Back in Time: Aspen

“Marshal Sutton arrested two suspicious looking characters, who were trying to force an opening into Staats, Hunt & Co.’s Mill Street store, about 1 o’clock this morning,” announced the Aspen Daily Times on March 28, 1889.

“One proved to be Jack Kelley, a man who has been in Aspen about one month, 26 days of which he has spent in jail. The other was a broad-shouldered, stoutly-built fellow, who refused to give his name. When the marshal started to take the man to the cooler, Kelley’s partner said to him, ‘pard, I guess you want somebody else to help you take me to the lock-up.’ Suiting his action to the word he hauled off and hit Andy behind the ear with his fist. The officer drew a .45 caliber gun, and knocked his opponent down with it; by which time Kelley had started to run away. The marshal then drew another gun, and holding one pistol in each hand, forced both of the men to accompany him to the calaboose where he locked them up. Kelley is the man whom Marshal Sutton arrested about two weeks ago when he was trying to pick a man’s pocket in Denny & Gavin’s saloon. Both men are hard characters.”

“Back in Time” is contributed by Aspen Historical Society and features excerpted articles and images from past Snowmass Sun/Aspen Times issues. We can’t rewrite history, but we can learn from it! Visit archiveaspen.org to view the vast Aspen Times photographic collection in the AHS Archives.

Aspen Historical Society actively preserves and passionately presents local history in an inspired and provocative manner that will continue to anchor the local community and its evolving character. For more, visit aspenhistory.org.