Carl F. Mathews, in a Montgomery (Colorado) Cemetery in 1945.
Unsolved crimes of the Pikes Peak region
By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com
Some of my favorite source material, is from the crazy, mixed-up Colorado Springs Bureau of Identification files of superintendent Carl F. Mathews. The local historian dedicated his life to the gathering and study of Colorado historical material. His hundreds of papers, read to many historical societies around the state, reflect his painstaking research, his boundless patience, his astounding knowledge, and his accurate writing prowess.
I am particularly fond of his documentation of early unsolved murder cases in Colorado Springs Police history.
"Carl F. Mathews was born July 27, 1885 in Elbert County, Colorado. He began work with the Colorado Springs Police Department on May 21, 1913. An early pioneer in finger printing, Mathews became the head of the police identification bureau on July 1, 1920. He went on to serve the Colorado Springs community for 32 more years in that capacity until his retirement in 1952. Described as white-haired, quiet, and friendly, Mathews spent more than 30 years collecting facts and photos of early Colorado and the Native American tribes who lived there," according to information from the Pikes Peak Library District.
"He specialized in pictures of railroads in early Colorado and scenes in and about Colorado Springs. His railroad shots include the famed Georgetown Loop, the line between Cripple Creek and Florence, the Clear Creek Canyon routes, and of early travel across La Veta Pass. Mathews died April 14, 1968."
Closed wagon drawn by two horses with "Colorado Springs" written on side, identified on back as an ambulance, parked in front of large brick and stone building. Man wearing uniform and badge stands alongside wagon. Colorado Springs, 1901
Two interesting accounts, more than 60 years apart, reflect the changing times experienced by Mathews during his long police career, and of the treatment of unsolved murders in the Pikes Peak area, follow:
Mysterious Death at Eastonville
"On Friday evening, Oct. 28, 1898, the Knights of Pythias were giving a dance at Eastonville, a small community about 25 miles northeast of Colorado Springs. During the evening there was some disturbance between Victor Tipton and Ralph Fleenor, Tipton being the aggressor. After the dance was closed, the trouble continued at the foot of the stairs; after fighting at the foot of the stairs the crowd surged to the north side and the fight renewed, where it was said that blood could be seen in the road the next morning. Tipton, in an intoxicated state, was taken to the shoe shop of Mr. Garity, where he was placed on the floor. On Saturday morning his body was found, evidence showing that he must have died shortly after being placed there. The coroner was summoned from Colorado Springs and he called in Dr. Ridlon of Elbert to assist in the autopsy, the verdict rendered being that he died of "Alcoholism of the Heart," a singular verdict. This author was told by an eye-witness many years ago that Tipton was struck on the head with a beer bottle by someone in the crowd, evidently causing a skull fracture: Why did Dr. Ridlon miss this? Tipton was twenty years of age, large and a bully especially when drunk. The general opinion was that his death was a blessing in some ways, as he might have killed someone during his drunken rages.
Bud Mullaney, Ralph and Roy Fleenor were arrested and placed on trial at Colorado Springs about Jan. 25, 1899, And after the introduction of the testimony, District Attorney McAllister arose and asked the court to instruct the jury to return a verdict of "Not Guilty." Judge Harris at once instructed the jury and it only took the twelve men five minutes to decide the prisoners were not guilty," wrote Mathews, of the case.
Businessman murdered at his bedside
"On Sept. 30, 1960, police were contacted by Thomas Parish, of 2203 Winton Road, who said he had called his brother in law's home, 2122 North Tejon Street, and had failed to get an answer, becoming alarmed when he saw the man's car parked near the house.
Officer John H. Gaspar went to the house and found James J. Gaughan, Jr., the owner, shot to death in the north bedroom of the home. This was about noon. Gaughan had been shot in the back of the head while kneeling, apparently in prayer, as he had a rosary in his hand, the cross detached and lying of the floor. Gaughan was clad in shorts, under shirt and terry cloth bathrobe. The portable bed lamp was burning in the bedroom and the three windows were closed, two of them not locked and the screen on the third also unlocked; the windows drapes all pulled shut.
Dr. Raoul W. Urich, deputy coroner, was soon present, with his assistant Clarence West. He ordered the body to be sent to the Nolan Funeral Home and scheduled an autopsy, which confirmed that Gaughan had died sometime between midnight, Tuesday, and 2 a.m. Wednesday morning. On Oct. 4, District Attorney Rector said an inquest would be of little value at that date. A theory of possible suicide was quickly changed to that of homicide when it was discovered that Gaughan had been shot in the back of the head: Dr. Urich stating that it was impossible for the dead man to have shot himself due to the position of the would and additional would on the side of the head had been caused by a blow from a hard object.
Gaughan lived alone in the house, having been divorced from his wife in the previous January. He was employed as a salesman of grocery items for V.H. Monette & Company, traveling out of Colorado Springs about three weeks out of four, his wares being items sold in Army, Air Force and other service PXs. His route covered five steps and police wanted to know as much as possible about his his activities on the road , where he stayed, who his associates were, etc. Who could have killed him? Could it have been a jealous lover, or an irate husband? Police found no evidence that he was interested in any other woman or other persons, except the family he had lost," wrote Mathews.
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