96 Years Ago
The January 9, 1930 Colorado Transcript announced a $50 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a gang of chicken thieves.
Many people–both town and country–kept a flock of chickens at this time. They were a source of meat (occasionally), eggs (often), and cash.
Chicken thievery was a fairly common problem. Hobos might steal one or two chickens for immediate consumption, or concerted thieves might steal an entire flock to be sold in a different market. Such losses were a significant financial blow to a family. In 1909, two barns in adjacent yards in Golden were burned to the ground to provide a diversion for thieves, who got away with 68 chickens.
The law took chicken theft seriously, and when the thieves were caught, they often served time in either the county jail or the state penitentiary.
- When the bevy of chicken thieves was arrested last spring…two of them were sentenced to a term in the penitentiary.
Colorado Transcript, July 29, 1885 - Chicken thieves are again getting in their work in Golden, Mrs. Searles’ coop having been robbed of a number of fine spring “frys” Monday night.
Colorado Transcript, July 15, 1909 - Chicken thieves are getting in their work in Golden, especially along Ford street, where a number of choice broods of young chickens have been taken
Colorado Transcript, July 9, 1910 - Chicken thieves are again operating in Jefferson county, A. Hopper on the Middle Golden road being the latest victim. Monday night nearly a hundred of his flock of blooded Plymouth Rocks were stolen, entailing a loss of about $200.
Colorado Transcript, July 14, 1923 - With the arrest of Henry Crutts and Frank McCouch, it is believed that an organized gang of chicken thieves which has been operating in Jefferson and other counties has been broken up….They admitted their guilt in this case and also stated that they had stolen at least two thousand dollars worth of poultry in Jefferson County in recent months.
Colorado Transcript, September 11, 1924 - 90 Days for Chicken Thieves
Glenn A. Burd and Francis A. Brown were given 90 days in the county jail by District Judge S. A. Johnson for stealing chickens worth $21.
Colorado Transcript, September 12, 1929
In 1922, a local farmer saw a man stealing his chickens. He warned him, then shot and killed him. The farmer was tried for murder, but the jury acquitted him after ten minutes of deliberation. They had no sympathy for chicken thieves.
