The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-07-15
LETTER FROM VIRGINIA CITY.
Tho v~igilantes Murder / Drunken Man.
VIRGINIA CITf, NEVADA

The ku kluX of this city held an
other matinee last night-George
Kirk, who had been sojourning in
Carson for some time was the victim.
There are a thousand conflicting ru-
mors in circulation about the affair,
but the following is perhaps as correct
a version as will ever be known by
the uninitiated. 1t will be remem
bered that about the time Arthur Per
kins was hanged by the Eu KluX. a
number of other persons of doubtful
standing were served with tickets of
leave Kirk was among the eXpatri-
ated. He went to Carson and re-
manned there until Yesterday after
noon. 1t is asserted that he was on
his way to Denver, Colorado Terri
tory, and only expected to remain in
this city Eel night for the purpose OF
visiting some friends with the view of
procuring means to continue his Jour
new. While he did not attempt to
conceal himself, from all it
seems that he was especially DESTROYS
of avoiding trouble, and to that end
did not venture upon the streets until
after nightfall. He drank freely dur
ing the early part of the evening, but
WAS not ~boi>terous, and at the very
moment he was launched into eternity
was too drunk to stand without aid.
At about 10 o'clock he was in SCOTS
dance house on South c street near
the office of Wells, Fargo Il Co. Two
1 naUularS nf tho Khan aptaral a,,l mn
der pretense of taking him to bed. in
duced him to accompany them TO a
deadiall kept by a woman ofthe town.
in h northern part of the city. Here
they remained tori few minuteS,when,
according to the woman'> story. officer
McCready entered and addressing
Kirk told him he was wanted on the
outside. Kirk stopped TO pick up his
hat but was so drunk that he could
not reach it without assistance. He
was, however, "SDaked' out and
turned over to the teDde nlercieS OF a
body of ku kluN, variouSlv estimated
at from twenty to sixty strong, ON
posed principally OF Germans and
others of foreign extraction. He was
ironed, hurried into a buggy which
had been provided forthe purpose and
the party proceeded rapidly to the
~northward. The news spread like
wi.dtire and Oon C. street i'll the vicin-
ity of the International Hotel was the
scene of intense excitement. Anti
strangers talked loud, and at one
time a shooting scrape between Chief
Downev and a man whose name | did
not learn appeared imminent. IInpe-
c%unious dead beats and vagrant
gamblers, all hoping, doubtless. thai.
] ,, lI,r ,,li,rIr fr.hS,Irn Xylarat1-
they could in some way or another
further their ends. were as thick as
grasshopperS in Utah. Various opin-
ions We're expressed by officers and
others As to the probable fate of Kirk
but no one attempted to follow up the
mob. In view of the fact that none OF
The Khan Were masked the general
Impression seemed to be that he was
a gone III c~ommunitS.' and many
bets to this effect We're offered by the
sporting fraternity without takers.
Finally at 10 minutes TO l. o'clock
General Van Bokklen's big gun WAS
fired when all were satisfied that the
jig was up with Kirk. Shortly after
ward the ku kIux came Struggling
into town by twos and threes. dust to
their knees and many OF them veal
ing pallid cO~untenanceS. \ little later.
the Sheriff, District Attorney Wood
burn. Captain Hercheii, Hon. r. +.
Lowerv and some others procured Ian
terms and started in search OF the
unfortunate man. They proceeded
along the main grade to the Sierra Ne
vada Works, where they found him
suspended to the tramway-dead.
Death evidently ensued from stran-
gulation. as the body had only been
s,IrtlnI M a1nr,t 1S ivt,A- from, lA /
ground. \ bandage had been placed
over his eyes, and the hands and feet
were tied. On his back was pinned IA
card bearing this inscription: Geo.
kirk-69l." Two watches. ore gold
and the other silver, and a 10 cent
piece were found OH his body.
\ COroner's inquest is being held
to day, but at this writing the verdict
has not been rendered.
No one seems TO know why Kirk I
was hanged, unless the cowardice of
the ku klux, who feared him, prompt
ed it. If the officers OF the law are to
be relied upon, he had committed no
whatever for several Years. In
the Winter OF 1864 ) he was convicted
in this county of attempted brr-
glary, and sentenced to eigh-
teen months in the State Prison.
1t was he that lead the break in which
Warden Alec. Hunter lost his life.
Kirk escaped to California, vas shot
literally TO pieces by Sheriff Sexton of
Placer county who captured him and
returned him to the Warm Springs,
where he served out his term OF i'm
priSaliment. While there is no doubt
that he was a desperate character in
whose favor but little can be said, it is
equally certain that his eXecutioners.
whoever they NAV have been, are