Steamboat Pilot & Today

75 years ago

From the May 6, 1932, edition of The Steamboat Pilot.

Finding human skeleton indicates murder mystery

A human skeleton with portions of dried skin still adhering to the bones was found Sunday afternoon by Charles Riester when he was driving cattle in the pasture southeast of his home. He followed a heifer which had run into a clump of choke-cherry and service berry trees, and his horse was almost upon the form before Mr. Riester saw it. The exact site is about a quarter of a mile from the airport on Marble Hill and near the Elk River Road. The figure was lying on the slope of the hill near the edge of the shrubbery.

The skeleton was removed to the mortuary by Coroner AW Heyer with the assistance of Under Sheriff Myron Donald.

Not a remnant of clothing was found in the vicinity where the skeleton was found, and later investigation led only to the discovery of several missing teeth. The form has been identified as that of a man of about six feet in height, comparatively young, judging from the near perfect remaining teeth. The shape of the hands and feet indicate a person who had been well-groomed.

Several men came from Meeker Tuesday to view the form with the idea that it might have been Lester Burns who disappeared very mysteriously from that section last fall and for whom a diligent search has been made.

That the body was not that of Lester Burns was positively proven by the officials who made an examination on Tuesday because the teeth of the missing man were not similar to those of the skeleton. Dr. Duane Turner, county physician, and Coroner AW Heyer from persons seeking missing relatives, but so far none of the descriptions tally with the body found near Steamboat Springs.

There is no doubt in the minds of officials that the body had been placed in the vicinity where it was found, and that there was foul play connected with the circumstances. Complete measurements and descriptions of the skeleton will be kept on record for future reference as there will no doubt be many inquiries by investigators who are looking for clues of identification of missing persons.

Frank M. Light sells

clothing business to sons

Pioneer clothier will retire from mercantile firm and devote his time to Silver Fox Farm and Great Dane Kennels.

On May 1, 1932, Frank M. Light sold his entire right and interest to his three sons, Clarence W. Light, Olin F. Light, and Emerson D. Light, together with his best wishes and good will and the right and title to the firm name of F. M. Light & Sons.

F. M. Light is very grateful to the people of Northwestern Colorado and Steamboat Springs, Wyoming and Utah, and all points where the firm of F.M. Light & Sons have operated their mail order business with increasing success.

F.M. Light retains his home in Steamboat Springs, where he and R. Wayne Light will operate the Tanana Silver Fox Farm, the Tanana Great Dane Kennels and Lights Fur Exchange. Mr. Light and Wayne intend to develop these lines into much greater prominence.

F.M. Light wishes the boys in the clothing business the greatest possible success.

Craig natural gas lines

are being built

The Rocky Mountain Gas Company, subsidiary of the Ohio Oil Company, has made application for construction of pipelines and mains to supply residents of Crag with natural gas. The gas franchise granted to the Ohio Oil Company by Craig last year gas been assigned to the Rocky Mountain Gas Company which will own and operate the Craig lines, under control of the Ohio company.

Work on the pipeline has already started under supervision of H.O. Kapp. All property owners are being interviewed for installing the gas service. The company will put meters in the basements of all buildings where the property owner consents, without extra expense if put in while the mains are being constructed.