Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1911-07-21
MARSHAL RIPPER

Bob Harris. For the second time we
grieve at the loss of a kindly neighbor. a
good citizen and an exceptionally efficient.
officer. For the second time we feel a
sense of humiliation. of personal insult. OF
gross wrong to the state. that the ma iesty
of the law has been so outrageously de-
fled by these wretches whom we had so
long harbored in our community.
For j. B. Craig and jacob Ripper were
our personal representatives; they stood
for you and me in our efforts to build an
enduring. law abiding. civilized community
at Rocky Ford. They were the incarna-
ton of the law. To strike them down was
to strike down the law. And they were
worthy representatives. worthy arms of
the law. ! speak in soberness and truth
when say that no more capable officers
ever wore the star in Rocky Ford. Craig
elderly and whiteheaded. but strong and
vigorous, was most conscientious and
painstaking chief of police. Genial and
kindly, he strove where possible to en-
force the ordinances and laws without
making arrests. He hated violence.
Often l have heard him say he hoped he
would never be obliged to shoot man in
the performance of his duties. 1t was the
law he wanted men to fear. not himself.
Of course. the criminal class don't ap-
preciate such sentiment, and harbored
personal resentment when he was forced
to reprove or arrest. If Mr.. Craig had
any enemies. it was some of these-no
law abiding citizens.
And his love of children was something
to make him dear to US. allow do you
DO Mr.. Craig" the children would call to
him, and hello children" would come
genially from bis lips. for he was always
well pleased to have the children hail him
Familiarity. Not week before his death
heard him correct a mother who was
telling her little one that here is the
marshal and he will get you If you are
not good. Don't do it" Craig said to
her. 81 don't want the children made
afraid of me-" These are little things
and but yesterday would not have COM
manded attention, but this terrible
tragedy has made them a sacred
memory.
However. started to write of Jacob
Ripper. Hewas less well known tous than
Mr.. Craig. Personally did not know him
except as casual acquaintance. With
the day officer had frequent business.
The night officer saw but rarely. When
called out professionally in the night
would often see him patroling the city
and hello Jake" would call and hello
doc" would come the response and he
went on, looking after your welfare and
mine while we slept. 1t is only during
these last two weeks that | came to
know him. There are times when two
weeks. aye when two hours. even two
moments. are enough to know a man
well. learned to know him well. Twas
with him when inch by inch we fought
with death, when we told him finally that
he could not recover but must die, and
literally walked with him into the valley
of the shadow of DEATH" | held his hand
when the last shudder came that told US
that Bob Harris awful work was finish
ed.
And here are some of the things |
learned to know of Jacob Ripper: First,
and what was evident to all. he was a
man of mighty strength. | think never
knew more perfect specimen of physi-
cal manhood. He trusted that strength
in making his arrests. Few there were
but he could overpower. He trusted his
strength that fatal night. Had ne been less
strong, man of small physique. the
bullet that shattered the vertebra. would
have killed him as quickly as the one
that went through craig's heart. His
great strength gave US that last two
weeks of struggle. And he was strong
of heart. There was no blanch of fear
when he was told he must die.
Again. he took pride in his office. He
had tried to make good officer, and hop
ed he had satisfied the community.
can not tell all the things he said regard
ing the position, but he felt it was an i'm
portant one. One day he asked me if
didn't think the council would make him
chief of police when he got we'll. He
said it as one who wants to feel that he
had made good
And he was loyal. Many things he
said showed his loyalty to Mr.. Craig.
He regretted ne could not have saved his
life. heard not a word about if he
could have avoided his own wound, but
'oh, if he could have saved Craig" One
morning. before we went to Denver, | ask
ed him if he had slept well the night be-
fore. He said no. asked him if he had
been in pain. He said mo, but every