TRAGEDY AT KEMMERER - 1904

Word was received here a few days ago of a killing at Kemmerer which occurred Monday afternoon.  A drunken Finlander a stranger in the place, whose name is unknown, entered a respectable private house and terrorized the residents, driving the entire family from the house, Deputy Sheriff Richard McDermaid was called to the scene and attempted to arrest the Finlander, when the latter started to run.  The officer called upon him to halt, but he kept on going.  The officer then fired a shot toward the ground, intending only to frighten the man.  The bullet struck some hard substance and, glancing, struck the man in the back, coming out of the breast killing him almost instantly.  County Attorney Thomas and Deputy Sheriff Jones left at once for the scene of trouble to investigate the affair.  Mr. Thomas prepared information against Mr. McDermaid who was arrested on a serious charge and taken before justice Smith for preliminary hearing.  He waived examination to the district court and was placed under a bond of $2,000.  The coroners jury called to inquire into the case, exonerated Mr. McDermaid, but the Finns are going to push the matter to the fullest extent.  The Wyoming Press March 5, 1904

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DEATH OF JAMES BRUCE - 1907

Star Valley is in a state of excitement occasioned by the death from poisoning of one of their most respected citizens, James Bruce, who passed away on March 21st  very unexpectedly at his ranch near Smoot.

Sheriff Jones ; was called to investigate the case and returned to Evanston Tuesday.   He is very reticent about the affair, but says further  particulars will later develop, as a portion of the deceaseds  stomach and contents were, forwarded to the state chemist at Laramie to be analyzed, for the  purpose of determining the true nature of the poison.  No arrests were made.  The Wyoming Press, Saturday March 30, 1907

 

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MAU STONER FEUD - 1907

Mau had him arrested for assault and battery and the case was tried before Judge Rosenberg and a jury at Kemmerer last Monday, which resulted in a verdict of guilty, The judge fined the defendant $25.00 and costs, amounting to about $200.00. Stoner gave notice of an appeal to the District court.  Correspondent, Cokeville, Wyo., May 27, 1907 Wyoming Press

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About a month ago James Francis lost a horse he valued at $300 and Parley Anderson lost a horse, saddle and bridle.  It was suspected that the party who had stolen them had made for Jackson Hole country and Mr. Francis son, Ray, took the trail and followed it to Mart Elles place in the Jackson Hole where he found the horses.  They had been left there by a fellow named Shaffer who in the mean time had disappeared and could not be found.  Cokeville Register August 1, 1914

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AUTO HOLDUP - 1914

What is supposed to have been an attempted hold-up of the Quealy auto occurred last Sunday evening Just the other side of Sage. The car met two horseback riders and as it pasted one of thorn tried to halt the machine.

The driver paid no attention to them hut after they had passed the riders turned and rode close to the machine and fired a shot apparently at the wheel to puncture the tire. The driver of the car opened up the engine feed and the car soon gut beyond reach after which Mr. Quealy and young son got out of the car and with a shot gun and a rifle lay in waiting for the would-bes but they didn't come up to them.

Sheriff Hansen went to Sage and captured Bert Long and a fellow named  Jack Shirtlant, known as Montana Jack. They acknowledged doing the shooting hut claimed it was a joke. We imagine, however, that when they come to trial the court will hardly be able to see the funny part of the joke.

In the ear were three women. 3 children. Mr. Quealey and the driver. They were returning from Hot Springs resort and had stopped in Cokeville the night before.  Cokeville Register August 22, 1914

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 ROBBERY AT BORDER - 1914

Justice Bourne. A. D, Noblitt. R. D. Boomer and Joe Fuller.Sr., made a trip to Border last Sunday in A D's. car. The Justice went there on business connected with a robbery which occurred there some time last week. The house of John Richards was entered by night and his puree, which contained $9 cash and a check of $21.45 were taken.

Carl Rennaker was suspected at the guilty one and last Tuesday John Richards made a trip to Montpelier. capturing him at that place. Mr. Richards started back with the prisoner but had only gone about as far as Pegram when the quick-witted fellow escaped through  the passenger car window and made his get away.

Marshal "Casey" Collett was soon notified and set out, Wednesday. in pursuit of the robber.

At of this writing, however, he has not returned and no word has been received. Cokeville Register September 19, 1914

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PERCY GRIGGS IS SHOT - 1914
A telephone message was received here Thursday evening that Percy Griggs whose father, Norris Griggs. is interested in the copper mine up Smithsfork and who has been there all summer working on the development of the mine, had been shot while, in company with another party, making away with some horses which did not belong to them.

Percy, who has been in Cokeville and helping at the mine all summer, left about three weeks ago with a bunch of his father's horses which had been used at the mine during the summer, for the Bridger country where the horses were to be wintered. We are informed that the father had supplied him with money to go to Ogden to continue his School studies after delivering the horses where they were to be kept for the winter.

Particulars at this time are not obtainable but it would seem from the phone message to his father that the boy, who is about twenty years of age, had got in with someone in the Bridger valley and had stolen some horses and was going southeast with them when the sheriff of Uinta county overtook them near Lone Tree and in an attempt to capture them was compelled to shoot one of them. It is not yet positive which of them was shot, however, a message has been sent to notify Mr. Griggs who is at the mine.  Cokeville Register November 28, 1914

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WHOLESALE ROBBERY - 1915

Mesars, James and John Jamieson left Tuesday evening for their ranch at Fontenelle, on advice from the ranch that somebody had stolen almost everything that was movable about that place.  About seventy-five dollars worth of pack saddles alone were taken besides their supply of oats and salt for lambing time, all provisions such as flour, canned goods etc., even the bed and stove, spring wagon in fact everything.

These were taken from Jameisons ranch, and upon investigating it was learned that a quantity of barbed wire which John Jamison had expected to use for fencing this spring, had gone with the things from his brothers ranch.  Deputy McMinn of Kemmerer has gone with the Jamieson brothers and as there is snow in that part of the country, they are hopeful of tracing the thieves.  This is a wholesale robbery such as had never been heard of before in a country where nothing is put under lock and key. As the neighbors are welcome to come and go as they please.  It is the opinion of those interested, that the hauling was done by outlaws and strangers in the land.  Kemmerer Camera Wednesday, January 20, 1915

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MRS. RICHEY WAS SHOT,  PRELIMINARY CATTLE STEALING CASE POSTPONED - 1919

Mrs. Anna M. Richey, one of the defendants in the cattle case which is attracting considerable attention in this part of the state, and whose preliminary hearing was to have been held last Saturday afternoon before Judge Glasgow now lies in the Marquis hospital as the result of a gunshot wound.  The bone of her left arm is shattered and physicians state it will require the utmost care to save the injured limb.

Mrs. Richeys story of the shooting is as follows:

I came to Kemmerer from the ranch last Friday about noon to consult my attorney and to transact other business which required some attention.  It was late in the evening when I had completed my transactions and I decided to stay in town over night.  I secured a room at the Jadot hotel and spent the night there.

Friday morning about six oclock I purchased some gasoline at the Lincoln County Garage and drove out home.  When I arrived at the ranch I got a horse and at about eight oclock started out to look after a bunch of cattle.  About two miles north of the house I met a man who was riding an iron gray horse, and who had a red handkerchief tied over his head and a black mask covering the upper portion of his face.  When he came within a short distance of me he stopped his horse and asked:  Is there anyone beside yourself connected with this cattle case?

I answered No

He said:  I know there is, and if you dont tell me who they are Ill kill you.

I answered:  I have told you the truth and there is no use of talking further, and at the same time put spurs to the horse I was riding and whirled him in the direction of home.  The next thing I knew I was shot.

The report of the gun scared my horse and he started to run away and he went fully 100 yards before I could stop him.  I was dazed but in some manner got off the horse and tried to stop the flow of blood by holding my clothing tight with my hand.  I do not know how long I remained there but I finally succeeded in again mounted my horse and started for home.  My arm hurt me terribly but I gritted my teeth and finally landed at the house at about 11:30 oclock.

I did not even go into the house as I was in so much pain that I was afraid I would faint if I did not stay out in the air and then my trial was called for two oclock and I had to be in Kemmerer.  With Frank Dobnik, who is employed on the ranch I started for Kemmerer and as he had never driven a car we did not make very much headway.  I had to tell him what to do and how to handle the car and to watch everything but we succeeded in getting about one mile east of Fossil when were met by Bert Sandberg, who was sent our after me by my attorney, Mr. Melvin.

I sent a message from Fossil stating that I had been shot and we were on our way into town

When asked if she had seen the man after he shot her Mrs. Richey stated that she did not and that he must have started in another direction immediately after firing his gun.

Mrs. Richey stated that she never once thought of this man carrying out his threat to shoot her and only surmised that he made the statement in order to scare her.

From the actions of the man, stated Mrs. Richey, I believe he had been in the neighborhood for several days and had been looking over my cattle.

Undersheriff Conroy left for the scene of the shooting Saturday afternoon but was unable to find any clue as to the identity of the man who committed the deed.  Cattle has trampled out the tracks of the horses and it was impossible to in this manner secure any trace.  The sheriffs force are endeavoring to find some trace of the would be assassin.

The preliminary hearing was postponed until next Saturday afternoon at 3 oclock.  The Kemmerer Camera August 20, 1919

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HOUSE ROBBED DURING ABSENCE -1919

J. K Barber returned Thursday from Salt Lake City where he has been for nearly two months. He reports that Mrs. Barber and their little daughters were In quarantine In Burley, Idaho, for nearly six weeks on account of the small pox there .  They are expected to return to Cokeville in a few days. During the absence of the family their house was entered by burglars who got in by breaking a window. The thieves took a valuable overcoat and a complete set of silverware. The latter was a much valued wedding present and was worth over $100.   The miscreants left no clue and have a good start so their chance of being captured is remote.. Cokeville Register December 27, 1919

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SHOOTING AT CUMBERLAND - 1920
A  feud. said to be of long standing, culminated Tuesday afternoon at Cumberland in the shooting of Pete Pusken by John La Varak. The latter is now in the county jail, awaiting the result of his victims injuries, while the man who was shot hovers between life and death at the L. C. M.  Hospital.

According to the account of the sheriffs office, which was at once notified, the would-be assassin rode up on horseback to where Pusken was standing and shot him, apparently without any quarrel at that time. he then deliberately dismounted and hitched up a single rig and drove to South Cumberland, where he was arrested without any resistance.

As soon as possible the wounded man was brought to the hospital and given surgical attention. It was found that a .82 caliber bullet had passed completely through his right arm, without breaking the bone, and lodged back of the breast bone, where it was located by means of the X-ray. The wound of itself is not necessarily fatal, but the patient has developed symptoms of pneumonia which makes his condition, after the loss of blood occasioned by the gun shot wound, extremely critical.  Kemmerer Republican Friday April 16, 1920

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BOMB SUSPECT ARRESTED HERE - 1921