July 4, 1883 was a tragic day of unprecedented magnitude in the history of Grand County. The booming mine town of Grand Lake had managed to move the county seat from Hot Sulphur Springs a year earlier and there was growing animosity between the “lake” and “springs” residents.
On that fateful day, County Commissioners Barney Day and Edward P. Weber, supporters of the Grand lake move, had breakfasted with County Clerk Thomas J. Dean. As the three left the hotel beside the lake, they were ambushed by four masked men. After the smoke cleared, it was determined that the perpetrators were John Mills (the 3rd County Commissioner), Sheriff Charles Royer, Undersheriff William Redman and his brother, Mann.
The three officials were instantly killed or or died of wounds from the attack: but one fired back back, killing one of the masked assailants, who later turned out to be Commissioner Mills. The other three escaped.
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