The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-05
IS STILL AT LARGE
Murderer Was Escaping From VALID
ron, Colo, Who're He Shot and
Robbed a Hotel Man-Bath Was
Endeavorino to Intercept Him-Ne.
gro Took Dead sheriff's Horse.
From Wednesdays Daily.

Billings yesterday from Basin, Wyo,
Sheriff Alfred Bath Of Albany county,
wyoming, OF which Laramie is the
county seat, was shot and killed Sat
urday evening by a negro named G.
A. Sommers, who was escaping from
Waldron, Colo, where he had shot
and robbed q man named Stephens,
who conducted the Park hotel at
Waldron. Up to q late hour last night
the negro. had not been captured, al
though there is a posse Of at least
200 men on his trail and he is afoot
in a strange country. .
1t seems that after the negro had
shot the hotel man, he fed believing
that he had killed him and the sheriff
Of Well county. Colo, started in pur-
suit. The chase lead vel the Wyo-
ming line into Albany county and me
Colorado sheriff wired Bath to inter
cept the negro and meet him at q
place known as Woods Landing in a
rough stretch Of country about 20
miles from Laramie. "a
Horse 10 Captured.
Sheriff Bath rode to Woods Landing
in an automobile later taking a horse
and near there the negro ambushed
him, shooting him three times with a
Colts .32 caliber automatic revolver
which he had taken from the Waldron
hotel man. One Of the bullets passed
through the Wyoming sheriff's heart
killing him instantly. The negro then
took the sheriff's horse and made his
escape. The horse was captured by
members Of a posse later however,
and at the present time the negro is
afoot headed for Big Horn county pre-.
sumably.
Within a short time Of the killing
Of the Wyoming sheriff the Colorado
officer arrived on the scene and found
Baths body, still warm. He immedi.
ately notified the omcers at Laramie
and two special trains bearing armed
men were sent out yer the Union
Pacific.
Confident Of Capture.
According to the latest advices re
ceiyed ii this. city there is no ques'
ton but what the murderer will be
captured before long, as score OF
armed men are securing the country
and descriptions Of the murderer
have been sent broadcast throughout
the surrounding country.
AS there are two mountain ranges
to the north Of Laramie and the coun,
try is some OF the toughest In ths
) west, it was feared at first that thu
negro would make for the mountains
and to effect his capture It would bt
necessary to starve him out. Since
all Of the messages received here ex
press confidence that the negro viii
be captured 1t is presumed that he II
still in the open country.
HEREFORD 10 Notified.
TO- LLL A& VIZ
Sheriff Felix Aston Of Basin coun
ty, Wyo., notified Sheriff Herford O
the affair yesterday morning anc
stated at that time that he woult
probable furnish him with q descrip
ton of the murderer later. Las
night the sheriff telephoned that thu
description Of sommers, which had
been furnished him, was meager and
that beyond stating that he was
negro and about Is years Of age, there
was little that would aid In a%pprehend
ing him II he was not captured b!
the posses soon.
It is said that intense feeling pre-
walls throughout Albany county AM
IN the city Of Laramie and In tn.
event the negro Is captured alive !
is probable that he Will be taken =
another county for safe keeping.
Sheriff Bath was serving his mrs
term as sheriff Of Albany county. il.
was known as one o. the most fear
less officers IN Wyoming.
N1&E&