The Delta independent., 1909-01-22
Suspected of Horse Stealing
and Shot by Ranchmon

ASook$SsS0 ~ ~'~~
and Shot by Rdnchmon.
Early last Thursday morning Joseph
Sullivan living on Hannah creek. vicin-
ity of Whitewater, was shot and al
most instantly killed by S. Hockey at
the Doughspoon ranch On Grand Mesa.
Sullivan had applied to stay over
night at the ranch and permission was
granted At his request, giving as
reason that he did not wish to disturb
the inmates of the house. he was per-
mitted to sleep in the barn
Being little suspicious Mr.. Hockey
got UP in the night and went to the
barn. His story was that he found the
man, whom he did not know. in the act
of leading his young thoroughbred
stallion and his own horse out He
commanded him to throw up his hands.
Instead of doing so he mounted his own
horse and left without his saddle.
again told him to throw up his hands.
and failing to do so. he fired at close
range.
The coroner impaneled a jury of
Delta citizens and proceeded to the
scene of the shooting, where an inquest
was held. and there being no witnesses
except Hickey. his statements were
accepted and he was justified by their
verdict in the killing.
Relatives of Sullivan were up the
next day and secuted the idea of the
deceased trying to steal the horse. and
it is claimed they will push investigation
into the courts. On the other hand
Hockey is an old settler and is ac-
counted as thoroughly honest and trust
worthy.
Many hold to the belief that instead
of attempting to steal the horse, Sulli
van may have been trying to breed the
mare he had. surreptitiously. which be-
not having her saddled at the time
when he was first surprised into fight.
"Wednesday the Grand Junction News
published the following from White
water regarding the funeral of Joseph
Sullivan:
WHITEWATER. Jan. l7.-In spite of
the mud, 80 vehicles full of people and
Is horsemen attended the remains of
young Joseph sullivan from the fun
eral services in the Whitewater church
to the cemetery today. Thus 'estifying
to the high esteem in which MIR. SulIi-
van and his family have always been
held by their neghbors and friends
The cavalier reports which appeared
in the Grand Junction dailies to the
effect that Hannah Creek horse thief
was caught in the act and killed on the
spot has no foundation in fact.
Mr.. Sullivan was raised from baby
hood on the old Sullivan homestead on
upper Hannah Creek and the neighbors
who have known him from childhood to
his present age of 2s years unite In re-
puds ting the flimsy tale that was given
credencc before the Delta coroner.
1t seems that Joe Sullivan and John
Cox went to Delta last Monday the l1th
together looking for stock. and rode
together till Wednesday the 18th when
Cox started on his return to his Kan
nah Creek ranch. Cox stayed Wednes-
day and Thursday nights ut the Hoppe
ranch, while Sullivan went over to the
Dough Spoon ranch to spend Thursday
night near the springs mt which his
horses were watering. The Dough
Spoon ranch is the property of the city
of Delta and S. Hecky is the caretaker
upon it for the Delta Water company.
The house on the Dough Spoon is small
and rather than sleep in the kitchen
and incommode the family Joe said he
would sleep at the haysSacks by the
stable.
As the evidence in the case was all
presented by Hockey it may possibly
never be known just what led up to the
shooting but 1t was brought out before
the coroner that although Hockey
charges that Sullivan was making of
with yearling colt which he values
highly: that Sullivan's own horse was
not saddled and Sullivan's chappes and
spurs were then and afterward hang
ing In tbs stable. It seems that both
mon were on foot aud inaide the stable.