Alfred Griner Packer American gold miner, accused of murder Date of Birth: 21.01.1842 Country: USA

1. Alfred Griner Packer: American Gold Prospector
2. Early Life and Military Service
3. The Ill-Fated Expedition
4. The Tragic Events
5. Legal Troubles and Imprisonment
6. Later Life and Death

Alfred Griner Packer: American Gold Prospector

Alfred Griner Packer, an American gold prospector, was initially accused of murder, but later the charges were changed to 'involuntary manslaughter'. Packer was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was one of three children of James Packer and Esther Griner. In the early 1850s, James moved the family to Lagrange County, Indiana, where he made a living as a cabinet maker.

Early Life and Military Service

On April 22, 1862, Alfred served in the infantry regiment of the Union Army but was discharged eight months later due to epilepsy. Upon returning home, Packer joined the cavalry, but was dismissed within a year for the same reason. Realizing his unsuitability for military service, Packer decided to try his luck in searching for precious metals.

The Ill-Fated Expedition

In November 1873, Alfred, along with a group of 21 people, set off to Breckenridge, Colorado. On January 21, 1874, Packer met a local Native American chief who advised him to postpone the expedition until spring due to the harsh winter conditions in the mountains. Ignoring the wise counsel, the gold prospectors left for Gunnison on February 9. The expedition included Shannon Wilson Bell, James Humphrey, Frank Miller, George Noon, and Israel Swan.

The Tragic Events

Soon it became clear that they should have listened to the Native American chief as the group became hopelessly lost, and snowslides cut them off from the outside world. The exact details of what happened next remain unclear, but according to the most recent version, Packer discovered Bell eating human flesh, and in a subsequent fight, Packer allegedly killed him in self-defense, only to find out that Bell had already killed the rest of the expedition members. Packer managed to reach Los Pinos, an Indian settlement near Gunnison, on April 16, 1874.

Legal Troubles and Imprisonment

Packer told the members of the previous party that he killed his companions solely to save his own life, but unfortunately, no one believed him. On August 5, 1874, Alfred signed a confession and was sent to prison in Saguache. However, he managed to escape quickly. It was not until March 11, 1883, that he was captured in Cheyenne, Wyoming, under the name 'John Schwartze'. On March 16, Alfred signed another confession, and on April 6, he appeared in court. Within a week, Packer was sentenced to death, but the sentence was overturned in October. On June 8, 1886, Alfred was again called to court and was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment. He was released on parole on February 8, 1901.

Later Life and Death

Alfred Griner Packer died at the age of 65 in Deer Creek, Jefferson County, Colorado. According to a widespread rumor, shortly before his death, Packer became a vegetarian. In 1994, an expedition of researchers examined the site of the tragedy, and the evidence found on the remains and belongings of the deceased indirectly confirmed Packer's version of Bell's homicidal madness - he was the only one shot, while the others were bludgeoned with an ax.