La Junta tribune., 1902-07-19
..so ruslr,vs. ESCAPE a.m."
Denver Post Exploits Marshal Mel
Win - the Champion Criminal
Catcher Of the Country.

ploits Marshal Melvin as the
champion criminal catcher of the
country. The police reporter was
probably short of news that day,
and utilized very vivid imagina.
tion in telling the story OF Mar
shal Melvin's capture of William
Barry. for whom reward OF 5000
was offered. Marshal Melvin Sc
cured the 5000 reward all right,
but that is about the extent of the
"facts" related ip the article.
Chief OF Police Cocheran, OF
Oklahoma City, arrived in La
unta last Tuesday morning, con-
tinuing his journey to Denver the
same day to secure requisition
papers to take Barry back to the
territory. He said that he was
prepared to pay the 5000 reward
and would do SO on his return.
He returned Wednesday night,
paid the 5000 reward, SIo. SO Jail
fees, secured his prisoner and left
on No. for Oklahoma. Chief
Cocheran tried to hold out S2s Of
the reward, claiming that he did
not have the full amount offered.
Marshal Melvin, however, insisted
on having the full amount and
$Io. so Jail fees before he would
turn over the prisoner. During
the argument the train started and
the chief and his prisoner came
very near being left. He finally
decided to dig up the 5000 and the
Jail fees and departed. The Den
yer Post story is as follows:
Town Marshal Melvin, of La
Junta, is making record as a
capturer of criminals for whom re-
wards have been offered. During
the last year the marshal has
earned about 81, 500 in rewards,
and if fugitives do not get onto to
the fact that La unta is a good
place to steer clear of, Melvin ex-
poets to clean up IS, 900 more be-
fore he goes out OF Office.
La Junta is on the main line of
khe Santa Fe and is the junction
point of the Denver division. Con
sequently it has been favorite
stopping off place for escaped
prisoners and fugitives from Mis-
souri,, Arkansas, Kansas, Okla
homa and the Indian Territory.
Melvin's latest capture was Joseph
I'M. Berry, alias William Barry,
who is known as the chief anarch-
ist OF Oklahoma. For this arrest
Melvin will receive 5000 in cash.
Chief of Police Cocheran, of
Oklahoma City, was granted an
extradition by Governor Orman.
for Berry's return to that place
for trial, Tuesday, and the chief
started for La Junta next morning
to get his prisoner, and with 5000
in his inside pocket for the town
marshal.
Ma1s ,I< st
turn over a prisoner until the re-
ward is paid to him in spot cash.
He never asks any assistance in
capture, and accordingly secures
the whole of the reward for him
self.
Berry will stand trial in Okla
homa City for conspiracy and per-
jury. He is accused OF attempt
ing to swear mans life away
while acting as witness for the
state. He has spent most of his
time in Oklahoma lately making
anarchis,ic speeches. Once he
made an address approving OF the
ASSASSINATION of President Mckin-
ley and narrowly escaped lynch
ing. Berry was the principal wit
ness for the prosecution in the case
of Elmer Brown, on trial for the
murder Of VIM. T. McMichael last
month.
The shooting Of McMichael was
the elimination Of bitter land
contest of years standing and
which involved property valued at
36o.n McMichuel had threat.