Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-08-23 | Page 16 | Rancher Slain; Trapper is Held

RANCHER SLAIN; TRSPPERIS HELD Lander Johnson Believed to Have Been Killed in Quarrel Over Wages. Special to iXiie Tribune. ROCK SPRINGS, Wye, Aug. 22. Lander Johnson, a wealthy sheep rancher and partner of Frank Yates, was shot and killed yesterday at his homo near Elkhorn, Wyo. The only witness to the shooting was Andre Croig, a herder employed by Johnson. William McKinley, a trapper, emplo3'ed as a herder for the Johnson-Yates outfit, out-fit, is being held for the crime, after being captured by the Freeman county sheriff and posse. According to the story told by Croig to the sheriff of Sweetwater county, an altercation arose between Johnson and William McKinle3' over the wages which McKinley alleged was due him for his labor. McKinley quit work on Tuesday, and on Wednesday he demanded his wages, Croig said. Johnson refused to pay him, insisting that he remain at work until someone could be found to take his place. McKinley then made the threat, Croig said, that, unless his money was forthcoming at once, he would kill Johnson. Still Johnson held out that he would not make the payment at that time, and McKinley went to his own camp, which was a short distance away. A few minutes later Johnson was shot, and Croig alleges that he saw McKinley McKin-ley kneeling, with his rifle aimed in the direction of the Johnson camp. The rifle bullet struck the slain man in the side and he dropped to the ground, dying almost instantly, it is said. Officers were notified, but were unable to locate McKinley. Reports from neighboring ranchers were to the effect that he had been seen riding down toward Smith's pass, which leads into Lander, Wyo. Officers in Lander formed a posse to hunt the hills for the fugitive, who was soon captured.