Duane C. Hatch, in 1875 was a fifteen-year-old orphan. He traveled to the Wyoming Territory, where he was befriended by and older man going by the name of John Swartze. The two worked together as cowhands for several years, but later drifted apart. The older man served as a surrogate father to the young lonely orphan. Later, through newspaper articles, Hatch discovered that "Swartze" was none other than the infamous Alfred Packer, 'the American cannibal'. From that point on, Hatch would dedicate himself tirelessly to winning Packer's release from prison. Duane Hatch would die at an early age from tuberculosis.
Note: On the 1900 census, Duane Hatch is living in Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado with his wife, Emelia and children Lola and Duane F. His in-laws, D.H. Shipperson and Usuala Shipperson are also living with him. He is listed as being a barber by trade in the City Directory.
Excerpt from 'Man-Eater; The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal'
On Thursday, February 6, 1902, Hatch - the man who "Aided Packer in His Dark Hour," as the headlines read - died at home at the age of forty-three, with his wife, Millie (nee Shipperson), and his two teenaged children, Lola and Duane Jr., at his bedside. Packer, looking less sickly than he had upon his parole a year earlier but clearly stricken with grief, served as a pallbearer when his friend was laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery three day later.
Note: On the 1900 census, Duane Hatch is living in Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado with his wife, Emelia and children Lola and Duane F. His in-laws, D.H. Shipperson and Usuala Shipperson are also living with him. He is listed as being a barber by trade in the City Directory.
Excerpt from 'Man-Eater; The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal'
On Thursday, February 6, 1902, Hatch - the man who "Aided Packer in His Dark Hour," as the headlines read - died at home at the age of forty-three, with his wife, Millie (nee Shipperson), and his two teenaged children, Lola and Duane Jr., at his bedside. Packer, looking less sickly than he had upon his parole a year earlier but clearly stricken with grief, served as a pallbearer when his friend was laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery three day later.
Duane C. Hatch, in 1875 was a fifteen-year-old orphan. He traveled to the Wyoming Territory, where he was befriended by and older man going by the name of John Swartze. The two worked together as cowhands for several years, but later drifted apart. The older man served as a surrogate father to the young lonely orphan. Later, through newspaper articles, Hatch discovered that "Swartze" was none other than the infamous Alfred Packer, 'the American cannibal'. From that point on, Hatch would dedicate himself tirelessly to winning Packer's release from prison. Duane Hatch would die at an early age from tuberculosis.
Note: On the 1900 census, Duane Hatch is living in Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado with his wife, Emelia and children Lola and Duane F. His in-laws, D.H. Shipperson and Usuala Shipperson are also living with him. He is listed as being a barber by trade in the City Directory.
Excerpt from 'Man-Eater; The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal'
On Thursday, February 6, 1902, Hatch - the man who "Aided Packer in His Dark Hour," as the headlines read - died at home at the age of forty-three, with his wife, Millie (nee Shipperson), and his two teenaged children, Lola and Duane Jr., at his bedside. Packer, looking less sickly than he had upon his parole a year earlier but clearly stricken with grief, served as a pallbearer when his friend was laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery three day later.
Note: On the 1900 census, Duane Hatch is living in Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado with his wife, Emelia and children Lola and Duane F. His in-laws, D.H. Shipperson and Usuala Shipperson are also living with him. He is listed as being a barber by trade in the City Directory.
Excerpt from 'Man-Eater; The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal'
On Thursday, February 6, 1902, Hatch - the man who "Aided Packer in His Dark Hour," as the headlines read - died at home at the age of forty-three, with his wife, Millie (nee Shipperson), and his two teenaged children, Lola and Duane Jr., at his bedside. Packer, looking less sickly than he had upon his parole a year earlier but clearly stricken with grief, served as a pallbearer when his friend was laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery three day later.
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