Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-02-11
LETTER FROM HUMBOLDT.
KNOXVILLE, Jan. I, 1868.

KNOXVILLE, Jan. Z, 1868.
EDITOR NEws:-The event Of the week
has been the trial of Thomas McLaugh'
lin, for the murder of Galliscr, at Sum
mi, Lake, on the 9th Of August last
attended the trial that I might be able
to give you a correct account Of the
testimony, and such other incidents as
would be of public interest.
The Jury
Was collected mostly from the towns
outside of the centre of the county, and
80 had heard little or nothing about the
case. The full number was obtained at
one O'Clock, P. NJ, and a better set OF
men never we're called into a jury box.
The usual formalities were gone through
with, the indictment, "a most remark
| able document in its breyity and clear.
messy read. The plea of not guilty had
been previously entered by tho prisoner.
| But two witnesses wsre called. and both
swore in the most direct manner to the
cool and desperate manner in which the
killing was done. give you the gist
of the
Testimony.
Mclaughlin had been ut work for
| Galliger for some months, and had $40
coming to him. On the morning OF
the 9th, they had a little dispute
about a horse, but no very harsh
words. Soon after Mclaughlin asked
Galliger for his money, saying that he
desired to leave. G. told him that he
did not have it, but would pay him "as
soon rs the hay was delivered" Mel,
remarked that "that won't do me-" ad'
ding, az am a man and always have
BEEN" Nothing moro vas said. Al
noon the men about the house sat dowr
to dinner together, Galligsr bringing
on a bottle of whisky Of which all par
took a single dram each. After dinner
the men disposed of themselves a. fol.
lows: Two went into tho meadow; three,
including one of the witnesses, Burns
lay down beside the house; Galligel
and Pinckham, tho other witness, SO,
at the end Of the house, each side o ths
kitchen door; Mclaughlin appears &c
have remained inside. A few minutes
before . o'clock Mclaughlin came tc
the kitchen door and looked out, JUS
glancing at both Galliger and Pinck'
ham. He next was seen by the witnes:
Burns coming along tho side of the
house, about five feet from the men who
were lying there, with n Henry's riff,
in his hand. Burns asked him, care
you going away Tom p but he made nc
reply that witness heard. Mel. passed
on just past the end Of the house and
within full view Of Pinckham, and hi!
victim. Without one word of warn
ing other than this, "Galliger righ'
here you de-" he raised the rifo anC
fired, shooting Galliger through tn,
heart and killing him almost instantly
Mclaughlin then went and ordered ONT
of the men to bring him his horse
which was done. Mr.. John Littleield
who was there, attempted to arrest tn,
murderer, but he told John to keep Of
or he would send him to keep CONF any
with Galliger. Mel. then left but was
arrested q few days afterwards nca Su'
%sanville. The plea Of insanity was Sc,
up, but the jury could not see it. Tht
pleas of counsel were very brief, and n
s O'Clock T. N. the case went to the
Jury. It is rumored that the jury stood
eleven for murder in the first degree oil
the first ballot, but no verdict was
brought in until this "wednesday
morning, "Guilty Of willful murder
but the jury asked that the Governor
commute the sentence to Imprisonment,
for life. Judge Berry ordered the pris
oner to appear for sentence on Saturday
morning. Our laws require that il
shall DO "death."
The Prisoner,
Thomas Mclaughlin, is now thirty-sever
years old, born in Ireland, about five
feet eight inches tall, stout. wiry build,
dark, wsvy hair, black eyes, slightly
"crossed," coarse, hard features, and
very low brow. The form Of head shows
tho "animal" passions largely derel'
oped, while the moral and intellectual
are deficient. During his trial he sell
dom looked up, but kept his eyes stead.
lily fixed on the handouts he wore. From
beginning to end he preserved the
utmost i%mmobility Of features. He IL
to DO pitied as well as punished, fol
nature has done but very little for him
The prosecution was conducted by oui
District Attorney, o. R. Leonard, AND
was marked throughout BY ability aud
strict fairness. The prisoner was dc,
Tended by NJ. s. Bonnifeld, who made
the most out Of 81 bad q case.
The First Gun
For the "great uuwashed" was fred in
the Court House in this place on Mon
day evening last, by Hon. NJ. S. Bonni'
field, 10 o we'll written, carefully pre-
pared speech, about forty minutes long,
The speaker drew it every mild" but
it had enough of the errors Of former
times to give il o distinctive "Demo.
cratic" character. I learn that 1t will
be published in the Register. When i,
is, it will bear reviewing, and will be
likely to get it. N. s. would probably
have no objections to serving his coun-
try as q Democratic member Of Con-
gress. We shall see.
Yours, SQuErD.