The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-04-08
CONVICT
SHOT BY
OFFICER;
REFUSED
TO GIVE
UP GUN


the penitentiary register. was prob
ably fatally shot while resisting ar
rest by W. w. Ireland. prison
guard, at Mrs. Carter's boarding
house at 625 River street, about $50
o'clock Wednesday night.
Owens, who was out on parole, re-
Gently secured a transfer from the
warden from the quarries at Texas
Creek, on account of some trouble
with an associate there, and had been
employed for several weeks about
town. He worked for some time un-
der Street Commissioner, Tom Park
er in putting in the conduits on the
Canon City Hydraulic ditch on Green
wood avenue and on North Fifth
street. and spent a large part of the
money he obtained in doing SO for
intoxicants.
A few days ago it came to the
knowledge Of the prison authorities
that Owens had violated the provis-
icns of his parole by getting drunk
and steps were taken to deprive him
of his liberty by taking him back for
a further term of imprisonment.
Wednesday evening officer Ireland
went to his boarding house and told
him that the neighbors had been
complaining about him disturbing the
peace and that he would have to go
hack to prison for breaking his parole.
Shot While Reaching For Gun
Owens was in the back yard at the
time and asked permission of the of
ficer to be allowed to go to his room
VI stairs and get some articles of
clothing Mr.. Ireland acceded to the
request, but followed him on his err
rand. On reaching the top of the stair
way Owens ran into his room and
slammed the door behind him, shut
ting the officer out Owens having re-
fused Mr.. Ireland admittance when
IL demanded that the door be opened
the latter broke into the apartment
iu time TO see the convict reaching
under the covers of his bed for a gun.
Mr.. Ireland ordered him to. give up
the gun, but as no attention was paid
tn it he drew his revolver and shot
owens in the abdomen. when the pris-
oner relinquished his hold on the gun
and fell helpless to the floor.
Notifies Authorities.
Mr.. Ireland telephoned Deputy War
den Keefe what he had done and the
latter in company with Day Captain
Harkins and DR.. Hart Goodloe. the
rrison physician, hastened to the
scene of the shooting. An ambulance
was called and Owens was taken to
The prison hospital where his wounds
were dressed. His condition was
found to be serious and grave doubts
are expressed as to his recovery.
Owens this morning signed a state
ment exhonerating Mr.. Ireland from
any blame in the matter. The wound
ed man was still alive this afternoon.
hut the chances of his getting well are
understood TO be very slight
Owens told Mr.. Ireland after he
had locked himself in his room at the
boarding house. that he had no inten-
ton Of going back to the penitenti
airy and that it would first be neces-
sary to kill him.
Threatens Street Commissioner
Owens was brought to the peniten-
TRY June 6. 1913, from Pueblo. under
indeterminate sentence of from two
to six years for conspiracy to rob.
He is stated to have threatened the
life of Street Commissioner Tom
Tarker on Tuesday of this week be-
cause of an alleged shortage Of seven
ty-five cents in his pay for work done
on the Greenwood avenue conduit.
Mr. Parker gave him an order for his
ray based upon the time he had been
employed. Owens accepted it with
cut protest. but later went to the city
hall and lodged a complaint against
the commissioner. He was told that
Mr. Parker would correct any errors
that he might have made in relation
TO the money due him and Owens went
away apparently satisfied. Subsequent
ly he went to the conduit and remark
ed to some Of the men at work there,
I'm get that d If he don't
ray me that seventy-fye cents before
night"