The daily sentinel., 1907-04-26
ALFRED PACKER DEAD
RECALLS AWFUL CRIME
MURDERERs STILL AT LARGE
Remains of Peter Swanson, the Sheep
Man, Brought Hereof
flcial Investigate.

There is but little probability tha
the perpetrators of the doubly fou
murder that occurred on the lonely
desert far up on Indian creek on Wee
nesday night. will ever be Identified
arrested and made to pay the rlchl,
deserved penalty for their cowardly
deed.
This morning Undertaken W. II
Bannister of this city. returned from
the ]. W. Ponsford ranch on Indian
Greek, with the remains of the mur
dered man, Mr.. Bannister being sum
moned last evening.
Peter Swanson, whose life was sac.
rificed because he insisted on protect.
ing the flock Of sheep In HIS care
died shortly after HSe O'Clock yester-
day afternoon. retaining conscious.
ness until the end. His sufferings
were terrible.
The condition of the body Of the
sheep man indicates how frightfu
the agony that he underwent must
have been. The single bullet tore
open the lower portion of the abdo,
men. Swanson was of powerful ply.
sique and had rarely ever known Q
day of sickness. Undertaken Bannis-
ter prepared the remains for burial
and the interment will take place
tomorrow in Fairview cemetery. A
coroner's inquest wifi be held either
tomorrow or Monday, Doubtless the
verdict will be that Swanson met
death at the hands of an unknown
person. or persons.
Since the Sentinels report yester-
day there have been no new develop
ments that might throw light upon
the identity of the murderers. There
is but little question that the armed
men were cnttlemen. 1t is believed
that they rode up to the flock with
the intention Of killing the sheen but
finding Swanson determined and pre-
pared to single-handed attack the
bunch OF horsemen the latter decided
scene without carrying out the slaugh
ter of the sheep.
Swnnson's brother and Grover Cor
nett. the companion or the Swansons
know but little about the actual en-
counter between Peter Swanson and
ride up but It was dark and they
could not see the faces of the men,
and knowing that resistance would
be useless as they were outnumbered
the two men did not hurry to the aid
of the other Swanson. believing,
probably that he would make no re-
sistence.
The dead mans brother AL Swan
son returned to the Ponsford ranch
Yesterday afternoon, not being able
to get back in the morning as he
expected He and WeatherwaN were
afraid to leave the flock of sheep in
which they were interested on the
desert that night and drove them on
TO Delta where they knew they would
he safe. They returned to the Pons-
ford ranch as quickly as possible. The
brother came to Grand Junction this
All circumstances and reports go
to show that the story of the attack
of the horsemen are true. The dying
man re-afiirmed It before he passed
away.
Undersheriff Wallis Is at the scene
of the murder making investigations
today and summoning witnesses for
the coroner's inquest. He phones
that there have been no new import
ant developments.
It will be hard to get any trace OF
the band of horsemen. as they did
their dirty work under the cover OF
darkness. Information as to their
identity or whereabouts is entirely
lacking at this time.
It Is most regretable that the perpe
traitors of such crime succeed In COW
ering up their tracks and evading JUS
tice, but there is always more than
an even chance that retribution, soon
er or later. Will find Its way TO the
doors of such atrocious deeds.
The Swansons are well known IN
Montrose county and quite a number
of Grand Junction people knew the
man.