Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-04-14
THE ~PAHRANAaAT HOMICIDE.

A correspondent Of the Silver Bend
Reporter, gives the following detailed
account Of tho homicide at Hike, Pah-
ranagat, brief mention Of which has
been published in the News. Colburn
formerly lived in Gold Hill, and his
former wife, and a little boy by the
marriage, are now residing here
"The particulars Of the homicide are as
follows: On Sunday morning a man named
Frank ?. Pitt, who, at the time, kept a bill
lard saloon in this place, went to a cabin
where one Jacob Colburn was sleeping, and
told Colburn that he owed him (Pitt) one
hundred and fifty dollars for dealing faro in
his house and he wanted him to pay it right
there. Colburn told him to keep cool, that
he would get up, dress himself and come up
to the saloon and settle with him, and IL he
owed him anything he would pay It. Pitt
then told him to do so or he would make him
leave the country. Mr.. johnson, Pitts part
ner, soon after met Colburn and told him
that Pitt was drinking, and requested him to
keep out OF his way until he became sober.
Accordingly Colburn did not SO to the saloon,
but went to the store OF Schmuck & Felsen-
thai, where he remained until after IL o'clock,
when Pitt came down to see him, asked him
into a back room attached to the store, and
when there presented Colburn a bill for $50.
Colburn said, DO you think this is right }"
Pitt replied, al do" Colburn then said,
"How much do you intend to allow me for
keeping bar for your" Pitt said he owed
him nothing for that, and asked Colburn IL
no would pay this bill. Colburn said no
would settle BY bringing in a counter bill for
tending bar. Pitt then said Colburn should
not bring in n bill against him, but that he
should settle his bill, which he demanded, at
the same time stigmatizing Colburn as q
loafer, liar, and a son Of a b-h. Colburn
retorted by calling Pitt n liar. They both
Immediately drew their wcapons-Pitt q six
shooter and Colburn a knife-and rushed for
each other, Colburn catching Pitts pistol and
stabbin9 him to the heart. Pitt then seized
Colburn's arm, when Sheriff Matthews n
Charles Schmuck rushed into the room. As
they came in Colburn wrcnched his arm from
Pitts grasp and again stabbed him, ut which
time the Sheriff seized Colburn and took his
knife from him, and Henry Church, who, in
the meantime, had como in, took Pitts pistol
from him. Pitt said, "You have got the best
Of me-" and immediately expired. Colburn
then gave himself mp to Sheriff Matthews.
a coroner jury was Nnnneuia,eiJ su
moned, and after a full examination Of the
facts returned a verdict Of justiiable homi-
eide. Yesterday the remains Of Pitt were in
tered with christian solemnity. This is q
crisis which has long been foreseen and
dreaded by the citizens Of this place. Mr..
Pitt, when sober, was kind, generous and lib
eral to n fault, but when in liquor one Of the
most dreaded tyrants, INSCRIPTIONS n re-
yengcful, entirely ~disregarding life or. prop
erty, and was considered BY all a dangerous
man, and, like Robespierc and Danton, was
called the reign Of terror. But, like all such
characters, he has found his proper level.
Mr.. Colburn is a very quiet, peaceable citi-,
zen, and expresses much sorrow at being
compelled, even In selE-defence, to take the
life Of a fellow being. But we say, all Of US,
that he but did his duty, and that only when
Il was forced unon him."