The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1904-09-01
FIRE AT SHERIFF
SHOTS FROM MINISTER'S HOUSE
One Of Two Union Mlners shoots at
sHsriff's Posse From Residence Of
ReN Ai=a.=

FS11o Ft<%ta@tt<G VI
Rev. T. 8. Leland at Victor.
Denver. Aug. ga News special
from Victor last night says:
Two shots were fired at Sheriff Bell
and four OF his deputies tonight from
the residence OF Rev. 7. S. Leland. No
one was hit. The shots came from one
OF two union miners. who. II Is al
legged, sought refuge there in anticipa-
ton Of a visit from whitecappers. Sew
eral shotguns and rifles were found in
the house. The two men. Arthur
Parker and L. X. jerks, were arrested.
MIR. Leland was attending church at the
time. but was taken into custody later.
AT o'clock tonight Sheriff Bell.
Undersheriff Underwood and Deputy
Sheriffs Dittemore. Chase and Benton.
together. went to the house OF Rev. T.
S. Leland. on South Fourth street. The
object Of the posses visit is not gen.
orally known. but 1t appears to be GER
tain that Sheriff Bell wanted to learn
who was in the Leland residence. Rev.
Mr.. Leland, who is pastor of the Meth
odist Church in this city. has been
compelled to keep a number Of armed
men at his place because OF threats
made against him during the past four
or five weeks to deport him. He was not
at his home when the sheriff and his
posse went there tonight He was at
the Methodist church. The final out
come OF the sheriff's visit is that Ar
thuI Parker and l.. r. jerks. two min
ers' union men, recently released on
bonds in Cripple Creek for alleged
completely in the riot in this city on
juno 9Th last. and Rev. Mr.. Leland have
boen placed under arrest by Sheriff
Bell, and are now in the county jail at
Cripple Creek.
The AFFAIR assumed n violent aspect
for a short time ct the home of MIR.
Leland. One of the two union men
found In the house-it is not known
positively which one-fired two shots,
but neither shot hit any OF the officers.
| One OF the bullets went through the
windows of residence diagonally
across the street. Sheriff Bell and his
| deputies, as soon us the first shot was
| fired, scattered little and got beninn
the protection of the granite powders
which lie within fifteen or twenty feet
| from the front of the Leland home. No
shots were fired by the sheriff or his
force. The story of the encounter, as
| given by several OF the deputy sheriffs.
is as follows:
"When Sheriff Bell and his men got
within twenty-five feet of the Leland
\ residence, which was not lighted. a
command from inside the house to halt
was heard. The posse at once obeyed
the order, and Sheriff Bell answered
back:
" This is the sheriff and his depu-
ties
"Gne of the men inside the house re-
| piled: You can't come in
4 Hfa nd N mi
4 boys. They know me here"
Deputy Sheriff Chase was the officer
| who made the remark, he claims, be
cause he has been at different times
\ guarding the pastors home with
Others. Deputy Chase then asked: rs
Mr.. Leland at homer"
A voice inside the house answered;
"He-is at church"
is Mr.. Long there?" asked Deputy
Chase.
The answer came from the inside:
"He is at church. also"
sheriff Bell then spoke up and said
81 want to know who is in there II
Mr.. Leland is not at home"
A voice inside the house was ther
heard to remark: Il know Bell. There
he stands. He is the man with thu
black hat on"
The shots were then delivered IRON
inside the house They were FREE
through the casing on either side o.
the front door, which is in the north
west corner of the residence. Imme
diately after tho shooting Sheriff Bel
demanded that whoever was in The
house must surrender. He made thu
demand twice and at the second orde'
a voice in the house replied: I'VE will
give up"
The sheriff and his deputies ther
went into the house and found that thu
men whom the were dealing witt
were Arthur Parker and l.. II. jerks
both union men now out on bonds
The news of the trouble at Rev. Mr.
Lelands home reached the churcl
where he was presiding. Quite 1
crowd gathered there. Rev. Mr.. lie
land was informed of the trouble ant
he went to his home. He was then ar
rested by Sheriff Bell. Parker ant
jerks were taken to Cripple Creek OF
the $3.50 low-line electric car. Rev
Mr.. Leland was taken on the low-lin'
car which next followed.