The Nevada Democrat., 1859-09-14
NEVADA DEMOCRAT.
RL0OnY AFFRAY.


A fatal afiray occurred at the Lands Ranel
precinct near Marysville, on election day
The Marysvilie Democrat Of the 9Th gives The
following account Of the affair:
After the polls at The precinct at Lands
Ranch were opened and few votes cast, r
NJ. Turner. Benjamin Turner, Alfred Turner
and Richard Thomas, aud several other parties
being present besides the Board Of Judges
James Simpson arrived, and as soon as be step
ped on the porch 70 deposit bis vote, R. N
Turner struck at him with large hickory
stick. The first blow Simpson lodged. The
second struck him on the bead, when Simpson
clinched with his assailant, and either threw
him or forced him back into the door Of an ad.
joining room. As soon as r. NJ Turner struck
at Simpson the other Turner's and Richard
Thomas drew their weapons, and were aiming
at AcGee, who had come upon the ground
from the city. Soon after. firing commenced
but witness cannot say who commenced shoot
ing first. Me Gee, who appeared to be friend
Of Simpson, was outnumbered and shot by some
of the crowd, the ball taking effect 10 the alb
domen. Then, Benjamin Turner ran into the
room where r. NJ. Turner and Simpson were
struggling. Simpson being on top, and putting
his pistol within foot Of Simpsons side fired,
the ball passing through, entering bis right side
near the right nipple and coming out lower
down on the left, lodging In the skin. Simp-
son exclaimed that he was shot, and asked The
contestants TO let him alone. R. NJ. Turner
then got on him aud commenced beating him.
After mnch difficulty, r. NJ. Turner was taken
of. In the meantime, most Of the persons on
the porch had left, two OF them being wounded
slightly, with mere harmless injuries Of the skin.
Turner remarked. after the shooting was over
that Simpson insulted him every time he met
him, aud that moreover he was the cause Of the
death of brother Of his (Turner's) who was
killed by Mike Gray in 1865, in Marysville
Seeing the bad condition Of Simpson. Il. NJ
Turner urged the sending for q doctor lmmed
ately. ..--.
During the melee. McGee lrcd four shots al
Thomas and the Turner's, none Of which took
effect, and was himself shot as above recorded
in the abdomen, the wound being in the region
OF the pelvis bone. 1t is supposed that Alf
Turner was the one who shot McGee. MeGee
was also shot in the right arin--a mere issh
wound-and this may have been the cause OF
bis wild shooting. Women and children were
screaming in and around the house, balls were
flying, striking the posts Of the porch and gate,
aud going through the roof OF the porch, AZ the
pistols were knocked up, and a general scene
of dire confusion prevailed.
The above il one account. Another is. that
Joe McGee began the entire difficulty, drawing
first, shooting first, and creating the impression
that he and Simpson had come for a difficulty
with the Turner's. aud intended to do desperate
and bloody work. There are other statements
again, conflicting with them, and IL would be
perhaps better for the public TO suspend their
Judgment in the matter until a preliminary ex.
amined has been had in the case and the true
facts have been sworn to as they occurred.
The cause Of the dithculty. it would seem, is
ties since 1855.
Capt. Simpson died the next day. He was
fifty yerrs Of age, and leaves wife and seven
children. He had many frcdds aud acquaint-
ances who reside at Nevada, a number Of whom
his funeral.