CALLED TO LONG HOME
_________________________
LARRY FEE GATHERED TO HIS FATHERS IN THE STILLNESS OF THE PEACEFUL NIGHT.
_________________________
Lawrence ("Larry") Fee, one of the earlier settlers of this valley and city, and one of the best known citizens, died at the county hospital last night, a little before midnight, and the funeral will occur from the Catholic church at 9 o'clock. Thursday morning, with requiem mass by Father Hartman, the pastor of that church. Mr. Fee was never married, but leaves three brothers and three sisters, one brother, Terence Fee, being dead, and one sister, Mrs. M. H. Murphy. The two sisters living are Mrs. Dave Hickey of Ogden, who was here about a fortnight ago, and Mrs. Bridget Gallagher of Davenport, Ia. The brothers are Jack Fee and Dennis Fee, both of Mandel, and Philip Fee of Denver. They have all been notified. Mr. Fee came to this country from County Latram, Ireland, when he was about 2 years of age, and to Laramie when the town was very small. He was a deputy sheriff in 1878, where Watkins made a break for liberty from the county jail, severely wounding Mr. Fee and slightly wounding Jack Brophy, the sheriff. Mr. Fee carried the bullet until a few years ago, when it was extracted by Dr. Lane, having lain embedded in the flesh for many years. He did not fully recover the use of that limb.
Native of Ireland
Mr. Fee was born in County Latram, Ireland, January 16, 1846, and died November 16, 1920. His parents both died in this city and are buried here, the father attaining the venerable age of 90 years. Mr. Fee will be laid beside them and his brother and sister the Catholic section of the cemetery. He was one of the first members of the Catholic church when the parish was organized, first under Father Kassahn and later under Father Cummiskey, whose death occurred a few weeks ago. He owned what is now Fee's addition to Laramie, of which many houses have been built and which forms the Laramie terminus of the Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern railroad. The Midwest and Standard refineries occupy tracts adjoining the ranch. It was here that Mr. Fee did his first farming, marking the first farming in this valley, and at one time had the greater part of the ranch planted to potatoes. He won many prizes for the size and excellence of these potatoes, and thus was enabled to start the entering wedge in the possibility of agriculture in the Laramie valley. He brought willows from Davenport, Ia. and planted them on the ranch and in the valley, many of them still growing.
Was Deputy Marshal.
Mr. Fee at one time was deputy United States marshal for the district of Wyoming, and as such co-operated with the marshal and others in some of the most notable arrests of the earlier days. He was also deputy sheriff and city marshal, it being said of him that he was one of the best city officials Laramie ever had. He was brave, generous, honest, faithful and loving, and many's the man who could he remember at all, would recall time after time when Larry Fee seemed the only friend he had— a friend in need and indeed. He was a kindly soul, with a cheery word for all, and hardly a day passed The Republican office, when he could walk at all, that he did not stop to exchange the time o' day with those of us who are left to mourn his taking away and to recall his many expressions of friendship. Dennis and Jack Fee are in the city, the others having been told of his demise.
© Cheyenne Daily Sun Leader no. 45 November 08, 1895, page 4
____________________________________
A FAITHFUL OFFICIAL
Editor Republican:
The passing of "Larry" Fee, pioneer peace officer, respected citizen and fearless upholder of the law, calls to mind his early life in this community. Larry did much to promote the agricultural development of this valley. He proved that Bill Nye was wrong in his estimate of what the valley would produce and year after year raised a garden that was not excelled by truck gardeners anywhere, not even in Bill's home state of Wisconsin. But it was not in the cultivation of the soil that Larry made his greatest reputation. For years in the seventies he was deputy sheriff of Albany county and in the eighties he occupied the position of city marshal. He believed in the enforcement of the law, in equal and exact justice. From 1875 up to a few years before his death he carried in one knee joint a bullet fired from the deadly weapon of the notorious Jack Wadkins. After its removal he used it as a watch charm, a gruesome memento of a near tragedy.
May 24, 1875, was one of excitement in Laramie. A warrant had been issued for Dick Rogers and Jack Wadkins. They appeared at the court house for some purpose about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Deputy Sheriff Fee told Rogers that he was under arrest and commanded him to give up his weapons. Rogers jumped back, drew his revolver and attempted to shoot Fee, who grappled with him and grabbing the barrel of the revolver in his hand prevented its discharge. At that juncture Sheriff Brophy came into the room, passing Wadkins, who was near the door. Brophy, taking in the situation at a glance, started to the aid of his deputy as quick as a flash. Wadkins drew his revolver and fired at Brophy, the ball missing the hip bone and grazing the abdomen. Wadkins immediately fired at Fee, the ball passing through the fleshy portion of one leg and lodging in the knee of the other. It was a mighty close shave for Brophy. A half-inch closer would have given him a mortal wound. Wadkins rushed out of the court house, mounted his horse and fled from the town, passing north by the rolling mill. Larry Fee held on to his prisoner, Rogers, and he was placed in the county jail. Walter Sinclair, Jim Sloan, Louis Miller, W. S. Bramel, J. W. Connor and John W. Meldrum, led by City Marshal N. K. Boswell, were soon in pursuit. It was thought that Wadkins would cross the Laramie river and it was the hope of the excited people left behind that "Old Bos." a dead shot in his prime of life, would get a shot at Jack as he crossed the stream. The hope was in vain and Wadkins was not seen again in this immediate vicinity.
A few days later Rogers was before Justice L. D. Pease, waived examination and was placed under a bond of $5000. He was subsequently tried and served a term in the penitentiary. The search for Wadkins was kept up for many days but without avail. The board of county commissioners, of which W. H. Holliday was at that time the chairman, offered a reward of $500 for the arrest of the desperado. Both John and Terrence Fee, then respected citizens of Albany county, took a hand in the man hunt having the additional incentive of avenging the dastardly attack made upon their brother.
A few days after the shooting two soldiers from Fort Sanders reported that they had seen Wadkins near the post the night before and that he went through Jabez Simpson's fence and toward the river, with the evident intention of crossing and going to his ranch, which was in the Laramie valley.
At various times thereafter it was rumored that Wadkins had been seen but there was nothing authentic about these rumors and they came to naught. So far as the people of this town were concerned he passed out of their lives forever. He has doubtless long since died. Wadkins was a man six feet tall, as straight as an Indian, steel blue eyes, light hair, very light mustache, no eye-brows. He never wore an overcoat but generally had thrown over his shoulders in the winter time a largo knitted scarf. It was his pleasure to come to town, fill up on tanglefoot and shoot out the lights of Tom Dillon's saloon, Peter Holt's store or some other place.
Larry Fee had a stiff knee thereafter, but it did not prevent him from being an excellent officer of the law. The close call did not detract in the slightest from his courage in the hour of danger. In the eighties he served for several years as city marshal, making an exceptionally competent official in that capacity.
Larry Fee will live in the memories of the pioneers as a true friend of the law and a citizen of unblemished character.
W. E. CHAPLIN
© Laramie Republican no. 95 December 01, 1920, page 2
Obituary and editorial located by Clint Black Loveland, CO, March 2014.
_________________________
LARRY FEE GATHERED TO HIS FATHERS IN THE STILLNESS OF THE PEACEFUL NIGHT.
_________________________
Lawrence ("Larry") Fee, one of the earlier settlers of this valley and city, and one of the best known citizens, died at the county hospital last night, a little before midnight, and the funeral will occur from the Catholic church at 9 o'clock. Thursday morning, with requiem mass by Father Hartman, the pastor of that church. Mr. Fee was never married, but leaves three brothers and three sisters, one brother, Terence Fee, being dead, and one sister, Mrs. M. H. Murphy. The two sisters living are Mrs. Dave Hickey of Ogden, who was here about a fortnight ago, and Mrs. Bridget Gallagher of Davenport, Ia. The brothers are Jack Fee and Dennis Fee, both of Mandel, and Philip Fee of Denver. They have all been notified. Mr. Fee came to this country from County Latram, Ireland, when he was about 2 years of age, and to Laramie when the town was very small. He was a deputy sheriff in 1878, where Watkins made a break for liberty from the county jail, severely wounding Mr. Fee and slightly wounding Jack Brophy, the sheriff. Mr. Fee carried the bullet until a few years ago, when it was extracted by Dr. Lane, having lain embedded in the flesh for many years. He did not fully recover the use of that limb.
Native of Ireland
Mr. Fee was born in County Latram, Ireland, January 16, 1846, and died November 16, 1920. His parents both died in this city and are buried here, the father attaining the venerable age of 90 years. Mr. Fee will be laid beside them and his brother and sister the Catholic section of the cemetery. He was one of the first members of the Catholic church when the parish was organized, first under Father Kassahn and later under Father Cummiskey, whose death occurred a few weeks ago. He owned what is now Fee's addition to Laramie, of which many houses have been built and which forms the Laramie terminus of the Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern railroad. The Midwest and Standard refineries occupy tracts adjoining the ranch. It was here that Mr. Fee did his first farming, marking the first farming in this valley, and at one time had the greater part of the ranch planted to potatoes. He won many prizes for the size and excellence of these potatoes, and thus was enabled to start the entering wedge in the possibility of agriculture in the Laramie valley. He brought willows from Davenport, Ia. and planted them on the ranch and in the valley, many of them still growing.
Was Deputy Marshal.
Mr. Fee at one time was deputy United States marshal for the district of Wyoming, and as such co-operated with the marshal and others in some of the most notable arrests of the earlier days. He was also deputy sheriff and city marshal, it being said of him that he was one of the best city officials Laramie ever had. He was brave, generous, honest, faithful and loving, and many's the man who could he remember at all, would recall time after time when Larry Fee seemed the only friend he had— a friend in need and indeed. He was a kindly soul, with a cheery word for all, and hardly a day passed The Republican office, when he could walk at all, that he did not stop to exchange the time o' day with those of us who are left to mourn his taking away and to recall his many expressions of friendship. Dennis and Jack Fee are in the city, the others having been told of his demise.
© Cheyenne Daily Sun Leader no. 45 November 08, 1895, page 4
____________________________________
A FAITHFUL OFFICIAL
Editor Republican:
The passing of "Larry" Fee, pioneer peace officer, respected citizen and fearless upholder of the law, calls to mind his early life in this community. Larry did much to promote the agricultural development of this valley. He proved that Bill Nye was wrong in his estimate of what the valley would produce and year after year raised a garden that was not excelled by truck gardeners anywhere, not even in Bill's home state of Wisconsin. But it was not in the cultivation of the soil that Larry made his greatest reputation. For years in the seventies he was deputy sheriff of Albany county and in the eighties he occupied the position of city marshal. He believed in the enforcement of the law, in equal and exact justice. From 1875 up to a few years before his death he carried in one knee joint a bullet fired from the deadly weapon of the notorious Jack Wadkins. After its removal he used it as a watch charm, a gruesome memento of a near tragedy.
May 24, 1875, was one of excitement in Laramie. A warrant had been issued for Dick Rogers and Jack Wadkins. They appeared at the court house for some purpose about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Deputy Sheriff Fee told Rogers that he was under arrest and commanded him to give up his weapons. Rogers jumped back, drew his revolver and attempted to shoot Fee, who grappled with him and grabbing the barrel of the revolver in his hand prevented its discharge. At that juncture Sheriff Brophy came into the room, passing Wadkins, who was near the door. Brophy, taking in the situation at a glance, started to the aid of his deputy as quick as a flash. Wadkins drew his revolver and fired at Brophy, the ball missing the hip bone and grazing the abdomen. Wadkins immediately fired at Fee, the ball passing through the fleshy portion of one leg and lodging in the knee of the other. It was a mighty close shave for Brophy. A half-inch closer would have given him a mortal wound. Wadkins rushed out of the court house, mounted his horse and fled from the town, passing north by the rolling mill. Larry Fee held on to his prisoner, Rogers, and he was placed in the county jail. Walter Sinclair, Jim Sloan, Louis Miller, W. S. Bramel, J. W. Connor and John W. Meldrum, led by City Marshal N. K. Boswell, were soon in pursuit. It was thought that Wadkins would cross the Laramie river and it was the hope of the excited people left behind that "Old Bos." a dead shot in his prime of life, would get a shot at Jack as he crossed the stream. The hope was in vain and Wadkins was not seen again in this immediate vicinity.
A few days later Rogers was before Justice L. D. Pease, waived examination and was placed under a bond of $5000. He was subsequently tried and served a term in the penitentiary. The search for Wadkins was kept up for many days but without avail. The board of county commissioners, of which W. H. Holliday was at that time the chairman, offered a reward of $500 for the arrest of the desperado. Both John and Terrence Fee, then respected citizens of Albany county, took a hand in the man hunt having the additional incentive of avenging the dastardly attack made upon their brother.
A few days after the shooting two soldiers from Fort Sanders reported that they had seen Wadkins near the post the night before and that he went through Jabez Simpson's fence and toward the river, with the evident intention of crossing and going to his ranch, which was in the Laramie valley.
At various times thereafter it was rumored that Wadkins had been seen but there was nothing authentic about these rumors and they came to naught. So far as the people of this town were concerned he passed out of their lives forever. He has doubtless long since died. Wadkins was a man six feet tall, as straight as an Indian, steel blue eyes, light hair, very light mustache, no eye-brows. He never wore an overcoat but generally had thrown over his shoulders in the winter time a largo knitted scarf. It was his pleasure to come to town, fill up on tanglefoot and shoot out the lights of Tom Dillon's saloon, Peter Holt's store or some other place.
Larry Fee had a stiff knee thereafter, but it did not prevent him from being an excellent officer of the law. The close call did not detract in the slightest from his courage in the hour of danger. In the eighties he served for several years as city marshal, making an exceptionally competent official in that capacity.
Larry Fee will live in the memories of the pioneers as a true friend of the law and a citizen of unblemished character.
W. E. CHAPLIN
© Laramie Republican no. 95 December 01, 1920, page 2
Obituary and editorial located by Clint Black Loveland, CO, March 2014.
CALLED TO LONG HOME
_________________________
LARRY FEE GATHERED TO HIS FATHERS IN THE STILLNESS OF THE PEACEFUL NIGHT.
_________________________
Lawrence ("Larry") Fee, one of the earlier settlers of this valley and city, and one of the best known citizens, died at the county hospital last night, a little before midnight, and the funeral will occur from the Catholic church at 9 o'clock. Thursday morning, with requiem mass by Father Hartman, the pastor of that church. Mr. Fee was never married, but leaves three brothers and three sisters, one brother, Terence Fee, being dead, and one sister, Mrs. M. H. Murphy. The two sisters living are Mrs. Dave Hickey of Ogden, who was here about a fortnight ago, and Mrs. Bridget Gallagher of Davenport, Ia. The brothers are Jack Fee and Dennis Fee, both of Mandel, and Philip Fee of Denver. They have all been notified. Mr. Fee came to this country from County Latram, Ireland, when he was about 2 years of age, and to Laramie when the town was very small. He was a deputy sheriff in 1878, where Watkins made a break for liberty from the county jail, severely wounding Mr. Fee and slightly wounding Jack Brophy, the sheriff. Mr. Fee carried the bullet until a few years ago, when it was extracted by Dr. Lane, having lain embedded in the flesh for many years. He did not fully recover the use of that limb.
Native of Ireland
Mr. Fee was born in County Latram, Ireland, January 16, 1846, and died November 16, 1920. His parents both died in this city and are buried here, the father attaining the venerable age of 90 years. Mr. Fee will be laid beside them and his brother and sister the Catholic section of the cemetery. He was one of the first members of the Catholic church when the parish was organized, first under Father Kassahn and later under Father Cummiskey, whose death occurred a few weeks ago. He owned what is now Fee's addition to Laramie, of which many houses have been built and which forms the Laramie terminus of the Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern railroad. The Midwest and Standard refineries occupy tracts adjoining the ranch. It was here that Mr. Fee did his first farming, marking the first farming in this valley, and at one time had the greater part of the ranch planted to potatoes. He won many prizes for the size and excellence of these potatoes, and thus was enabled to start the entering wedge in the possibility of agriculture in the Laramie valley. He brought willows from Davenport, Ia. and planted them on the ranch and in the valley, many of them still growing.
Was Deputy Marshal.
Mr. Fee at one time was deputy United States marshal for the district of Wyoming, and as such co-operated with the marshal and others in some of the most notable arrests of the earlier days. He was also deputy sheriff and city marshal, it being said of him that he was one of the best city officials Laramie ever had. He was brave, generous, honest, faithful and loving, and many's the man who could he remember at all, would recall time after time when Larry Fee seemed the only friend he had— a friend in need and indeed. He was a kindly soul, with a cheery word for all, and hardly a day passed The Republican office, when he could walk at all, that he did not stop to exchange the time o' day with those of us who are left to mourn his taking away and to recall his many expressions of friendship. Dennis and Jack Fee are in the city, the others having been told of his demise.
© Cheyenne Daily Sun Leader no. 45 November 08, 1895, page 4
____________________________________
A FAITHFUL OFFICIAL
Editor Republican:
The passing of "Larry" Fee, pioneer peace officer, respected citizen and fearless upholder of the law, calls to mind his early life in this community. Larry did much to promote the agricultural development of this valley. He proved that Bill Nye was wrong in his estimate of what the valley would produce and year after year raised a garden that was not excelled by truck gardeners anywhere, not even in Bill's home state of Wisconsin. But it was not in the cultivation of the soil that Larry made his greatest reputation. For years in the seventies he was deputy sheriff of Albany county and in the eighties he occupied the position of city marshal. He believed in the enforcement of the law, in equal and exact justice. From 1875 up to a few years before his death he carried in one knee joint a bullet fired from the deadly weapon of the notorious Jack Wadkins. After its removal he used it as a watch charm, a gruesome memento of a near tragedy.
May 24, 1875, was one of excitement in Laramie. A warrant had been issued for Dick Rogers and Jack Wadkins. They appeared at the court house for some purpose about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Deputy Sheriff Fee told Rogers that he was under arrest and commanded him to give up his weapons. Rogers jumped back, drew his revolver and attempted to shoot Fee, who grappled with him and grabbing the barrel of the revolver in his hand prevented its discharge. At that juncture Sheriff Brophy came into the room, passing Wadkins, who was near the door. Brophy, taking in the situation at a glance, started to the aid of his deputy as quick as a flash. Wadkins drew his revolver and fired at Brophy, the ball missing the hip bone and grazing the abdomen. Wadkins immediately fired at Fee, the ball passing through the fleshy portion of one leg and lodging in the knee of the other. It was a mighty close shave for Brophy. A half-inch closer would have given him a mortal wound. Wadkins rushed out of the court house, mounted his horse and fled from the town, passing north by the rolling mill. Larry Fee held on to his prisoner, Rogers, and he was placed in the county jail. Walter Sinclair, Jim Sloan, Louis Miller, W. S. Bramel, J. W. Connor and John W. Meldrum, led by City Marshal N. K. Boswell, were soon in pursuit. It was thought that Wadkins would cross the Laramie river and it was the hope of the excited people left behind that "Old Bos." a dead shot in his prime of life, would get a shot at Jack as he crossed the stream. The hope was in vain and Wadkins was not seen again in this immediate vicinity.
A few days later Rogers was before Justice L. D. Pease, waived examination and was placed under a bond of $5000. He was subsequently tried and served a term in the penitentiary. The search for Wadkins was kept up for many days but without avail. The board of county commissioners, of which W. H. Holliday was at that time the chairman, offered a reward of $500 for the arrest of the desperado. Both John and Terrence Fee, then respected citizens of Albany county, took a hand in the man hunt having the additional incentive of avenging the dastardly attack made upon their brother.
A few days after the shooting two soldiers from Fort Sanders reported that they had seen Wadkins near the post the night before and that he went through Jabez Simpson's fence and toward the river, with the evident intention of crossing and going to his ranch, which was in the Laramie valley.
At various times thereafter it was rumored that Wadkins had been seen but there was nothing authentic about these rumors and they came to naught. So far as the people of this town were concerned he passed out of their lives forever. He has doubtless long since died. Wadkins was a man six feet tall, as straight as an Indian, steel blue eyes, light hair, very light mustache, no eye-brows. He never wore an overcoat but generally had thrown over his shoulders in the winter time a largo knitted scarf. It was his pleasure to come to town, fill up on tanglefoot and shoot out the lights of Tom Dillon's saloon, Peter Holt's store or some other place.
Larry Fee had a stiff knee thereafter, but it did not prevent him from being an excellent officer of the law. The close call did not detract in the slightest from his courage in the hour of danger. In the eighties he served for several years as city marshal, making an exceptionally competent official in that capacity.
Larry Fee will live in the memories of the pioneers as a true friend of the law and a citizen of unblemished character.
W. E. CHAPLIN
© Laramie Republican no. 95 December 01, 1920, page 2
Obituary and editorial located by Clint Black Loveland, CO, March 2014.
_________________________
LARRY FEE GATHERED TO HIS FATHERS IN THE STILLNESS OF THE PEACEFUL NIGHT.
_________________________
Lawrence ("Larry") Fee, one of the earlier settlers of this valley and city, and one of the best known citizens, died at the county hospital last night, a little before midnight, and the funeral will occur from the Catholic church at 9 o'clock. Thursday morning, with requiem mass by Father Hartman, the pastor of that church. Mr. Fee was never married, but leaves three brothers and three sisters, one brother, Terence Fee, being dead, and one sister, Mrs. M. H. Murphy. The two sisters living are Mrs. Dave Hickey of Ogden, who was here about a fortnight ago, and Mrs. Bridget Gallagher of Davenport, Ia. The brothers are Jack Fee and Dennis Fee, both of Mandel, and Philip Fee of Denver. They have all been notified. Mr. Fee came to this country from County Latram, Ireland, when he was about 2 years of age, and to Laramie when the town was very small. He was a deputy sheriff in 1878, where Watkins made a break for liberty from the county jail, severely wounding Mr. Fee and slightly wounding Jack Brophy, the sheriff. Mr. Fee carried the bullet until a few years ago, when it was extracted by Dr. Lane, having lain embedded in the flesh for many years. He did not fully recover the use of that limb.
Native of Ireland
Mr. Fee was born in County Latram, Ireland, January 16, 1846, and died November 16, 1920. His parents both died in this city and are buried here, the father attaining the venerable age of 90 years. Mr. Fee will be laid beside them and his brother and sister the Catholic section of the cemetery. He was one of the first members of the Catholic church when the parish was organized, first under Father Kassahn and later under Father Cummiskey, whose death occurred a few weeks ago. He owned what is now Fee's addition to Laramie, of which many houses have been built and which forms the Laramie terminus of the Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern railroad. The Midwest and Standard refineries occupy tracts adjoining the ranch. It was here that Mr. Fee did his first farming, marking the first farming in this valley, and at one time had the greater part of the ranch planted to potatoes. He won many prizes for the size and excellence of these potatoes, and thus was enabled to start the entering wedge in the possibility of agriculture in the Laramie valley. He brought willows from Davenport, Ia. and planted them on the ranch and in the valley, many of them still growing.
Was Deputy Marshal.
Mr. Fee at one time was deputy United States marshal for the district of Wyoming, and as such co-operated with the marshal and others in some of the most notable arrests of the earlier days. He was also deputy sheriff and city marshal, it being said of him that he was one of the best city officials Laramie ever had. He was brave, generous, honest, faithful and loving, and many's the man who could he remember at all, would recall time after time when Larry Fee seemed the only friend he had— a friend in need and indeed. He was a kindly soul, with a cheery word for all, and hardly a day passed The Republican office, when he could walk at all, that he did not stop to exchange the time o' day with those of us who are left to mourn his taking away and to recall his many expressions of friendship. Dennis and Jack Fee are in the city, the others having been told of his demise.
© Cheyenne Daily Sun Leader no. 45 November 08, 1895, page 4
____________________________________
A FAITHFUL OFFICIAL
Editor Republican:
The passing of "Larry" Fee, pioneer peace officer, respected citizen and fearless upholder of the law, calls to mind his early life in this community. Larry did much to promote the agricultural development of this valley. He proved that Bill Nye was wrong in his estimate of what the valley would produce and year after year raised a garden that was not excelled by truck gardeners anywhere, not even in Bill's home state of Wisconsin. But it was not in the cultivation of the soil that Larry made his greatest reputation. For years in the seventies he was deputy sheriff of Albany county and in the eighties he occupied the position of city marshal. He believed in the enforcement of the law, in equal and exact justice. From 1875 up to a few years before his death he carried in one knee joint a bullet fired from the deadly weapon of the notorious Jack Wadkins. After its removal he used it as a watch charm, a gruesome memento of a near tragedy.
May 24, 1875, was one of excitement in Laramie. A warrant had been issued for Dick Rogers and Jack Wadkins. They appeared at the court house for some purpose about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Deputy Sheriff Fee told Rogers that he was under arrest and commanded him to give up his weapons. Rogers jumped back, drew his revolver and attempted to shoot Fee, who grappled with him and grabbing the barrel of the revolver in his hand prevented its discharge. At that juncture Sheriff Brophy came into the room, passing Wadkins, who was near the door. Brophy, taking in the situation at a glance, started to the aid of his deputy as quick as a flash. Wadkins drew his revolver and fired at Brophy, the ball missing the hip bone and grazing the abdomen. Wadkins immediately fired at Fee, the ball passing through the fleshy portion of one leg and lodging in the knee of the other. It was a mighty close shave for Brophy. A half-inch closer would have given him a mortal wound. Wadkins rushed out of the court house, mounted his horse and fled from the town, passing north by the rolling mill. Larry Fee held on to his prisoner, Rogers, and he was placed in the county jail. Walter Sinclair, Jim Sloan, Louis Miller, W. S. Bramel, J. W. Connor and John W. Meldrum, led by City Marshal N. K. Boswell, were soon in pursuit. It was thought that Wadkins would cross the Laramie river and it was the hope of the excited people left behind that "Old Bos." a dead shot in his prime of life, would get a shot at Jack as he crossed the stream. The hope was in vain and Wadkins was not seen again in this immediate vicinity.
A few days later Rogers was before Justice L. D. Pease, waived examination and was placed under a bond of $5000. He was subsequently tried and served a term in the penitentiary. The search for Wadkins was kept up for many days but without avail. The board of county commissioners, of which W. H. Holliday was at that time the chairman, offered a reward of $500 for the arrest of the desperado. Both John and Terrence Fee, then respected citizens of Albany county, took a hand in the man hunt having the additional incentive of avenging the dastardly attack made upon their brother.
A few days after the shooting two soldiers from Fort Sanders reported that they had seen Wadkins near the post the night before and that he went through Jabez Simpson's fence and toward the river, with the evident intention of crossing and going to his ranch, which was in the Laramie valley.
At various times thereafter it was rumored that Wadkins had been seen but there was nothing authentic about these rumors and they came to naught. So far as the people of this town were concerned he passed out of their lives forever. He has doubtless long since died. Wadkins was a man six feet tall, as straight as an Indian, steel blue eyes, light hair, very light mustache, no eye-brows. He never wore an overcoat but generally had thrown over his shoulders in the winter time a largo knitted scarf. It was his pleasure to come to town, fill up on tanglefoot and shoot out the lights of Tom Dillon's saloon, Peter Holt's store or some other place.
Larry Fee had a stiff knee thereafter, but it did not prevent him from being an excellent officer of the law. The close call did not detract in the slightest from his courage in the hour of danger. In the eighties he served for several years as city marshal, making an exceptionally competent official in that capacity.
Larry Fee will live in the memories of the pioneers as a true friend of the law and a citizen of unblemished character.
W. E. CHAPLIN
© Laramie Republican no. 95 December 01, 1920, page 2
Obituary and editorial located by Clint Black Loveland, CO, March 2014.
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