La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-03-19
OUTLAWS RUN DOWN.
STORY OF THE RECENT LYNCH
ING.
Ds<.as Of the Capture of the Aea whs
Kn,sa D<psty sheriff Hoy In "esfss'
Colombo.

Denver. March IA special from
Craig. Colorado, to the Republican
says:
Sheriff Neiman and Under Sheriff
Fnrnham of Koutt county arrived al
Craig this evening. having In custody
Harry Tracy and David Liant. mem
bers Of the Powder Springs gang OF
outlaws. From sheriff Neiman the fol-
lowing detnils OF the tragedies enact
ed In Browns Park were gained:
Sheriff Neiman and Farnham left
Craig on February gath. for Browns
PARK. with warrants for r. l.. Johnson
and John Bennett. charged with kill
ing steers belonging to v. s. Hoy.
They were joined by Boyd Vaughn at
Naybell. who accompanied them on the
entire trip. Just before reaching Yer
million creek on sunday afternoon,
February 27th. they discovered three
men with pack horses. Mr.. Farnham
rode In advance to ascertain the ldeh-
,ity OF the men. but when they saw
him they left the road and cu; across
the hills nj a rapid rate towards Ladore
canon The officers were obliged TO
give up the chase and proceeded TO A.
ii. Basse,t's. mt the Ladore postofficc.
where they spent the night There
they met John Strang. whose brother
had been killed by johnson. This was
the first Information that Neiman had
received of the murder. and he con-
ciuded that the three men that he had
pursued were the men wanted.
Young Strang rode NIL that night and
summoned citizens Of Browns Park.
whom Neiman desired TO assist In the
capture OF the fugitives. Before day
light Monday morning. the 2Sth. Nei-
man left with posse on the expedi-
ton 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 fugi,ives 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 and the
fugitives were soon hard pressed. ai-
though as yet the posse had not caught
sight of them, but oyereoats winch
they had discarded were found. John
son and his companions went straight
up over the high mountain at the head
OF Ladore 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, rs 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 cleft between two
large rocks, when suddenly two shots
were fired and Hoy fell. shot through
the body lust above the heart and died
almost 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 nj the time
Of the shooting. and he exposed himself
but for nm instant. However, shots
from members OF Neiman's force
struck close TO him. After the killing
OF Hoy, Neiman returned 10 Bassefts
for the night
While on the way to the ranch Boyd
| Vaughn. Herb. Bassett and f. b..
| Thompson discovered lone horseman
approaching and they concealed them
| selves in the ceiars 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
| q hill and discharged his revolver three
| times. He waited some moments as
| II for an answer and then discharged
| his rife once. The men came out Of
their conceaiment by n de'our and rode
| to Bennett and engaged him in CONVEX
| sation. BY clever r,fSe 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 Bassett's shortly before Bennett's
| arrival. As Bennett was about TO en-
| ter the house Sheriff Neiman got the
| drop on him and he elevated his hands
| a. high MS possible. Farnhnm dis
armed Bennett and placed the mana
| cles on his wrist.
The following afternoon. March End.
while Farnham was guarding Bennett.
| about ten masked men threw rifles
| down on him and ordered him to
| throw up his hands. The officer object
| ed. hut the mob had him nj their mercy
| nnd he finally complied with their COM
| mand. Two men guarded the under
| sheriff while the others placed a sack
| over BENEFITS head and took him
| away. He pleaded for mercy and said
| he would tell all he knew and agree to
! anything. His protestations We're un-
needed and he was told that he had
| made his lns; gun play and that men Of
| his stamp could not live TO terrorize
that section my longer.
/ A rope was tied around Rennett's
| neck and In the broad light of the day
1 he was lynched to cross-plece from
/ 4 9ate-post near Mr.. Basse;t's barn
/ The men returning with the body OF v.
l q. Hoy to the Bassctt ranch were hor-
/ rifled at finding the lifeiess figure of
/ Bennett Suspended TO the gate. The
i outlaW's remains were buried q short
distance from where he was lynched
whIle the remains OF v. 8. Hoy were
sent TO Rock Springs for buriaL
THE pursuit Of Johnson, Tracy and
I.anf was again taken up. they having
i atnrted for Powder Springs ON Fri
/ day aftefnoon near Lookout mountain
Under Sheriff Farnham and four men