, 1908-05-04
THINK II
MURDER
FATHER AND BROTHER OF JAMES
RICHIE NOT WILLING TO
ACCEPT VERDICT OF
CORONER'S JURY.
Notified Since Arrival in This City Of
Receipt of Letter at Greenfield,
Mo-, From Richie, Saying That if
He Was Found Dead Out Here
Not to Be Too Quick in Accepting
the Suicide Theory.

B. Richie, the father. and l. e.
Richie, the brother of James Richie,
who is supposed to have killed him
self at the VIII Rice ranch on Sand
creek last Thursday, are in the city,
looking after the interests of the dead
man here. They will take the re-
mains to the family home at Green
field, Mo, where they will be inferred
in the Richie cemetery in Dade coun-
ty. Mr.. Richie is the father of Mrs.
l.. C. Wrinkle, and he and his son are
staying with the Wrinkles during their
visit to Laramie.
Was 1t Murder2
The elder Richie is not willing to
accept the verdict of suicide returned
by the coroner's jury on Friday, in the
cast of his son, and both he and his
other son. |. e. Richie, are inclined
to think the young man was murdered
and that he did not kill himself. How
much there is in this belief no one is
willing to say. The father and son
had intended going to the Rice ranch
this morning, but were prevented by
the storm, and will probably go later.
Dead Man Wrote Letter.
Since coming to Laramie Mr.. Richie
has received from still another son at
ceipt of a letter written by James
Richie, the dead man, on April 30,
the day before he was found dead in
the bunk house, with a twelve-gauge
Winchester shotgun on the floor in
front of him. In that letter, according
the telegram, James Richie had
informed his folks that if they found
him dead not to believe that he had
committed suicide. The next day the
young man died at about 8 o'clock.
The coroner's jury was taken from
this city TO the ranch and viewed the
remains, later returning a verdict Of
suicide.
Had Fight With La Porte.
James La Porte, who brought the
word to the city of the death of
Richie, stated that he and Richie
had fought on Monday, a week ago
today, and that he had taken a shot
at Richie with a shotgun, but the
distance was equal to seventy-five
yards Or more and nom of the shot
struck the young man. Afterwards,
according to La Porte, the two men
met and patched up the quarrel, part
ing in friendship" La Porte says that
Richie, as far as he knows, was alone
when he placed the muzzle of the gun
to his breast and pushed the trigger
with the handle of a small broom.
Theory of Homicide.
The father and the Greenfield broth.
er declare that they believe La Porte
and Richie had another quarrel on
Thursday, just before they were to
start for the field to work. and that
Richie was killed and that he did
not kill himself. How far this belief
will carry them, none of the parties
interested could tell today.
Wants Prosecution Started.
The elder Richie wants someone
arrested and prosecuted. County At
torney Downey says he has only the
evidence dduce at the %coroner's in
quest, which justified the verdict re-
turned by the jury on Saturday. If
the father and brother are willing to
make complaint he will file an infor.
nation, or if anyone else will come
forward with evidence to warrant ac.
ton he will not hesitate to take it.
Coroner Ballard, who heard all the