Posted on 04/19/2011 6:01:33 AM PDT by Utah Binger
The Kane County murder got national attention in 1954. The Geiger Counter Murder was a featured article in Time and Crime magazines in May of 1954, as well as in numerous other publications throughout the country.
Commercial grade uranium had been discovered 10 miles east of town uranium fever mounted! Over 1200 mining claims were filed on land near the area.
One Leroy Wilson, an excommunicated Mormon (for defending polygamy, and being the leader of a strange band of men and women), was found dead. Six .45 caliber slugs had been shot into Wilsons head and back. He had been dry-gulched, a reference to men shot in the pursuit of the latest important metal.
Claim jumper Wilson had history to exemplify that he was a force to be reckoned with. With his large six-foot-three height and 240-pound body, he was known for being loud-voiced and belligerent. Prior to his death, he had been considered as the absolute authority over a Bull Valley settlement in the mountains near Veyo, west of Kanab.
Upon learning of a uranium strike, he and some followers moved to Kanab hotels to investigate. Wilson filed claims. Most other prospectors assumed that hed develop or sell his property. But Wilson went after more claims, since he was educated and had good knowledge of mining laws. He bluffed some prospectors out of their claims, or simply jumped others.
Enter Tom Holland, a jovial farmer from Beryl, who came in a house trailer with a loosely-arranged agreement to work Wilsons claims. The partners immediately had issues with each other...many of them.
But then a stranger appeared at the Kane County Recorders office. In one hand he held a chunk of ore, in the other hand a Geiger Counter...
Oddly enough, my daughter gave us the first five seasons on DVD for our anniversary. Seasons 6-9 have not been released yet. I did not know that they were still being aired. Don’t you have a DVR, yet?
With four grandsons? LOL They think I'm pretty old fashioned too. We have Dish Network out here in the middle of nowhere. It plays on KBYU every night at 10:30.
We just entertained the producer of NBC Sports for the last four days. His first order of the day: "Turn off the TV! Pour me that Cabernet and lets talk about my brother Al who plays golf with Rush".
Out in western Nebraska, the stories were legendary. Not to mention the war between the ranchers and the farmers.
I will mention it to my Husband.
I’m looking at 1.2” of weather that has appeared in the last 12 hours.
At least I won’t have to mow until it recedes.
Hey Bing!
You’ve pretty grass in front of the studio. I assume you irrigate it?
Here's the view OF the deck:
NOW you’ve done it!
WE ain't bashful!
Whatya got to eat??
I was camping in the Temple Mountain area a few years ago when contractors for the State were sealing up old uranium mine entrances and covering the job with a stucco like material colored by the local rocks. Perhaps I'll get to see the finished product someday.
Normally I smoke it.
Not like west Texas is doing, I hope!
Come to the picnic on July 23.
We have quite a history here in this region as well.
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