Sand Creek or Nine Mile House in Dupont was once a well-known inn run by a man named Schultz. An article in an 1880 newspaper described a murder at Sand Creek House.

It was at noon on a Friday in October of 1880 that a man named Kennedy accompanied by a 17 year old Mexican boy drove up in a wagon, loaded with camping gear and made arrangements to stay at the Sand Creek Inn.

That same day at 5 p.m. Warren Rockwood drove up with a saddle pony hitched behind a light spring wagon. The bar-room and the dining room adjoined each other in the Inn. Kennedy and Rockwood became acquainted, and did some drinking in the bar-room before they retired to bed.

Saturday morning the two men were drinking in the bar-room of Sand Creek House when the friendship erupted into a quarrel. Rockwood picked up Kennedy and threw him out of an open window.

Kennedy ran to the wagon and began firing at Sand Creek House, after which he and the 17 year old boy got into the wagon and drove off.

Rockwood jumped on a pony, and took off in hot pursuit. Soon he returned to the inn with the two fugitives. Rockwood had confiscated the weapon and had his rifle drawn on Kennedy. Rockwood indicated that he was an officer and was going to Denver with his prisoners. They started down the road, but were back at the inn within an hour, on friendly terms again. Kennedy had his weapon again.

The three men told Schultz that Kennedy had given Rockwood $100 to let the matter drop. They continued drinking in the bar-room and the afternoon wore on with frequent arguments taking place.

Evening came and Rockwood was hungry. He demanded supper and it was prepared. He had been carrying his revolver in his hand. Rockwood took the revolver and put it beside his plate as he sat down for supper.

Kennedy started to follow Rockwood, then went back to the bar-counter, put his elbow on the bar with his cocked revolver in his hand. Rockwood got up to find Kennedy. When he saw Kennedy he advanced boldly. At this point a witness who was watching ran from the bar and shut the door behind him. He didn't want to get shot.

As he closed the door there was the sound of two bangs, a thud and another bang. The woman of the house screamed and the men who ran into the bar-room found Rockwood, dead, lying on the floor with blood spurting from a huge hole in his head.

When the parties looked outside they saw Kennedy and his youthful companion leading their horses toward the creek.

The owner, Mr. Schultz jumped on a horse and went to town to find the coroner. The Coroner was found and he, the Sheriff and two reporters got into a carriage, followed by the undertaker in a wagon with a coffin in it.

When the party arrived at the Sand Creek House they found the body. Beside the left hand was a navy revolver at full cock.

The Coroner examined the pockets of the dead man. Money was found in nearly every pocket. A roll of bills was found amounting to $100. A search of Rockwood's belongings turned up many greenbacks and three drafts bought at Colorado Springs of the First National Bank on the Chemical National of New York for a total of $1,562.75. A star badge pinned on the inside of the dead man's vest read "W. Rockwood, City Marshall, Strealor, Illinois." A package of letters addressed to Colorado Springs was found in an inside pocket.

As the Sheriff was examining Rockwood's wagon, the boy from Mexico appeared on a horse. All efforts to find Kennedy failed. The boy claimed that he was looking for Kennedy and had not gone with him. When the Sheriff tried to question the young man he acted like he couldn't understand English.

The party started back toward the City and arrived there about midnight.

Witnesses felt it was a clear case of self-defense since Rockwood's revolver with one chamber empty, lay beside him. It was thought that Kennedy was hiding somewhere near.

Rockwood had told the landlord he was an officer, was going to the river to hunt for two legged antelope and had asked for the shortest way to Julesburg.

The inquest was scheduled to take place in this mystery at the Sand Creek House or Nine-Mile House located on Brighton Boulevard in Dupont.

It's another part of Commerce City history.