The Delta independent., 1920-11-05
TRIPLE SHOOTING At MONT
ROSE-ONE MAN Is DEAD

James Kelley, well-known Montrose
man is dead: d. NJ. Kelley, his father.
is probably fatally wounded, and Dan
Kelley, Jr., his brother, is suffering
from two bullet wounds. and Jasper
]. Baker. of 1875 North Seventh street.
Grand Junction, is in the county Jail
as result of triple shooting at
Montrose. at 3:45 o'clock Monday af
ternoon. The shooting occurred in the
rear office of the Montrose Livestock
& Commission company on Main
street. 1t was the result of quarrel
over a sheep deal. Baker was rushed
to Delta until Tuesday evening by
Sheriff J. H. Gill of SIontrose. and
incarcerated to avoid the mob which
was being formed at Montrose to
lynch him. The officers got wind of
the proposed lynching and took Baker
away at high speed. as the Montrose
Jail would not stand any storming.
Baker is a Grand Junction man and
has always been highly regarded as
a livestock grower of influence. His
wife was informed of the shooting at
Montrose. and was greatly shocked
at the wholly unexpected news. as
she had no idea that there was any
deep-seated feeling over any sheep
deal in which her husband was in
volved
According to information received
Baker entered the commission COM
pany offices. just east of the Home
State Bank building. He met d. VI.
Kelley and two sons in the front Of
flee. and asked to see them privately.
Chat Johnson and others were in the
front part of the office. Mr. Baker
Immediately opened the conversation
over some sheep which the Kelleys
had bought OF him two or three years
before, involving quite a sum. They
had not paid for all Of the sheep II is
said. and he asked them about II. de-
manding that they at once furnish
him with an additional mortgage on
another lot of sheep they own.
They refused to grant the addition
al mortgage and Baker. II is alleged.
Immediately whipped out a revolver
and fired at the elder Kelley The first
shot struck Mr.. Kelley in the right
arm. making n flesh wound. Baker
fired again. the bullet entered the
chest and Kelley staggered back and
sank into chair. James Kelley.
aged 25, leaped at Baker and almost
simultaneously Dan Kelley. Jr.,
rushed at him: both thinking moth.
ing but saving their fathers life II
possible. The attack had been so
sudden they could not prevent the
first shots. James Kelley reached
Baker first and grabbed him by the
wrist
Baker turned and fired at James
Kelley. the bullet striking in the alb
domen. He staggered back and Dan
Kelley, Jr.. received a bullet thru his
left hand and the last shot grazed
der making a slight flesh wound. This
was the last shot in Bakers gun. In
spite of his wounds, Kelley. who is
% years old, grappled with Baker. and
was punishing him severely when
Chat Johnson and others from the
front office rushed to his aid and Ba-
ker was held until the officers came.
AS soon as the crowd began to gath
er around the front OF the building
and some crowded into the room. the
officers decided best to spirit Baker
away. There we're cries of '1ynch
him" and many sinister threats were
heard and It was understood on good
authority that the mob spirit was re-
ally taking definite form. Baker. bat
tered from the youthful Kelley's fists
and still excited from the deed he
had done was hustled in an auto and
whirled away bound for Delta He is
about As years old.
The elder Kelley was placed in an
ambulance and taken to st. Luke's hos
pital. The flesh wound on his right
arm Is not serious the bone being
intact lie was able to walk to the
ambulance.
James Kelley was taken to the
Montrose hospital where It was seen
that ne would not survive. The bull
let punctured his liver and ranged up
ward into the lung cavity. He passed
away at 9:15 that night He is n mar
ried man, his wife being an expect
ant mother.
Dan, Jr., the youngest victim OF the
gunnery, will survive.
The feeling In .Montrose is very
high. Mr.. Kelley and his sons were
widely known and welrliked and are
known to most cattlemen Of western
Colorado. They have been identified
with various livestock deals thru their
commission business for several years
Baker has lived both In Montrose
and Grand Junction. He has been con-
sidered a business success and popu-
lar man, in the stock business. 1t is
stated that he has been quite moody
and morose Of late and had not been