The Nevada Democrat., 1857-04-29
NEVADA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1857.
The Murder Trials.

The trial of Hay, indicted for the murder of
VIM. Stafford, and convicted of Involuntary
mauslaughter and that Of Moore, convicted oc
the murder VIM. Alex. McClanahan, have excit-
ed considerable interest in this community dur
ing the past week. We give in our columns to-
day pretty full report of all the testimony
given in before the Court, and by reading it a
good idea can be formed In regard to the evil
dence upon which they were convicted.
Mr.. Hay has lived in this community for
several years, has always been a peaceable and
quiet citizen, and he has the sympathy Of almost
the entire community. An appeal has been
taken in his case, and we learn that an effort
will be made to obtain a pardon. The fact that
he had no idea of killing Stafford when be struck
him, or of even seriously hurting him, viii
doubtless have considerable weight with the
Executive. On Saturday be was sentenced to
imprisonment for one year in the Penitcntiary.
There Is perhaps less discrepancy in the evil
dence in Moores case than could have been cx-
pected. There may be room for doubt as to
which shot was FIRST fired, but We spprehend that
this was not material point, as 1t Is evident
that both McClanahan and Moore were raising
their pistols at the same time. The weight OF
evidence would indicate that Moore's pistol was
first discharged, but was followed SO soon after
by McClanahan's that IL was difficult to tell
which was first Some fifteen persons were in
the room at the time of the occurrence, but a
number of them were so drunk that it was not
tha,. 81 10 tuE tho;. A
theory was set up by the prosecution to account
for the discharge Of McClanahan' pistol without
any agency Of his own. II was to the effect that
the ball from Moore's pistol, in passing through
the muscle Of McClanahan's arm, caused
twiching of the fingers sufficient to pull off the
pistol When the fact is taken into consldera-
ton that he had not got his pistol In the range
of Moore at the time il was discharged. this
theory seems highly probable, though he must
at the time have had his finger on the trigger,
and been in the act of raising his arm. e0a
II will probably always remain mystery as
to how Moore got stabbed. He received q
frightful cut in the back, which penetrated the
cavity Of the lungs. The prosecution set up
two theories to account for this wound. One
was that his wife stabbed him the morning pre-
vious, aud the other that he had stabbed himself
In order to create sympathy. Neither of these
theories were sustained. In fact, when the ma
ture Of the wound was ascertaincd, they were
seen to be improbable OH their face. The only
light In the room was a camphenc lamp, and
this was extinguished by the concussion caused
by the discharge Of the pistols. Moore was evil
IDENTIFY stabbed by some one about this time
Who 1t was will probably never be ascertalned
Moore has generally been regarded as bad
man, and II is reported that he has been con-
nected with the gang Of robbers who have infes-
ted this nelghborhood for some months past.
whether there is any truth In these reports we
have no means Of knowing He has been living
In Grass Valley for some time, and his associa-
lions are bad He will be sentenced to-day.