The Colorado statesman., 1905-03-18
THE DENVER TRAGEDY
DETAILS OF THE AWFUL CRIME
Murdered Man and Murderer Had Been
Bosom Friends-Two Innocent
Families Bereft-Deed Done In an
Insane Passion of Race.

/
Denver, Colo, March 14--Following
are some of the incidents of the terri
| Bile tragedy in Denver Sunday when
George Shissler shot and killed Kay
Sill and his wife and wounded Police
Captain William Bohanna, Police Sur
geon Frank Dulin and Frank Kelly
driver for Sill.
Shissler and Sill had worked to-
gether in the Denver G. Rio Grand.
shops and had been close friends
Some three years ago they Jointly pur.
chased five acres of land in what Is
known as the Park Hill addition. in
the eastern suburbs of the city. Both
had been careful and their investments
had proved to be successful Two
small but comfortable brick houses
were built two barns were added to
the joint estate and gardens and COW
pastures contributed to the content
ment of the two families.
Sill lived with his family. consist
ing of a wife and two daughters. Fran
ces, aged ten, and Josephine, aged
fourteen. Shissler seemed to be equally
contented in his new home with his
wife and five children, Spencer, a
baby of four years; Charles, aged ten;
Blanche, aged thirteen; Frank, aged
fifteen, and Harry, aged eighteen.
Finally an estrangement grew up be-
tween the two men. They agreed to
divide the property and quarreled over
a division fence. becoming involved in
a law suit in which the decision was
in favor of SILL
About 10 O'Clock Sunday morning
Shissler telephoned to his attorney,
Mr.. Hilliard, and is said to have been
advised to pay the judgment against
him. He went back home and came
out into his front yard with a shot
gun.
Sill was talking with David Bald.
ridge and William Brannen, who were
in front of his house with carriage.
Shissler called out to Sill and i'm
mediately shot him. Baldridge's horse
started to run and Shissler fired at
Badridge and Brannen. Then he shot
Sill again, infiicting a wound that
must have been instantly fatal.
Frank Kelly, who was in Silrs barn
started on horseback to summon help
and Shissler shot at him. infiicting a
flesh wound in his left leg.
Shlssier then went to the barn.
where he found Charles and John
Lundeen, who live in the neighbor
hood and who testified for Mr. Sill in
Shissler.
He put the muzzle of his rifle against
the temple of Charles Lundeen, boy
of twenty. and made him get down
on his knees and beg for mercy.
When the shooting began Mrs. Sill
ran around in front Of her home and
her daughter, Josephine, aged four.
teen, ran diagonally across the street
to the home of James H. Fitzpatrick,
2SS2 Monroe street. 100 yards away,
screaming that Shissler had killed her
father
Josephine Fitzpatrick, young lady
of twenty-five, VINO is a teacher IN
Wallaces business college, raFquickly
to the Sill home. Shissler turned his
gun on the woman and said, Get into
the house, you scabs."
Shissler fired into Tie different
rooms of the house and Miss Fitzpat
rick and Frances Sill crawled under a
bed to hide.
Mrs Sill tried to run to the Fitzpat.
rick home and Shissler ordered her to
stop.
Dropping on her knees, Mrs. Sill
raised her hands pleadingly toward
Shissler and begged that her life be
spared
Spare my life! Please spare it! for
the sake of my children." sobbed the
woman pitifully. you have killed my
husband, and they will have no one to
care for them if you kill me. o, please
spa"
bullet punctuated the sentence.
Cruelty it sped on its terrible mission
shattering the bone in the woman's
right leg Immediately below the knee
Mrs. Sill staggered a few steps and
dropped to the ground.
Shissler went back and broke into
the room where the two girls were hid
ing. Not finding them, though he
poked his gun under the bed. he car.
ried Goals and set the bed on fire. He
left the room and they ran to the Fitz
patrick house. The fire caused the de-
struction of the building
Shissler went out and shot Mrs. Sill
a second time with a revolver, which
he placed against her head, killing her
instantly.
Meanwhile Messrs. Baldridge and
Brannen had driven to where they
could telephone to police headquarters.
Captain Bohanna Immediately ordered
out the police ambulance. DR.. Frank
Dulin, police surgeon. and Patrolmen
John Phillips and Frank Mulligan were
detailed to go with Captain Bohanna.
Patrolman C. T. Power, who had been
on house duty during the forenoon
and who was Just departing for his
home, volunteered his services. The
ambulance was driven by Sydney Nc
Clanathan, the regular driver.
When they arrived at the scene OF
the tragedy Shissler retreated into his
yard, placed tho rifle barrel on the
fence, took careful aim and fired at the
men on the seat. The first bullet cut
a hole across the top of Captain Bo-
hanna's felt hat.
About" commanded Captain Bo-
hanna.
Before McClanathan could respond
there came a fusillade from Shissler.
Shnfc fro