The daily sentinel., 1903-09-05
SHOT TO DEATH
William LaFarc Sends a Bullet
Into the Body OF T. E.
Massey.
UNAWEEP SCENE OF ACT.
A Dispute Over Water Rights
Leads Up to Another
Western Tragedy.


twenty O'Clock thers was enacted an
other one of those tradgedies. for
which this western country has become
famous. and which plunged into grief
and sorrow two families of the coun-
ty. It occurred in the Unaweep about
90 miles from here.
At that time bullet from six
shooter in the hands of William La
Fare ended the life of neighbor. E.
7. Massey. both the participants re-
siding in the Unaweep country.
A dispute over some water rights
led up to the tragedy. There were
six witnesses to the tragedy, but un-
fortunately none of these witnesses
had arrived in the city this morning
and the history of the shooting had
to be taken from second hands. aside
from the story given Sheriff Struthers
late last evening by the man who did
the killing, William LaFare.
According to La Fares story he
was attacked by Massey. The first
shot being fred by Massey. who was
afrefward killed. In protecting him
self. LaFare states that Massey held
his six year old boy in front of him,
while he shot at LaFare with his
Winchester. Finally LaFare saw
an opportunity and shot Massey di-
rectly through the mouth killing him
instantly and shattering his face al
most beyond recognition.
LaFare told his story last night to
Sheriff Struthers and several others.
Later in the evening, when Assistant
District Attorney and Coroner DR..
Knude Hanson, went before him, he
had little to say and was in highly
nervous state.
The story of the shooting as given
by others is in part as follows. 1t
was at the pasturage of Bowman
Brothers of this city where the shoot
ing took place. At the time there
were in the pasture, Charles F. Bow
man of this city, Jack Treesh, Willie
Silzell. John Holland. Matt Caste.
a relative of LaFare and the son of
the dead man. Weston Massey.
These men were eye witnesses to
the shooting. none of their statements
have been obtained at the time of the
writing of this article, at noon today.
But the statement given this paper.
is by reputable citizen of near
Whitewater. who resides within a
mile of the Massey camp.
This gentleman stated that as he
heard the story LaFare was in the
previous to the shooting Massey
was without the fence. near the road.
LaFare rode up to a point near the
fence and whipping out his revolver
began shooting at Massey. At the
time LaFare began shooting Massey's s
Winchester was still in the scabbard
hanging to his saddle. LaFare fired
several shots at Massey before the
latter dismounted. He saw his little
boy close to him and he took him and
retreated from the location where
Massey was shooting. to point in a
corner of a worm fence that surround
ing the pasture. While thus retreat
ing, with LaFare watching his every
movement, LaFare saw his opportun-
ity and sent ball directly into Mas
sey's face. He threw up his hands
and fell forward face down in the
road. his gun falling behind him and
over his legs.
LaFare states when he last looked
at him. after he shot the fatal shot
from his six shooter, he was lying on
the ground with his gun lying on his
legs. dead.
Both these men are we'll known in
Mesa county. Massey is a brothelr-
in-law of George Hazel we'll known
cattle man of this county, residing
with his family on Main street above
9th. he leaves a wife and four chill
dren. three little boys, Of whom Wes-
ton, who witnessed the shooting is
the Oldest. He was about forty years
of age. The statement of many citi-
zens. who knew him well was that