TRAGEDY ON THE GREENHORN -- SHOOTING OF ALEXANDER AND THOMAS HICKLIN.
Our community was thrown into a state of considerable excitement on Saturday on account of one of those unfortunate tragedies which so often occur in this region growing out of disputed land grants.
About noon on the day above mentioned Mr. Dick Randall, special constable, arrived in the city bringing Justice R. L. Phillips, of the Greenhorn, who placed himself in Mr. Randall's custody to answer to the charge of shooting Alexander and Thomas Hicklin, sons of the late Zan [Alexander] Hicklin.
Our reporter called at the jail and interviewed Squire Phillips, who said that he lives on what is known as the "Nigger Bob" place, on the Greenhorn, just opposite Mr. Calvin Goss' ranch. The place was claimed up to two years ago by Mr. H. F. Schenck, whose right to it Squire Phillips purchased. The land is included within the limits of the Hicklin grant, to which no title has yet been issued by the government authorities. Squire Phillips settled on the place last year, when the two Hicklin's accompanied by a cousin of theirs came almost everyday and threatened him. He left his furniture in the house, becoming frightened, and went to live with a friend of his named Marshall, who resides at the mouth of the Graneros, a short distance off. The Hicklin boys came and carried off all the hay from the place. After that Squire Phillips rented a portion of the house to the school board, still leaving his furniture in one of the rooms. After school closed Alexander Hicklin and his wife took possession of the house and lived in it for a short time, two or three weeks, and then left. Phillips gave a friend of his, a Mr. Carpenter, leave to occupy the house, and after Mr. Carpenter went there the Hicklin boys would come every day or two and order him off. After Mr. Carpenter left he locked up the house and Alexander Hicklin broke in a window, went inside and nailed up the doors. About three weeks ago Squire Phillips took possession of the place himself. On Friday the Hicklins sent Mr. Ghastaine to cut the hay on the place on shares. Squire Phillips declared his intention to have one half of the hay, when Thomas Hicklin struck him on the side of the head, knocking him down and otherwise abusing him until Mr Chastaine talked to him and made him ashamed for striking an old man who is an invalid. After this difficulty Squire Phillips warned the Hicklins not to come back to the ranch again.
On Saturday morning they returned, shortly after sunrise, and commenced loading up the hay. Squire Phillips came from the hosue with a double-barrel shotgun, saying to the Hicklins, "I told you not to come here again," and fired both barrels at them.
Mr. Dick Randall, who was present when the shooting occurred, says that Alexander Hicklin stood within fifteen or twenty-five feet of Squire Phillips and received one of the charges, supposed to be buckshot, in his stomach and bowels. Thomas Hicklin turned to run and received several balls in his side and arm and one in the back of his head. When Mr. Randall left Alexander was able to talk and asked for his wife, but Thomas was speechless and apparently dead. We have since learned that Alexander is dead and Thomas can not recover.
Squire Phillips, who is a justice of the peace of his precinct, immediately after the shooting appointed Mr. Dick Randall a special constable, gave himself up, and came to the city. Squire Phillips is a man between forty-five and fifty years of age, very gray and a confirmed invalid from consumption and heart disease. During our reporter's conversation with him yesterday he was obliged to pause frequently to catch his breath. He is a native of Vermont, and has been in Colorado about four years. He was a captain in the army during the war, a very peaceable quiet citizen and much respected by his neighbors.
A gentlemen who left the scene of the tragedy a short time after it occurred, gives a heart-rending account of the scene. The boys were lying on the hillside where the tragedy occurred, Alexander Hicklin's young wife mourning over the dead body of her husband and Mrs. Hicklin, the mother of the boys, distracted with grief trying to render some aid to Thomas, who was at that time insensible. Thomas' recovery is said to be impossible.
The unfortunate affair has cast a gloom over the entire neighborhood, and both parties have the sympathy of many friends. We have stated the facts just as we obtained them, and have no desire to favor or screen anyone connected with the affair.
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But there's also another version of events, from the Chieftain, 3 Oct 1876:
THE GREENHORN MURDER -- ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE AFFAIR.
County Commissioner John Williams gives us the following account of the late shooting affray on the Greenhorn, which differs considerably from that given by R. L. Phillips, who is now confined in jail charged with murder and assault with intent to kill:
On Friday, the day previous to the shooting, Phillips and the Hicklin boys met on the disputed land. Phillips called Alexander Hicklin a liar and a thief, and accused him of stealing the hay from the place last year. Alexander told Phillips that he was an old man and an invalid, and he couldn't say enough to make him (Alex) strike him. Phillips then turned to Thomas Hicklin, called him a liar and made use of abusive language. Thomas Hicklin then struck Phillips on the side of his head with his open hand. Tom then went away and Alexander asked Phillips how he proposed to settle the hay question. Phillips said, strictly according to the law. Alexander said, "All right. We'll stack the hay and then go to the law, and whoever owns the hay shall have it." On the next morning the Hicklins hitched up their team and went down to haul and stack the hay. Phillips came on the ground about the same time with a party for the same purpose. They drove up in front of Hicklins' team and stopped. Phillips jumped off the wagon and stepping up to Alexander Hicklin said, "I have told you often enough to keep off this place and leave it." He then shot Alexander Hicklin and killed him. Thomas Hicklin was on the other side of the wagon and started to run away, when Phillips shot him. Thomas Hicklin had no arms with him. The evidence goes to show that the latter was forty or fifty yards away from Phillips when the shooting took place. After examination before Justice Dunbaugh, Phillips was committed.
Judge Riddlebarger informs us that Thomas Hicklin became conscious yesterday and is slowly improving. The first question the wounded man asked was to the whereabouts of his brother.
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Colorado Daily Chieftain, 19 Dec 1878:
The trial of R. L. Phillips for the murder of Alexander Hicklin and wounding Thomas Hicklin is set for this morning in the district court. Col. John Hicklin and Thomas Hicklin came up from the Greenhorn last night to be present at the trial.
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Colorado Daily Chieftain, 9 Jan 1879:
Victor Nunez was convicted of murder in the first degree, in the district court on Tuesday last, and on Thursday Judge Henry pronounced sentence of death upon him.
On Thursday afternoon Nunez was brought into court, accompanied by R. L. Phillips, found guilty of manslaughter, having shot Alexander Hicklin, and another individual who had been convicted of attempted rape. The prisoners were escorted into court by Under-Sheriff Smyth and Deputy Sheriffs Studzinski and Craig. Neither Nunez nor Phillips seemed to be at all concerned, but the rape man's eyes seemed to stick out of his head about an inch. [But no details are given about Phillips's sentence!]
