By GARY WEBB
Original story by JIM BAUM
COLORADO CITY ­ W. P. Patterson, a local citizen, rancher, and candidate for local sheriff, died during the early hours of May 17, 1882 from gunshot wounds.

It seems that Patterson was a bit of a drinker, and when doing so, tended to loose respect for the city of Colorado, and it's lawmen. The town was currently without a sheriff, so rangers were keeping the peace until elections could be held. In early May, Patterson had been arrested several times for being drunk and disorderly, and each time had been handcuffed to a tree, where local residents scoffed at the man. The town didn't have a jail or courthouse at the time, so this is the best the lawmen could do for detaining the prisoner.

On this evening, the night of May 16, Patterson and his good friend Ab Adair had been drinking, and began to shoot up the town. Rangers rounded the corner of First and Elm, near the Nip and Tuck Saloon. They were - Jeff Milton, J. M. Sedberry, and a newcomer to the rangers, L. B. Wells. Confronting Patterson for the third time that week, Patterson was told that he would have to check his weapon. To this, Patterson replied, "Damb you, you'll have to examine someone else's pistol." With that, two of the rangers grabbed Patterson, but he was able to break free, and in doing so drew his gun. Patterson shot first, firing at Sedberry, but only grazed the ranger. Milton returned fire and Patterson dropped. Then Wells, the rookie ranger stepped in and shot Patterson a second time, while he was on the ground. When word spread of the second shooting, a mob insued, and before long they were calling for the apprehension of the rangers. John Good, the son-in-law of Ab Adair began to insite the crowd, calling for the hanging of Sedberry, whom Patterson had shot at first. With the courage only a ranger could have, Sedberry walked into the Nip and Tuck Saloon with his winchester in hand, and soon John Good was singing a different toon.
Later in the evening, the rangers surrendered to candidate for sheriff -Ware, but were allowed to keep their guns, as a mob atmosphere was still present. A hearing commensed two days later, and the mob demanded that the rangers be stripped of their weapons. Milton declared that he intended to keep his gun, and a riot practically began. A man identified as Justice Smith, who was infact a livery stable owner, was brought in to hear the case. The rangers finally agreed to give up their guns, but only if their backs were against the wall, and only if each of the men had another man stand in front of them to the right, with a gun mounted on their left hip. So in fact they were unarmed but within reac of a weapon.
The attorneys for the rangers defense were R. H. Looney, and C. G. McGinnis. Judge Smith soon made it clear that the three were not in good standing with the law, and ordered that they be held without bond. Milton exploded and said "Hell, I'm not going to jail." Smith quickly reconsidered and set the bond at $1,500 each. Bonds were put up and a change of venue set for the trial to commense in Buffalo Gap, which had jurisdiction of the area at the time.
However, the three rangers were never tried, as the chief witness was found dead in an alley in Abilene - the murder never solved.
A veteran ranger was asked to examine the situation in Colorado City, and concluded that hostilities wouldn't continue between the ranchers and rangers, as the rangers were never supposed to take up a feud. He saw no future threat to the area because of the past events.
Patterson was laid to rest in the Mitchell County Cemetery.