Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-05-31
FIGHT WITH ERIGANDS.

The killing of II Mexican Despcrndo
by Sheriff Morse, of Aiomeda County.
California.
The San Francisco Chron icle has the
following
We published yesterday, a dispatch
from Gilroy, giving an account Of fight
with robbers, in the Panoche Mountains.
From the Oakland Ne,rs of yesterday
we take the following additional partic-
ulars:
The Sheriff and his men fund the
gang in valley among the Panoehe
Mountains, and divided into three par
ties. Sheriff Morse and Mr.. Winchell
tied their horses and proceeded on foot
to a house to obtain Il drink of water.
thinking that Soto was further up the
valley. On entering the door Mr. Morse
saw the man he WAS after, sitting at a
table, instantly covered him with his re-
volver, and ordered him to throw up biz
hands. Soto refused. and sullenly
watching his chance for spring. not
daring to move his pistol. Morse OF
dered him three times to hold up his
hands. and keeping his eye steadily on
the wretch, drew out a pair of handouts
and directed Wiuchell to approach and
put them on. At that moment stout
Mexican woman seized Morsc's pistol
arm, a man grabbed the other, and while
his aim was derauged Soto sprang behind
third person, uttering 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, he
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 fred four shoots
without effect. As often as Soto brought
his pistol down to level Morse would
drop, and the ball passed over. At this
point in the conflict Winchell, having
double -barreled shotgun, came
round the honse, fired and missed.
Soto then ran into the house, and
Morse made for the horse to get his Henry
rifle. Soto came out with big revolver
in each hand and ran for his horse which
was hitched near by. The horse being
frightened by the firing tore away. and
Soto not being able to catch the animil,
IAN down the hill for another horse some
distance off, intending to make his escape
In the meantime Morse, having got pos
session of his rife. fired at the fugitive
about $50 yards of, and shot him
through the right shoulder. Soto stag
,ered with the wound, and at once re.
urned toward Morse. with pistol in
zach hand.
At this point Sheriff Harris, having
reared the firing, came up at full speed,
md seeing the situation of things, fred
It Soto with his Spencer rife but missed
lis aim. Soto rushed Oh toward Morse,
Who. getting another chance. fired again.
hot the desperate through the forehead
nd tore the whole top of his head off,
his ended one of the most terrific COM
'ats we havee yer heard of, and which
i'd the settlements of a most pestilent
nd dangerous scourge. F,
'oto, as We have already stated, was a
srge and powerful man, complete type
{ the traditional Mexican bandit, with
is long black hair. heavy bushy eye
rows, large eyes of an underlined color,
nd had altogether a tigerish aspect ]