Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-01-15
FUNERAL SERVICES OF
SHERIFF THOMPSON
from Thursduy's DAILY

y
noon. Il having been decided to Sc
cure the largest room space in the
city, that Al least the ladies and chll-
dren would not have to remain out
in the cool atmosphere. When the
change was made O'Clock was an
nounced as the time. At a little after
O'Clock people began to line the
streets and avenues and at 1870,
quarter of an hour before the caskot
was brought from the home 10 the
han, more than coo chairs were illled,
with possibly 200 standing, and the
street In front was thronged. there
being a jam at the entrance.
In the history of Durango no other
like occasion has attracted so large
number OF people, and 1t is taken as
representative of that popular senu'
ment which has all along endorsed
the policy OF the dead sheriff.
At 1:15 the Red Men filed into
Ninth street, the line extending from
Second avenue around well into
Third avenue, where the line OF march
was taken up to the late residence.
Here the casket was placed in the
bearse and carried to the nall. follow
ed by large concourse of people from
the south part Of the city.
The pail bearers were selected with
a view of not only having those Of
his warmer personal friends, but as
well for having them nearest to the
physical proportions of the dead sher-
ill., They were; j. j. Mccormick,
james j. Bennett, Nick Grimes, Fred
Weller, Barney Edelman and Frank
Blntnick. The great gathering was
AS one person when they entered the
room accompanying the casket TO the
platform, followed by the members OF
the family and near friends. A choir
composed of eight voices, Mrs. George
iings. Miss Katie Copeland. and
Messrs. Roberts. Ayres. Wakefield
and Stillians. with Prof. York organ
list The opening hymn was Nearer
MY God, to Thee" and after scripture
reading. Jesus, Lover of My Soul"
Then Rev. w H. Ferguson of the
Presbyterian church delivered the fol
lowing address:
Beloved, we are here this afternoon
TO pay IA last tribute of respect to the
remains of Mr.. VIM. ]. Thompson.
Mr.. Thompson was born Feb. 2S,
1857, in Harrison county, Missouri
That was the nome of his earlier life
In 1875 he was married to Miss Sarah
Close of Iowa. After the wedding
the couple went back to Missouri, and
settled there on farm but in 1873 he
moved to Kansas. There four years
were spent on ranch.
But he at last took the western
fever. In 1882 he came to the vicin,
iry of Durango. Here he was on the
ranch and in the cattle business for
eleven years, but tiring of this. he
moved to town. His fellow citizens
soon saw in him man qualified for
public service, and put him forward
For twelve years he held office almost
continuously. When he came to his
death Jan. .. 1906. at the age of 4S
years by the gun-shot Of a subordin-
ate officer. he was the sheriff of la
Plata county.
He leaves large connection OF
most respected relatives to mourn his
death. or the two sets of the chill
dren of his father, sixteen In all, six
brothers, six sisters. and the father
hAt bfr, d fa
own children, eight In all. three sons
and two daughters, and the mother
and wife. survive him. And all OF
them stand well In the estimation of
the public. The community numbers
those who are here among its most
reputable citizens. AS much is evi,
denced by the fact that the county
commissioners have appointed as his
successor to the office of sheriff his
brother. George w. Thompson.
Mr.. Thompson was brave man
The gang" was afraid of him. and
his faithful effort to enforce the law
made them resort to strategy. Since
his death scurrilous remarks have
been made about him. But all that
has been said Is an open question.
There are as many for as against him.
The better element is on mis- side. If
the court should decide that he was in
the wrong. its finding would cast no
reflection on him. For more than six
months he has been chagrined by in.
difference and goaded By insults and
the feeling that he migat be waylald
was enough to break down the stout.
est man and drive him TO desperation.
But there is little use to try to eX-
plain the tragedy. Providence is
hard problem. God at times works In
mysterious way. and all that any
one can do is TO be still and recog.
nize Him as God
But we can at the least see the
shadow of an omlnous fact in this in
cident We have bad set in town.
There seems to be a well defined pur-
pose among them to carry their point
Mt our expense regardless of the cost
| myself overheard a man make a pre-.
dic1on almost q year ago 10 this eff
feet; Whoever undertakes to stop
here will be killed." and the