Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1883 — A BORDER TRAGEDY. [ARTICLE]

A BORDER TRAGEDY.

Assassination of Officials in Grand County, Col. They Are Cruelly Shot Dowa in Cold Blood.

[Denver Telegram.] From * multitude of conflicting report* constantly being received concerning the Grand county tragedy, it is difficult to got the real facts in the ca.se. Texas Charley tells the following story of the fight, which is deemed authentic: Day, Webber and Dean left Mra Young’* boarding-house for town, apd when about twenty-five paces from thehouse were passing a lot of pines and rocks, Webber wanting thirty steps behind Dean and Day. Four masked men jumped out from behind the rocks and pines ana shot Webber in the back, just above tne hips, the ball, passing through his body. Webber cried: “I am shot,” and ran toward Day and Dean, amj fell before them. The leader of the masked party (Mills) then sprang on Dean, knocking him down, and began pounding him over the head with his gun. Day drew his revolver and shot Mills behind the ear, from the pistol burning his hair. Mills fell on top of Dean. As soon as Day was shot the man ran back toward Mra Young’s ice-house, and some masked men came up behind him. Day shot at him, and ifls believed wounded him. A shot from behind struck Day and the ball passed through his heart. He ran fifteen stepg and fell dead in the pa h. Webber was uncon scious after falling, and at 11:80 the same night was dying. His last words were: “Poux some water on my wounds. ” Webber’s and Day’s bodies were taken to Webber’s ranch on Frazer’s farm, from Whence Day’s body was taken to the springs, where it will be buried. Mills will be buried at Grand Lake Dean is at Grand Lake alive at last accounts Coffin, Martin and William Redmon, supposed to be of the attacking party, have so far eluded arrest The trouble that led to the shooting was the result of an old feud, dating back to 1879, when the county was created by act of the Legislature and the seat located at Hot Sulphur Springe At the election held in 1880, the people by a vote changed the county Beat to Grand Lake The matter was taken to the District Court and then to the Supreme Court Meanwhile the hatred existing between the two factions was growing in intensity, culminating yesterday in the bloody work. Grand county has three Commissioners —Barney Day, R G. Mills, and E. P. Webber—a majority of whom, ' Day and Mills, were in favor of declaring the vote illegal that created Grand Lake the county seat and removing the records back to the Springs. The Commissioners had a regular meeting at Grand Lake. Just What was done is not positively known, but it is reported they decided to declare the office of County Treasurer vacant because of his refusal to file a satisfactory bond During the meeting Day, Webber and Clerk Dean stopped at Mra Young's boarding-house, a quarter of a mile around the end of a small lake. The road leading from Mra Young’s to town is through a thicket of small pines It was while passing this point that the officials were snot down in tine manner described. J. G. Mills, one of the Commissioners killed was a man of unenviable reputation. He came to this State from Mississibpi, a fugitive fromjustice, having, in company with one Q. S Lee, shot and killed W. jL Hill and Thomas Ballard The affair occurred'Oct 1,1875, in Holpes county. Mills was for a time local editor of the Cheyenne Leader; leaving that paper tn 1879 and going directly Into Grana county, and became identified with the North Park Miner. He was a bold writer, and bore the reputatio'n of being a wholdtsouled fellow. He was a native of Vermont E. P. Webber was a young and energetic lawyer,, who was for five years Assistant State’s Attorney for the State of 11l nois, at Chicago. He was a man generally well liked, and preferred the law to violence in the settlement of any question, although he wets by no means a coward Barney Day was an old-timer in Colorado, having been one of the first to come overland to Denver about twenty years ago. He emigrated to Middle Park in 1875, and ♦has lived there almost continuously ever since. He had a large number of warm bersonal friends, and leaves a wife and one Child « T. J. Dean was a native of Michigan. He entered the army at the breaking out of the war, and distinguished himself for bravery and ability, and was breveted Colon*), He was afterward wounded and taken prisoner, and was for a long time on* of the unfortunates who were confined in Libby prison. He was disabled from his wounds, losing one eye and being otherwise seriously hurt Upon getting out of prison he came. to Colorado, and has been here since.. He went to Middle Park in 1874 or 1875.. Heis about 55 ; tion of County Judge of Grand-county.