The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-01-13
SHERIFF KILLED
IN QUARREL WITH POLICEMAN AT
DURANGO
FIGHT AGAINST GAMBLING
Sheriff W. J. Thompson Meets Death
at Hands OF Policeman Jesse c.
stanseI-Latter Officer Dangerously
Wounded.

DeNNtT.-A republican special from
Durango Tuesday says: Sheriff W. ].
Thompson was killed to-day and Jesse
g. Stansel. a city officer. was dange-
ously wounded as result of a revolver
duel between the two men. Thompson
was shot four times and pounded over
the head with gun by Stansel. and
the latter was shot once.
The tragedy was the outcome of
fight against gambling. Last Septem-
ber the sheriff ordered all saloon keep
ers to close their saloons at midnight
and on Sundays and ordered that all
gambling cease. Since that time there
has been two opposing elements, the
Si,S SsS. Council fA''F'nE gambling it is
A raid by Sheriff Thompson last
night was the cause of to-day's tragedy,
which occurred in the street in front
of the Ell Moro saloon. Both men emp
tied their revolvers and then grappled
and fought until separated by friends.
Sheriff Thompson lived only short
time.
Last night at IL o'clock Sheriff
Thompson went in back room of the
FL Moro saloon and caught crowd
gambling. He confiscated a roulette
wheel and stated while doing SO that
the police opposed his efforts to en-
force the law. Mischiefmakers carried
the tale to Stansel, no doubt making
it worse than it really was, and when
Stansel came down town this morning
he said he intended to see the sheriff
about the report.
They met in front OF the Ell Moro sa-
loon and hot words were exchanged.
The preponderance Of evidence is that
Thompson was drinking some and had
been drinking the night before when
he raided the gambling joint. Accord
ing to eye witnesses of the tragedy
Thompson turned and started to walk
away. but suddenly turned, drew his
gun and commenced firing.
1t is supposed that Stansel said
something which caused Thompson to
decide to shoot. The men were very
close together. They emptied their
guns and then pounded each other with
the butt end of the guns. John Accord,
a man seventy-two years old ,swas shot
by a stray bullet, the ball entering his
forearm and ranging upward, shatter-
ing the elbow joint. The two officers
were separated by friends.
After Thompson had been shot four
times and badly beaten, he walked
few steps and sank to the sidewalk.
Stansel dubbed him with his gun after
Ihe was down. according to witnesses.
After the fight was over it was no
ticed that Stansel had two guns which
he gave to by-stander and then asked
for a doctor.
Thompson was hurried to the Ochs-
ner hospital and breathed his last just
l. Lot IIn
was conscious almost up to the last
minute.
Stansel and Accord were taken to
Mercy hospital and Stansels wound
was examined and the bullet removed
it having entered at the right collar
bone, extended downward and lodged
in the tissues of the right lung
Acord's arm was amputated above the
elbow.
Enmity had existed between Thomp-
son and Stansel ever since the cleo
.tion a year ago last fall. when both
ran for sheriff, Thompson on the Re-
publican ticket and Stansel on the
Democratic ticket. Trouble breeders
carried false tales to both men and
while they were making their canvass
they met and agreed to make a clean
campaign and be friendly, but the
trouble breeders kept busy and dis
rupted the friendly compact.
Thompson frequently charged that
the police opposed him in his efforts
to enforce the law and these state
ments were repeated and distorted by
the gambling fraternity and their SYM
pathizers, so the breech between the
two men grew wider.
w. j. Tompson was thirty-four
years of age and had lived in this Sec
ton twenty-six years During the
early days he was in the stock busi-
ness and rode the range when this was
really tough country; when it was
infested with treacherous Indians and
outlaws and there were many things
to try a mans courage. For the last
fifteen years Thompson had acted in
the capacity of peace officer the
greater part of the time. He has been
on tn police force several times. He
served as deputy sheriff for three
years under Joe Smith and year or
two under Joe Airy. He had the repu-
tation of being the biggest sherin in
the state. He was six feet two inches
tall and weighed $50 pounds He was
a man of great courage, terror to the
law breakers and never failed to ar
rest his man if he found him. He
leaves a widow, three grown sons and
two daughters, one ten years old ana
the other seventeen. He had suffered
a great deal OF late from rheumatism
and this, coupled with his great size,
made him clumsy.
Stansel has a wife and five small
children He is a fearless officer, OF
large physique, much younger than
Thompson and very active.