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This week in Summit County history: District Attorney slays father in sister’s defense

Compiled by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance
This Week in History
Evelina Hedenskog of Frisco. The Hedenskog Family is one the oldest in Frisco's history. The oldest photograph of Evelina's father Christian Wilhelm Hedenskog in Frisco Historic Park & Museum's archives dates back to circa 1893. Evelina seems to be quite the adventurous woman. She has been photographed shooting, fishing, hiking, and exploring by friends and family.
Courtesy Frisco Historic Park & Museum |

This week in history as reported by the Summit County Journal 100 years ago, the week of June 20-24, 1916.

One of the saddest tragedies ever occurring in Summit County took place last Tuesday evening shortly before 9 o’clock, when Barney L. Whatley shot and killed his father, Martin Li Whatley, 61 years old.

The fatal shooting took place in the midst of a heated quarrel between the father and son over the mistreatment by the father of his daughter, Mrs. Amy Cornwall, toward whom he had used angry and threatening words, ending by ordering her to leave the home. The young attorney who was preparing to retire, hastened downstairs and remonstrated with his father over the treatment of the sister, which only increased the rage of the elder man. His temper completely mastering him, he threatened the lives of both and reached toward a shelf where a revolver usually rested. The movement aroused overwhelming fear in the son for the safety of his sister’s and his own life, and drawing a .32 caliber revolver, fired twice. Both bullets struck the chest, the first having little effect in dissuading him from his apparent purpose and as he continued his threatening action, the second shot was fired. The wounded man staggered out of the room and fell on the porch, dying almost instantly.



Auto breaks down and couple gets married

E.A. Theobald, proprietor of Theobald’s market, and Miss Cora Milne were married Sunday last at Fairplay. They left Breckenridge intending to go to Colorado Springs for the wedding ceremony, but their car got out of commission at Fairplay and while it was being repaired, they decided to save time and were married at Fairplay.



From Fairplay the newlyweds continued their journey to Colorado Springs and will go from there to other points in the state on their honeymoon trip. They are well known and esteemed in Breckenridge, where the bridegroom is a successful merchant and where the bride has been a teacher in the public school. Their return will be the signal for many hearty congratulations.

Roth buys the Jessie

George Roth who for some time has been developing the Jessie mine under option has purchased that property and a deed giving him complete title was recorded Tuesday. Energetic work has been under way at the Jessie for some time past. The mill has been entirely remodeled and equipped with the most modern of ore treating machinery and electric power is now being installed, completion of which will be announced in a short time. Motors and much other machinery is on the ground and other equipment is en route.

J.W. Garner and wife killed

Colorado Springs—J.W. Garner and his wife, pioneer and wealthy residents of Longmont, are dead, and their daughter, Mrs. Olve Hard, wife of Harley G. Hard, manager of the light and power company at Boulder, is not expected to live, the result of another grade crossing tragedy. The automobile in which they were riding was struck by Rock Island train No. 5, running over Denver & Rio Grande tracks, at Slaughter House crossing, three-quarters of a mile south of Colorado Springs.

Find Gray guilty of killing Neilsen

Fort Collins—Cornelius Gray, on trial in the District Court here on the charge of murder in connection with the killing of Nels Neilsen near here May 1, was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Gray pled guilty, but the court refused to accept the plea and ordered the case tried before a jury to determine the penalty.


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