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Geiger Counter Murder - cold case or hot case?
Southern Utah News ^ | 04/13/2011 | Dixie Brunner

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 Wilson’s 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 he’d 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 Wilson’s claims. The partners immediately had issues with each other...many of them.

But then a stranger appeared at the Kane County Recorder’s office. In one hand he held a chunk of ore, in the other hand a Geiger Counter...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Utah
KEYWORDS: mining; murder; uranium
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To: Utah Binger

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?


21 posted on 04/19/2011 7:35:00 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Somewhere in Kenya a village is missing its idiot)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
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".

22 posted on 04/19/2011 7:51:38 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the Inman FReepers Meet July 23 Pray Jim Rob Can Make It)
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To: Utah Binger

Out in western Nebraska, the stories were legendary. Not to mention the war between the ranchers and the farmers.


23 posted on 04/19/2011 9:51:44 AM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: Utah Binger

I will mention it to my Husband.


24 posted on 04/19/2011 11:09:25 AM PDT by seoul62
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To: Utah Binger

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.


25 posted on 04/19/2011 11:44:52 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Utah Binger

Hey Bing!

You’ve pretty grass in front of the studio. I assume you irrigate it?


26 posted on 04/19/2011 11:45:37 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Utah Binger; seoul62
That is the view from my deck where I am sitting right now.

Here's the view OF the deck:


27 posted on 04/19/2011 11:48:16 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Utah Binger

NOW you’ve done it!


28 posted on 04/19/2011 11:49:59 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
I was thinking of the "The Case of the Bashful Burro", but it's about gold.

WE ain't bashful!

Whatya got to eat??


29 posted on 04/19/2011 11:52:17 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Utah Binger
Commercial grade uranium had been discovered 10 miles east of town – uranium fever mounted!

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.

30 posted on 04/19/2011 11:59:45 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie
You’ve pretty grass in front of the studio. I assume you irrigate it?

Normally I smoke it.

31 posted on 04/19/2011 3:37:31 PM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the Inman FReepers Meet July 23 Pray Jim Rob Can Make It)
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To: Utah Binger

Not like west Texas is doing, I hope!


32 posted on 04/19/2011 5:11:27 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie
How do you trim YOUR hedges?


33 posted on 04/20/2011 5:05:31 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Utah Binger
Gorgeous! Chuck U Schumer thinks people only go to NYC to see America. Well we have met people from all over the world, and all over USA, and many of them come to Texas, too. They think they will find the wild west, cowboys, everyone riding horses, etc. LOL When we lived in San Marino Calif in the late 1980s I remember people taking family vacations to the western states and Texas to go to a real working Dude Ranch for a week. I think Texas and the Western USA attract a lot of tourists. You have great skiing too!
34 posted on 04/21/2011 1:05:13 PM PDT by buffyt (Abortion is the ultimate CHILD ABUSE!)
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To: buffyt

Come to the picnic on July 23.

We have quite a history here in this region as well.


35 posted on 04/21/2011 3:54:24 PM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the Inman FReepers Meet July 23 Pray Jim Rob Can Make It)
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