The silver lance., 1898-03-18
OUTLAWS RUN DOWN.
STORY OF THE RECENT LYNCH
ING.
Details of the Capture of the Men Who
KILLED Deputy Sheriff Hoy In Western
Colorado.


Craig, Colorado, to the Republican
says:
Sheriff Neiman and Under Sheriff
Farnham of Routt county arrived at
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 details of the tragedies enact
ed in Browns Park We're gained:
Sheriff Neiman and Farnham left
Craig on February 9th, for Browns
Park, with warrants for p. l.. johnson
and John Bennett. charged with kill
ing steers belonging to V. 5. Hoy.
They We're Joined by Boyd Vaughn at
Maybell who accompanied them on the
entire trip. just before reaching Yer
million creek on Sunday afternoon,
February 9th, 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. Bassett's, at the Ladore postofflce-
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
cluded that the three men that he had
pursued were the men wanted.
Young Strang rode all 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, Mel
man left with a posse on the expedl-
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
1st, the pursuit was resumed and the
fugitives were soon hard pressed, al
though as yet the posse had not caught
sight of them, but overcoats which
they had discarded were found. John
son and his companions went straight
up over the high mountain at the head
of Ladore canon. and 1t 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-
iff Neiman cautioned him not to go so
far ahead, as he might run into an am
bush. Hoy got perhaps fifty feet in
advance Of the others, and was just
about to step upon a small bowlder
which was near cleft between two
large rocks, when suddenly two shots
were fired and Hoy fell, shot through
the body just 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 at 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
for the night
While on the way to the ranch Boyd
Vaughn, Herb. Bassett and f. b.
Thompson discovered a lone horseman
approaching 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
a 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 a detour and rode
TO Bennett and engaged him in conver-
sation. BY a 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 were apprised of
the situation and succeeded in getting
to Bassett'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 as possible. Farnham dis
armed Bennett and placed the mana
cles on his wrist.
The following afternoon, March 2nd.
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. but the mob had him at their mercy
and 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 were I'M
needed and he was told that he had
made his last gun play and that men of
his stamp could not live to terrorize
that section any longer.
A rope was tied around Bennetts
neck and in the broad light of the day
he was lynched to cross-piece from
gate-post near Mr.. Bassett's barn.
The men returning with the body of V.
s How to the Bassett ranch were hor-
rified at finding the lifeless figure of
Bennett suspended to the gate. The
outlaws remains were buried a short
distance from where he was lynched.
while the remains of v. s. 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.