the. murder and he CON
cluded that the fhree men that he had
pursued We're the men wanted.
Young Strang rode all that night and
summoned citizens of Browns Park,
whom Neiman desired 10 assist i'll the
capture of the fugitives. Before day
light Monday morning, the 18th, Mel
man left with Il posse on the expedi-
tion which finally resulted in the
clearing out of the outlaw element
which has infested the borders of Colo
RADIO. Utah and Wyoming in Browns
Park. The train of the fugitives was
found and followed until night, when
the camp and five horses which had
been in possession of the outlaws were
captured The following day, March
lst. the pursuit was resumed ana the
fugitiveS We're soon hard pressed, al
though MS yet the posse had not caught
sight of them. but OvercOats which
they had discarded We're found. John
son and his companions went Straight
up over the high mountain at the head
of Ladorc canon, and ii was believed
by V. s. Hoy that the men had gained
the other side of the mountain. Hoy
was in advance of the posse and Sher-
in Neiman cautioned him not to go so
far ahead. us he might run into an am
bush. Hoy got perhaps fifty feet in
advance of the others, and was just
about to step upon small bowlder
which was near n cleft between two
large rocks. when suddenly two shots
We're fired and Hoy fell. shot through
the body Just above the heart and died
almos, instantly. The man who fired
the fatal shot stood between the two
large rocks and was not more than six
feet away from Hoy. Harry Tracy
was the only outlaw seen mt the time
of the shooting. and he exposed himself
but for an instant However, shots
from members of Neiman's force
struck close to him After the killing
of Hoy. Neiman returned to Bassetts
for the night.
While.on the way TO the ranch Boyd
Vaughn, Herb, Bassett and Il. B.
Thompson discovered n lone horseman
apploaihing and they concealed them
selves in the cedars and waited for
him. The horseman proved to be John
Bennett, who had aided johnson In his
escape after he had killed Strang. Ben
nett dismounted and fed his horse
some oats and then climbed on top of
n hill and discharged his revolver three
times He waited some moments as
If for an answer and then discharged
his rifle once The men came out of
their concealment by detour and rode
to Bennett and engaged him in conver-
sation. BY n clever ruse young Bas-
sett induced Bennett to go home with
him, while Vaughn and Thompson has
tened to find Sheriff Neiman and Farm
ham. The officers We're apprised of
the situation and succeeded in getting
to Bassctt's shortly before Benefits
arrival. AS Bennett was about to en-
ter the house Sheriff Neiman got the
drop on him and he elevated his hands
as high ms possible. Farnham dis
armed Bennett and placed the mana
cles on his wrist.
The following afternoon, March Ind,
while Farnham was guarding Bennett
about len masked men threw rines
down on him and ordered him TO
throw up his hands. The officer object
ed. but the mob had him nj their mercy
and he finally complied with their com
mand. Two men guarded the under
sheriff while the others placed a sack
| over Bcnnett's head and took hln
away. He pleaded for mercy and SAID
he would tell all he knew and agree to
ANYTHING. His protcstations were un-
needed and he was told that he had
/ made his laSI gun play and that men of
! his stamp could not live to terrorize
| that section any longer.
A rope was tied around Benefits
neck and in the broad light of the day
| he was lynched TO. n cross-picce from
n gate-post near Mr.. Bassetts barn
The men returning with the body of V
S. Hoy TO the Bassett ranch were nor
rifcd mt finding the lifeless figure of
Bennett suspended 10 the gate. The
| outlaws remains We're buried a short
| distance from where he was lynched
while the remains of v. $. Hoy were
sent to Rock Springs for burial.
The pursuit of Johnson, Tracy and
Liant was again taken up, they having
started for Powder. Springs on Fri
day afternoon near Lookout mountain
Under sheriff Farnham and four mer
captured the fugitives after sharl
exchange of shots. none OF whici
caused any damage. The outlaws
were caught in "A gulch filed with deel
snow. They tried to burrow in The
snow for protection from the shois
but Johnson weakened and came ou
with his hands up. Liant started II
follow. when Tracy pointed his gur
at him and said if he didn't come bacl
he would kill him. Liant obeyed Ira
cy, but finally threw up his hands
saying that ii looked as if he was go
ing to be killed anyway, and that hi
would lust as soon have Tracy do the
| ioh no tho ofYicprS Tracy then nut III