The Meeker herald., 1898-03-19
The Powder Springs Gang.


the operations which led to the run
ming down and capture of the Powder
Springs outlaws, appeared in last weeks
Craig Courier:
1.-THE citizens of Browns Park have
made up their minds that that section
shall no longer be used by criminals and
fugtyes from justice as hiding place.
"Notce was served on the criminal
gentry in a very effective manner on
Wednesday of last week by the lynching
of John Bennett, who for several years
has made the park his headquarters and
whoihas been mixed up in many crimes.
"On February 2ith. Sheriff Neiman
and Ulder- Sheriff Farnham left for
Browns Park with warrants for the ar
rest Of z. l.. johnson and John bennett,
charged with killing a steer belonging
to V. S. Hoy.
Upon their arrival at Ladore they
learned of the murder of William Strang
across the line in Wyoming by johnson.
On Sunday evening. February 9th. Just
before reaching Vermillion creek, the
officers discovered three men with pack
horses who attempted to elude them by
taking to the hills and heading for La
dOre canon. After learning of the
murder the officers rightly surmised
that the men they had seen were the
criminals they were after. a posse was
mustered that night and the following
morning, Monday, February 2Sth, the
pursuit of the fugitives commenced in
earnest. That same evening the out
laws camp was captured at the head of
Ladore canon; five horses, all the bed
ding and grub of the men were secured.
The next day, March list, the posse
was pressing tie outlaws closely. V. S.
Hoy was in advance of the other men.
Sheriff Neiman cautioned him not to be
too fast, but he was under the impress
sion that johnson and his companions
had gained the other side of the noun
tain and thought there was no immedi-
ate danger. In this he was mistaken,
for without a word Of warning, he was
shot down and instantly killed his muir
derers being not more than six feet
away when the fatal shot was fired.
''Mr. Hoy was approaching cleft be-
tween two huge boulders and the MUIR
derers were concealed in this cleft. Two
shots were fired almost simultaneously,
only one of which took effect. Only one
man was seen directly after the shoot
ing and he was recognized as Harry
Tracy, an escaped convict from the Utah
penitentiary. AS the outlaws had the
advantage nothing could be accom-.
plished toward their capture that day.
The killing of Hoy made the citizens of
Browns Park desperate.
"Shorty after the shooting of Hoy.
Boyd Vaughn, L. b. Thompson and
Herb Bassett saw John Bennett ap.
preaching. The men concealed them.
selves before he discovered them. Ben.
nett rode up near them, dismounted and
fed his horse some oats he had tied to
his saddle. He then walked to the top
of a knoll and discharged his six-shooter
three times; waited few moments as il
for an answer to his signal and fired his
rifle once. The men came from their
hiding and by detour rode up to Ben
nett, who seemed not little surprised.
''By a clever ruse Boyd Vaughn sue
ceeded in having Bennett accept an in
vitation from young Bassett to spend
the night with him. Bennett and Bas-
sett started for Ladore and Vaughn and
Thompson continued their search for
cattle. They soon found Neiman and
Farnhan who rode hard to Bassitt's
ranch, arriving there before Bennett.
When the worthy was about to enter
the house he was faced by the two Off
GERS and made prisoner without any
trouble.
"Farnham was placed in charge of
Bennett, but the following day was
forced to yield at the muzzles of about
ten Winchesters. The masked men
threw sack over BENEFITS $ head, in
formed him that he had made his last
gun play and, without further ceremony.
strung him up to the cross piece over a
corral gate. Bennett pleaded for his