THE CASE OF ALFRED PACKER The Man-Eater

Hardback. Alfred (Alferd - the author has misspelled the name) Packer was an American prospector who was accused of cannibalism. First tried for murder, Packer was eventually sentenced to 40yrs. in prison after being convicted of manslaughter. In November 1873, Packer was in a party of 21 men who left Provo, Utah heading for the Colorado gold country around Breckenridge. On January 21, 1874 he met Chief Ouray, known as the 'White Man's Friend', near Montrose, Colorado. The Chief recommended they postpone their expedition until spring, as they were likely to encounter dangerous winter weather in the mountains. Ignoring Chief Ouray's advice, Packer and 5 others left for Gunnison, Colorado on February 9. Besides Packer, the group included Shannon Wilson Bell, James Humphreys, Israel Swann, George Noon and Frank Miller. The party became hopelessly lost and ran out of provisions. They were snowbound in the Rocky Mountains. Packer made 3 confessions which differed considerably about what occurred. In the last, Packer claimed he went scouting and came back to find Bell roasting human flesh. Bell rushed him with a hatchet so Packer shot and killed him in self-defence. Packer insisted Bell had gone mad and murdered all the others. On April 16, 1874 Packer arrived alone at Los Pinos Indian Agency near Gunnison. He claimed self-defence, but his story was not believed. Map Eps, Illus., Appendices, Bibliog., Notes and References. 157pp. small 8vo. h/back. From the library of true-crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. Slanted sp. Vg. no dw.