"Attempted Robbery" of Soapy Smith, 1887

ATTEMPTED ROBBERY
of Soapy Smith
Rocky Mountain News
June 7, 1887
(article transcribed below)

(Click image to enlarge)

asting no time in preliminaries, one of the men walked up to Jeff and struck him between the eyes, knocking him down."

      On the morning of June 6, 1887 three thugs tried to rob Soapy Smith as we walked along on Seventeenth Street, Denver, Colorado. The following was published in the Rocky Mountain News, June 7, 1887.

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ATTEMPTED ROBBERY.

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Three Imported Thugs Fail in Their Attempt to “Lift a Roll.”

Yesterday morning as Jeff Smith was on Seventeenth Street, three tough citizens, said to have just arrived here from Buffalo, N.Y. notice that he had a roll of money. Wasting no time in preliminaries, one of the men walked up to Jeff and struck him between the eyes, knocking him down. As he fell he grabbed his assailant and pulled him down. While the men were struggling on the ground the other two hold-ups attempted to secure Mr. Smith’s roll, but officer Sullivan put in an appearance about that time and they ran away. As the officer knew nothing about the origin of the fuss he arrested both men and took them to the police station, where as soon as the facts were learned Mr. Smith was discharged.

The charge of disturbance was placed against the man who will be tried in the police court this morning. Afterwards, it is understood he will have to answer before justice of the peace for assault to rob, as Jeff will swear out a warrant for his arrest on that charge.

The captured thug who gave his name as John Doe is said to be the leader of as tough a mob as ever came to Denver. Their attempt at robbery in broad daylight is a proof of this assertion. The two who escaped were searched for yesterday and last night, but managed to keep themselves secreted. The city is much safer with them behind the bars.

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The final outcome of the incident is unknown at this time, but the three men should consider themselves fortunate if they got out of Denver in one piece.

"Win if you can, lose is you must, but ALWAYS cheat!"

—Jesse Ventura

APRIL 16

1818: The Senate ratifies the Rush-Bagot bill for an unarmed U.S.-Canadian border.

1862: Confederate President Jefferson Davis approves a conscription act for white males between 18 and 35.

1862: Slavery is abolished in the District of Columbia.

1876: The Red Canyon Massacre (Metz Massacre) occurs in Wyoming on the Cheyenne-Black Hills Road, where Charles Metz, his wife, their cook Rachel Briggs, and a teamster named Simpson were brutally murdered. Arrows were shot into the bodies to make it appear that Indians had kill the group. It was believed that the murder was actually the work of William F. “Persimmon Bill” Chambers, known as the “Scourge of the Black Hills Trail.”

1877: Emile Berliner invents the microphone.

1881: The “Battle of the Plaza” takes place in Dodge City, Kansas when Bat Masterson arrives after receiving word that his brother Jim is being threatened by his saloon partner, Al Updegraff, and bartender, A. J. Peacock. As Bat exits the train he confronts both men and a gun battle erupts. Al Updegraff is wounded and Masterson is arrested. As numerous others had joined in the shooting, it could not be determined who had shot Updegraff. By nightfall, Jim sold his interests in the saloon and the Masterson brothers left Dodge for Colorado. It is probably in Denver at this time that Bat meets and becomes a life-long friend of bad man “Soapy” Smith.

1882: John Allen shoots and kills Cockeyed Frank Loving in Trinidad, Colorado. The fight starts at the Imperial saloon and ends outside of Hammond’s Hardware Store.

1884: Trick-shooter, Annie Oakley is billed as a “markswoman” in Columbus, Ohio while touring with the Sells Brothers Circus.

1884: New York resident James Merrick is swindled in a poker game by the Charles “Doc” Baggs confidence gang in Denver, Colorado. Baggs is the predecessor of Soapy Smith’s reign in Denver.

1900: The first book of postage two-cent stamps is issued.