The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-06-21
A Desperate Fight.
THE KILLING OF THE MEXICAN DEsPER-
ADO JUAN SOTO.

The Oakland News contains q de-
tailed account of the desperate fight
between Sheriff Morse and the muir
derer Juan Soto. The sheriff and par
ty found the gang in a valley among
the PanocLe mountains-and the News
says:
On'entering the door Mr.. Morse saw
the man he was after sitting at table,
and instantly covered him with his re-
volver and ordered him to throw up
his hands. Soto refused, and sat sui
lenly watching his chance for spring,
not daring to move for his pistol. Mr..
Morse ordered him three times to hold
up his hands, and, keeping his eye
steadily on the wretch, drew out pair
of handouts and directed Winchell to
approach and put them on. At that
moment stout Mexican woman seized
Morse's pistol-arm, a man grabbed the
other, while his aim was deranged, So
to sprang behind third person; utter
ing fierce oath and drawing his own
pistol. Morse tore loose from them
and shot over the head of the man in
front and through Soto's hat, knocking
it off. Finding himself surrounded by
the desperate Inhabitants of the cabin,
lie sprang out of the door, and while
on the porch Soto twice "got the drop
on him." and he stepped round the
corner of the house, where the fighting
commenced in good earnest, If it had
not been tolerably lively before. Each
) fired four shots without effect. AS Of
ten as Soto brought his pistol down tt
a level Morse would drop, and the bal
passed over. At this point in the con
flict, Winchell having procured a dou
BILE barrelled shotgun. came round thu
: house, fired and missed. Soto then raj
D into the house, and Morse made for hi
t horse to get his 'Henry" rifle. Sot
t came out with big revolver in eacl
e hand aud ran for his horse, which wa
: hitched near by; the horse, beinI
frightened by the firing, tore away, ant
!. Soto, not being able to catch the ami
n NAL. ran down the hill for another on
: some distance off, intending to max
y his escape.
l. In the meantime, Morse having go
e possession of his rifle, fred at the fug
II tive about $50 yards and shot hin
e through the right shoulder; Soto stag
l. gered with the wound and at once r.
e, turned towards Morse, with q pistol
st each hand. At this point Sheriff Harr
y having heard the firing, came mp at tn
y, speed, and, seeing the situation I
er things, fred at Soto with his Spence
g. rifle, but missed his aim. Soto rushe
r on towards Morse, who, getting anotl
lie er chance, fired again, shot the despe.
in ado throu gh the forehead and tore IL
TX whole top of his head off. This epdt
~ one of the most exciting and terrll
e: combats we have ever heard of, al
at which rid the settlements of mo
re pestilent and dangerous scourge.
s. Soto, as we have already stated, W
n a large and powerful man, a compile
r. type of the traditional Mexican band
w with long black hair, heavy buskey e
ty brows large eyes of an underlined col
nj and had altogether tigerish aspe'
ne He had served two terms in~tho Stat
sc prison, and was generally regarded
u the most formidable and despera
no character on this coast. He was kno,
of to all the Mexican Inhabitants in
'er lower countries, and was held in sn
81 dread that few or none of them dar
is to offend or make known his hidi
he places.