, 1905-05-29

George Buetler OF Owl creek. North
park, sixteen miles south Of Walden.
was shot and killed yesterday morning..
Oh the ranch of Mrs. Olive p. Brochcr.
by John Steele, a surveyor, Buctlrr IN-
ing about an hour after receiving the
shot. Steele las arrested ana is NOW
in the custOry of the officers at Wal
den, with strong talk of allowing
him to leave the community alive.
Buetler Will probably be buried at
Walden, a casket having been sent
from this city this morning.
Mrs. Olive l.. Brocker, the widow
with whom Steele is said to have
been living, was arrested at Walden
this morning as an accessory to the
killing.
The killing vas the result of trouble
over an irrigating ditch, and from
sources deemed reliable it is learned
that Steele fired twice at Buetler from
a stable, the first shot missing him, the
second taking effect and producing
death in an hour. Buetler fired at
Steele after he had been MORALLY
wounded, but the shot went wild.
Buetler, according to information at
hand. bought a ranch from Widow
Brockcr of Owl creek. He also
bought an irrigation ditch used for
furnishing water from Owl creek, but
Steele, who is said to have been liy-
ing with the widow for some years.
disputed Buetler's claim to the own
ership of the ditch, and there had been
bad blood for some time.
Mrs. Brocker is said to have takel
sides with Steele in the contention and
has at different prevented the flow Of
water through the ditch. ono sh"
had Buetler arrested, but the case vas
not prosecuted. Last summer she shot
eleven times at Buetler with a WIN
chester rifle, each shot missing, and IS
said to have shot at him sine, then,
from time to time.
Saturday, while Buetler was going
up the dltch, the water having been
shut off at the head gate, Steele told
him that he would kill him if he did
lot keep off his (Steele's) ranch. sun
day Steele again turned the water Oft
of the ditch and Buetler started up the
ditch to the headgate, taking his rifle
with him. When he was opposite Mrs.
Brokers barn Steele is said to have
shot at him from within the barn, tf'
first shot missing and the second Ia.
ing effect. Coming out into the open,
Buetler fired at Steele, but missed
An hour later Buetler died and Steel"
was placed under arrest.
The shooting is said to h&,u irrn
seen by August Speck, the pc~twa. 90"
at Owl and the partner of Burt,er in
the ownership of the ranch, and by
Irwin Buetler, a brother of GcUTsg.
Mr.. Buetler was considered one OF
the very best men in the park. lie
was unmarried, of a peaceablv disgn-
%sition, not given to q~uarrelin- an.
pickering, and will be missed IN the
community. He was the brother oil
Jacob Buetler of this city, a carpenter
employed on the Laramie Grocery
company's new building. The latter
was notified of the killing las night
by Mr.. A. l.. Holdredge Of Walden
who is stopping with his wife ia TINS
city, and whose son.. Harry Hoilr"dg".
is the marshal of Walden. Mr.. NucJlnr
left for Walden by the stage tbs morn
ing, taking the casket to BE- used IN
the interment of his brother.
John Steele is said t be a man Will
an unenviable history. According &c
information received today, abou'
twenty-eight years ago he shot ahu
killed a nan on Left Hand creek, e
Boulder. Colo, from ambush, whil'
the man was filing a saw and cntirel.
unsuspicious of danger.
Steele was arrested. tried and con
victed. Receiving a life sentence II
the penitentiary, he was discharged
under pardon after serving ten years
and then removed to North park, golnt
there seventeen or eighteen years ago
He is said to have always carried {
pistol and declared he would neVe'
be arrested alive for anything. ne
L.1 - ,Afuhhnrs