Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colo.

Weds., January 22, 1890
page 5

Changing Parents

     Lida Pitkin, a pretty little girl of 9, in company with Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Curtis of Henderson, Colo., appeared before Judge Miller yesterday. It was the child's wish and her mother's prayer that the lady and gentleman accompanying her should adopt her. The little one had but recently left her mother in Broom County, N. Y., said good-bye to her forever, and traveled all alone to Denver to meet her new parents. Poverty and suffering had much to do with the child's going from her mother's loving care, her father dead and her mother found herself unequal to the struggle of buffeting alone the unsympathetic currents of a cold world. A letter was read from Mrs. Emma Pitkin in which she willingly confided the care of little Lida to Mr. and Mrs. Curtis for life, to educate and train her as one of their own. It having been proven that they fully merited the confidence bestowed in them, adoption papers were speedily drawn up and the child departed happy in the love of newly-found parents. -- Item donated by Rita Timm, Colorado Clues

Brighton Blade

Friday, April 3, 1903
page 5

Shooting at Barr

     It is reported this morning that Bob Bell, a colored man, shot Adolph Crutz in the back last night at Barr, and that he is seriously wounded.  Bell went to Denver and gave himself up. -- Item donated by Julie Newman

The Denver Post

Friday, April 3, 1903
page 2

Fatally Shot His Friend

Robert Hubbard, Badly Beaten, Seized His Gun and Used It

    Robert Hubbard, colored, and Adolph Cruitz, white, who live on adjoining ranches in Adams County, some seven miles from Watkins, got into a quarrel last night as they sat in the negro's dugout talking about the manner in which Hubbard ought to proceed to make final proof on his land.  The lie was passed and the men began to fight.  Hubbard was crippled in the shoulder and was no match for Cruitz.  When he was being severely punished Hubbard began to beg for mercy, and his old mother added her entreaties, but Cruitz dropped him and ran for the gate, about 100 yards away.  Mad with rage, Hubbard seized his gun and fired a load of No. 4 shot into Cruitz's back as he ran.  Hubard Sent his mother to take care of Cruitz and coming to Denver surrendered to the police.  The is his version of the affair.  It is understood that Cruitz is in a dangerous condition. -- Item donated by Julie Newman

Brighton Blade

Friday, April 10, 1903
page 5

The Shooting of Cruitz

    In the case of shooting of Mr. Cruitz near Watkins last Thursday night, it was brought out at the Coroner's inquest that Hubbard and Cruitz have been the best of friends for five years or more, but Hubbard had been to Denver and came home drunk and very quarrelsome.  A fight started at Hubbard's home where Mr. Cruitz had gone to help do the chores.  In this fight Hubbard got the worst of it, and as Cruitz started home Hubbard got his shot gun, which is an old 12 gauge Zulu, and started after Cruitz and shot him about 140 yards from Hubbard's house.  The entire charge of No. 5 shot entered his left shoulder and back, some going through the body.  Hubbard had thrown out the empty shell and reloaded the gun before going up to Cruitz, with the evident intention of shooting him again had the first failed to kill him.  Hubbard told his mother to look after Cruitz as he had shot him, and then mounting a horse rode into Denver and gave himself up.  The coroner's jury returned a verdict that the shooting was felonious.  The trial will take place tomorrow in Brighton in Justice Blundell's court. -- Item donated by Julie Newman

Presbyterian Church

(discussed the service for Easter Sunday)

    In whatever way death may come it is always sad.  But we think that in some instances, it is much sadder than in others, of the latter kind was the funeral services of Mr. A. Cruitz who was buried in the Elmwood cemetery on last Sunday afternoon.  The awful grief of the widow and her four children at the grave brought tears to the eyes of all present.  No words of comfort from any human voice can reach a case like this, and yet we think the kind and sympathetic address delivered by Rev. Elliott, who officiated at the funeral, did in some measure assuaged the agony and the sorrow of the bereaved family and friends.  We extend our sincere sympathy to this distressed family. -- Item donated by Julie Newman