A Feast Along the Alferd Packer Trail
From Provo, Utah, to Denver, Colorado.
Categories: Renegade Roads
By: Johnny D. Boggs 03/01/2008
What’s a Saguache?
Packer told different stories about what had happened up in the mountains, and as more folks began to suspect him of murder, he wound up jailed in Saguache. The Saguache County Museum also tells the story of the Man-Eater, although I’m not sure that’s such a good idea when the museum opens each Memorial Day with a ... uh ... barbecue?
Eventually, Packer escaped. He wouldn’t return until he was captured in Wyoming nine years later and brought back to Colorado to stand trial. Area newspaper editors had fun with the story, making The New York Daily News envious of sensationalist phrases and headlines like “the Human Ghoul,” “A CANNIBAL’S CONFESSION” and “HUMAN JERKED BEEF.”
In April 1883, Packer stood trial in Lake City. The state argued Packer had murdered his five companions for profit and food. Packer’s defense attorney said he had killed only Bell, in self-defense, then pigged out to stay alive. The jury was charged on April 12 and returned a guilty verdict the following morning. Judge M.B. Gerry didn’t say, “Damn you, Alferd Packer! There were seven Dimmycrats in Hinsdale County and you ate five of them!” Nor did the judge say: “Packer, you depraved Republican son of a bitch! There were only five Democrats in Hinsdale County and you ate them all!” Gerry did call Packer “a poor, pitiable waif of humanity.” Gerry also sentenced Packer to hang.
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