CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1909-06-03
M'CLElLAND ALLEGED TO
BE THE LEADER IN ORGAN
lied GANG OF THIEVES
The Confession Of Charles Crowder and
the Accusations Of Charles Stevens
Imp1icate Him IN Many Crimes
Stole Letters From the Postofce and Employed Man
Dynamite Homes Of the District Attorney and
Other Officials

The developments of the last few
days point almost conclusively to the
fact that R. D. McClelland was the
leader of one of the worst gang of
thieves that ever infested Fremont
county. McClelland is now in the
county Jail awaiting the determination
the state supreme court of his appli-
cation for a new trial under writ of
supersedeas on the charge of subor-
nation to perjury, on which he was
convicted in the district court cou-
pie of weeks ago and sentenced to a
term of from three to six years in the
penitentiary. 1t Is believed that Nc
Clelland had no fewer than eight or
ten confederates under his direction
and the burglary and robbery was
conducted by them as regular busi-
ness.
Charles Crowder and Charles Stew
ems. the latter a half-breed Mexican,
who have been confined in Jail here
Iol oouuC tiiuCt LiduC Ai6hiy oChodtioh-
al confessions to the authorities day
or two ago in which McClelland is ac-
cused OF nearly all of the offenses in
the category of crime.
McClelland has long been suspected
of criminal acts, but it was not gener-
ally believed that he was as bad as he
is made out to be by Crowder and
Stevens, who have been telling tales
on him that rival in their luridness
the best efforts of writer's of yellow
backed novels. In view of the fact that
Crowder and Stevens were trusted
lieutenants of McClelland in his ne
faricus business it may be assumed
that they knew him better than the
public at large. and there is little
doubt that there is more truth than
romance in what they say about him.
That McClelland, former school
teacher holding a first grade certifi-
cate in this county, and seemingly
prosperous ranchman. should be gull
ty of planning and executing the bur-
glaries and robberies of which he is
accused appears on first thought to
be .,most ircredihIe ana that chas
crowder a hov not vet twentv v.ars
of age, should be a participant in the
crimes OF his leader appears equally
unbe,ievab,e racta bowever .re
stubborn tb,nes and thev noint urm,a-
t.kaab,v to Mcc,e,,.nd and crowder
a. criminals ., tho worst sort
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