Crime Newspaper Articles
about Denver County Colorado
Crime Newspaper Articles
about Denver County Colorado
CATTLE THIEVES HANGED.
Denver, March 31.—Shortly after 12 o'clock last night, a body of men took W. T. Phebus and Jay McGrew, two cattle thieves, from the jail and hanged them to a tree near by, The perpetrators are unknown, but are believed to be members of the Cattle Growers' Protective Association,
The proceedings were conducted so quietly that the fact of the hanging was not known until a late hour this morning.
[Source: "Macon Telegraph", 1 Apr 1882; - Sub. by Barb Ziegenmeyer]
A Contestant Murdered
The Fate of Hermann Banner Near Caldwell, Kan.
A special from Wichita says: Near the border, south of Caldwell, the body of Hermann Banner of Denver, Col., was found hanging to a tree Saturday. There are strong suspicions of foul play, as from papers found on the dead man he was apparently wealthy. A letter found on him addressed to Denver told of his having captured a fine claim in the strip and added that two contestants had since come in and hand tried to run him off. The letter expressed his fear of these men, and it is suspected that they may have murdered him bringing him across the line and hanging him with the double object of diverting suspicion from themselves and of making it appear to be a suicide. [Guthrie Daily Leader; Guthrie, Oklahoma; October 4, 1893 - Submitted by Dale Donlon]
Man Accused of Assaulting Wardjon is Assassinated.
Lyte Gregory, an ex-policeman was assassinated at an early hour Monday morning as he was returning to his home in Denver from a social visit with friends. His body was riddled with bullets and he died in his tracks. It is believed that the assassin used a repeating rifle, and his aim was true, for in all ten bullets penetrated the murdered man’s body. Although bloodhounds were given the trail shortly after the murder occurred, no positive trace of the assassin has been found.
Gregory recently had served the Reno detective agency and was one of the men accused by William Wardsjon, the national committeeman of the United Mine Workers of America, with assaulting him on a Rio Grande train near Salida, Colo., recently. Wardjon was badly beaten up and claimed that four of the Reno agency men were his assailants. Gregory had only just returned to the city, having been absent for several weeks. Letters found on his person indicate that he was aware of Wardjon’s accusation.
(Source: Freemont Co Marysville Republican May 17, 1904. Transcribed by Carolyn Carter)
DENVER, COLORADO-- Taped Account of Killing Spree Termed "Revolting" Denver -
A taped television account of their murder spree through five states, described by their attorney as "revolting" was offered in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today in an effort to save the lives of two former soldiers condemned for the slaying of a Kansas railroad man. The court was told the taped program showed George R. York, 19, of Jacksonville, Fla., and James D. Latham, 20, of Mauriceville, Tex., describing the slaying of their seven victims in Florida, Tennessee, Illinois and Colorado. Roy Cook, court appointed attorney for the two youths, told the three judge federal court that he and other defense attorneys had learned only recently that the video tape was exhibited on a Great Bend, Kan., television station before York and Latham went on trial for murder in nearby Russell, Kan., in October, 1961. The Great Bend station has an audience in neighboring Russell County, he argued, and the television account of the slayings from the youth's own mouths must have had a seriously prejudical effect upon their trial. The tape was made during questioning of the suspects in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June 1961, after they had wound up their cross-country crime tour by killing an 18 year old waitress, Rachel Moyer in Craig, Colo. One member of the appellate court, Judge Jean S. Breitenstein commented that showing of the tape, "shows pretty bad taste." York and Latham originally were sentenced to be hanged in the Kansas State Penitentiary on June 2. On June 19, however, the appellate court ordered a 30 day stay as a preliminary to today's hearing. There was no indication when the court would rule on Cook's appeal. York and Latham, both AWOL from the Army at the time of their crime tour, were convicted of first degree murder in slaying of Otto Ziegler, 62 year old Oakley, Kan., railroad man. Their trial was transferred to nearby Russell in another county on a change of venue. (July 7, 1963, El Dorado Times - Submitted by Peggy Thompson)
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