What were Ouray town folk chatting about in the winter of 1922? The Spanish Flu finally had finally waned. The new hot springs pool was filling up. World War I veterans had returned home and were receiving pensions. A federal road bill was funding improvements on Otto Mears’ toll road. Silver mines were struggling, and the Gold Belt mines were thriving.

The biggest news in town? The guilty verdict of Billy Nagle.

Billy Nagle was a miner who lived in Ironton. He and two friends met in his cabin o...