The daily sentinel., 1901-07-03
To:D:EATH
Willard Arthur Tharp Killed by Bert GaIlasherEye Witnesses
Say Cold BIooded Murder-Lays in Wait for His Victim
Murderer Skps the Country.--Sad Affair

What will dotbtless prove to be cold
blooded, premeditated murder occurred
last night upon the farm Of j. II. Raiues
near Rhone Station. Willard Arthur
Tharp, youngest son of Mr.. and Mrs. V.
A. Tharp, was The victim OF gun in
the hands OF Bert Gallagher. One shot
was fred from the gun in the hands OF
Gallagher, which penetrated the nose Of
Young Tharp, killing him almost in
stantly, he breathing hut a few moments
after the gun was fired.
The deed was witnessed by at least
nine people and the proof of the cold
blooded killing will be easily proven in
the courts.
The sto-y ns gathered from eye wit
nesses is about as follows, although there
are conflicting stories Of some OF the
minor incidents leading up to the killing.
but not in the relation to the killing
itself. Upon the manner in which Will
lard Arthur Tharp was killed, all seem
to be pretty nearly agreed:
The killing occurred on the farm Of j
q Raines near Rhone station, on which
a camp OF beet thinners was located in
charge Of Robert Patterson and Frank
Welch.
The ice running low last night it was
determined that Frank Welch should
drive to Fruita, which was nearer than
/ Grand junction, to get some ice Not
desiring to take the trip alone he invited
some OF the party present. the older one 8
to go with him. They consented and
the party when starting consisted OF the
following: Julia Gallagher, sister of the
man who did the shooting, Effie Graham
with her mother, Mrs Nose Graham
Mabel Timbrel, Della Green. Ruth
Raines and Frank Welch.
When they had been gone about TWEEN
ty minutes Willard Arthur Tharp and
Bort Matthews. occupying a buggy drove
up to the camp and inquired of Robert
Patterson, who had been left in charge
of the camp, where the girls had gone
They we're told by Mr.. Patterson that
they had accompanied Mr.. Welch to
Fruita to get some ice. 1harp and
Matthews said they would follow after
and meet them on their return.
After Tharp and Matthews had de-
tol hn, 4 foi
ing Bert Gallagher, the msn who did the
killing and young man by the name OF
Anderson. They inquired for the women
OF the cPmp and were told the same
story as were Tharp and Matthews.
They also called for the son of Mrs.
Graham to come from the tent where he
WAS sleeping and made some inquiries
from bin. but what they were has not
been aecertained. The men remained
around the camp then, waiting Tor the
return Of tho patty from Fruita.
The party OF young girls and Mrs
Graham who had accompanied Mr..
WEIGH drove to Fruita, secured about
two hundred pou ds OF ice and started
Immediately back to the camp.
The story OF their return is given now
in the words of Mr.. Welch:
I'VE we're in somewhat of a hurry and
as it was moonlight we could make pret-
ty good time. We met soon after start
ing back. the team Of Tharp and Mat
thews Tharp then got out Of the bug.
gy, leaving Matthews to drive and got in
our team, two of the girls, Effie Graham
and Mabel Timbrel leaving our team and
getting in the buggy with Matthews.
We soon arrived home or at the camp.
We drove into what was practically the
front yard OF the Raines place, when
from behird some trees emerged Gal
laaher. He walked right up to the wa
gon and said: 'Mr. Art Tharp come
down out Of that wagon and hike right
across those fields (he meaning the beet
fieldsl. He had 10 his hands a gun and
kept pointing it right at Tharp. The
latter started at once to obey the com
mand OF Gallagher. While 30 doing he