La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-08-20
TRAGEDY AT KOKOMO.
OFFICERS AND ROBBERS KILLED,
Party of Hold ups From breckenridge XIII
Ex-shrrin Conrad and sumner WHIT
ney Who Tried to Arrest Them


near. here early this afternoon, ex-
Sheriff NJ. Il. Conrad of Summit coun-
~ was killed and Sumner Whitney, a
prominent business man of kokomo
WIS probably fatally injured. Dick
Bryan. one of the robbers. was killed
and Dick Manley, another. was NOR
tally wounded. \ man named Relliy.
who was with the robbers nj the time
OF the shooting, was captured and 1T Is
not unlikely that he will be lynched
before morning.
The battle between the officers and
hold-ups was the outcome of long
series OF crimes committed in Victor,
Cripple Creek. Goldfield. breckenridge
and other mining camps of the district
hereabouts. for all of which 1t Is be
lievcd the gang now dead or in Gus
tody was responsible.
The last in the series of rObberies oc-
Cured nj breckenridge last night. The
next was to have occurred IN Lead
VILE, whittier the gang was headed,
with plans already formulated fof the
holding-up and looilng of the Pioneer
saloon. BY the confession of Manley,
one Of the robbers. 1t Is known that
the gang has committed at least two
murders since its organization, in ad-
to-day and the mortal woundins of
Sumner Whitney. These two murders
occurred in the Cripple Creek district
during the commission of robberies.
One of the victims was Il Victor s;I-
loonkcepcr.
According to facts CLEANED here to-
night, from the confession of Manley
and from other sources, ii appears that
Manley, Dick Bryan. Pug Ryan ana
Fred Wilson went Into the Denver sa-
loon at breckenridge last night. mask
cd and armed with s9otguns, Winches-
ter rifles and revolvess, for the purpose
of holding the place up, robbing the
gambling games and going through
the Inmates. One OF the men carrying
a shotgun accidentally discharged his
weapon as he stepped inside the door
of the saloon The charge took effect
in the ceiling. doing no more harm
than to frighten the people In the piace'
Seeing that they had alarmed Their
victims, the robbers got down 10 work
with great speed. While two members
of the gang covered the crowd with
their weapons, the other two went
through the till of the faro bank,
which was not in operation at the
time. and through the pockets of the
overlooked the safe and cash register.
in which large amount of money
was lying. In all. they secured dia-
mond shirt stud. three gold watches
and $50 in money.
Then the hold-ups turned on their
heels and left the place, disappearing
quickly in the darkness. X. w. Foote,
the proprietor of the Denver, offered
n reward of 500 for the capture of the
robbers Among these TO whom the of
fer of a reward was made was Nj. T..
Conrad. formerly sheriff of the conn-
ty, and lately Il member of the Rocky
Mountain Detective Association OF
Denver. OF which General Dave Cook
is the chief.
Early this morning Conrad. who car
ried a deputy sheriff'S star boarded Il
train for kokomo, in the direction OF
which town be learned the robbers had
proceeded. He arrived here about noon
and called on Sumner Whitney, n
well-kpown business man, to whom
he impaired the secret of his mission.
Whitney. who has always borne the
reputation of being law-abidlng.
fearless man, at once volunteered his
services In helping to capture the ont
laws in the event that they were 10.
Tnnr,d hod pot bcen long In Kol,o-
~ 49, No. h,, ,a.rnaa ,bot marry con.
,'is,,n., ,.ip ~ four man oii strnpcers was
camped in an abandoned miners cab
in. near the cemetery, mile from
iowh. ne a. ,w,,,.,' nr,,ad
anu reih'eu M 'u .,.,,I ,1,r ,h,.
hiinseii anu 'he '"o e'''''su ~ ''''
cabin. 49,, 49,. ,a, .,o
On arrlVliia 'h.le ,i,s. -, IL
four strangers ioihslhs on ""uhs ,
about the caoih. !ney en'e,eu anu
opened q conversation Win ,lie i,,ei' n,,.
who sala they were prospsc'ors. M :,
statement appeared credipie 70 oohrad
md Whitney. VINO arose anu ieit ,he
lbin. with the intention OF returning
% town.
Once outside. however. Conrads sus-
oicions Of the men returned. ana ne
vaid to Whitney he believed he would