Jim, I had that article all the time. The citation: Charles Rice," Colorado's Forgotten Confederates did their Best for the Southern Cause, " America's Civil War, v.4, n.4,, November, 1991,pp.10,12,70,71,72,74. I dismissed it because Rice had no evidence linking the saloon keeper except a similar name. No other records substantiate it.Hope you are on to something. If you can't get the article on interlibrary loan, let me know and I will copy it for you.
Have you seen anything on a Southern secret socirty? Maybe KGC(Knights of the Golden Circle) or OAK (Order of American Knights)? Conner clearly shows that all these guys hiding him were members of some such.
Earl Pittman