When the sentence was pronounced the judge requested all
visitors to remain seated until after the prisoner had been removed,
which showed that he was a little afraid of trouble, and knew the
bitter feeling against the horse thief in the town. Several girls and
young officers from the post were outside in an ambulance, and they
commenced to cheer when told of the sentence, but the judge hurried a
messenger out to them with a request that they make no demonstration
whatever. He is a fearless and just judge, and it is a wonder that
desperadoes have not killed him long ago.
Perhaps now I can have a little rest from the terrible fear that has
been ever with me day and night during the whole winter, that Oliver
would escape from the old jail and carry out his threat of double
murder. He had made his escape once, and I feared that he might get
out again. But that post and chain must have been very securely fixed
down in that cellar.
FORT LYON, COLORADO TERRITORY,
June, 1874.
BY this time you have my letter telling you that the regiment has been
ordered to the Department of the Gulf. Since then we have heard that
it is to go directly to Holly Springs, Mississippi, for the summer,
where a large camp is to be established.
