Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-12-21

A Man shst Throagh the Head, and
what forf-rsstimony NJ the In.
quest-verdies.

a COLD HOODED MURDER.
A Man shst Threagh the Head. and
what forf-Tsstimony NJ the In
quest-verdies.
The citizens Of this community were
startled on Saturday night by q report
that a man had bssn shot through the
head and instantly killed. and for no
other reason than for calling his muir
derer a liar. Tho murder was COM
mitted in the Washington House. on
the Divide.
The man who was killed was named
Alfred Rule: his assailant. John Showers
or Sleeves. Skewers' version Of the
killing has already BEEN given. but II
differs widely from that Of the witnesses
who gave their sworn testimony before
Coroner Holmes yesterday.
skewer's Version.
skewers says that they were playing
q game Of pedro in the bar-room OF the
Washington House, and that he was
keeping the count on Q crib-board when
a dispste arose between them regarding
il. Rule called him q liar. Skewers
told him to retract. Rule said he
wouldn't. Showers threatened him with
a siI-shooter. and told him he would
kill him II he didn't take it back. Rule
still refused. and Showers then shot him.
Ii was probably one OF the most I'M
called for and cold blooded murders that
has taken place in the county for years.
Ceroner's Inquest.
Yesterday Coroner Holmes impaneled
a jury to inquired into the matter. Only
four witnesses were examined. when 1t
became evident that IL would be useless
to examine any more on account Of the
testimony being so conclusive. All Of
the witnesses agreed that neither Of the
parties were under the influence Of
liquor.
Rule was shot through tho head. the
ball entering behind the right ear and
passing directly through tie skull.
Testimony OF Josiah Marks.
Josiah Marks. being duly sworn said:
I reside in the Washington House. Gold
Hill; am a miner by occupation; was
present in tho Washington House bar
room when the shooting took place, but
not when the difficulty first began; was
up stairs in a bedroom with q sick
brother.in-law; said to him. "1n go
below to the bar.room and sec what is
going on" When I got down l saw
three men playing cards at a table
Skewers, Rule and Trembath. How
long they had been playing ] did not
know. but should think that they were
about half through the game; heard
Rule say to Skewsrs. "You are cheat
ing Skewers said 81 am not" Rule
said "You are n d-n liar; you are"
Skewers then
Held Down Ms Head
And said no more at that time. He sat
there. to the best OF my knowledge. for
four or five minutes in that position,
then he rose up and went into the wash
room. Trembaih went with him. They
remained there. I should judge, about
Is or 20 minutes. Odgers, n fourth
man, who had been playing with them.
also Joined Skewers in the wash room.
During the time that the party were
there, Rule had been standing Mt the bar
and had asked some three or four per-
sons to drink. As the bartender was
giving them the drinks. Skewers came
in. and approaching Rule he said;
"Rule did you ever prove me in a Her
Skewers was near the end Of the bar ut
that time. He moved from that posi-
ton and went over TO where Rule WA
standing and repeated his remark. Rule
said: 81 don't know about that, I'm
sure, but
IrYou are for Anything, Coms ON.
Rule then extended his left hand,
which was open, in the direction Of
Skewers. Skewers had his right hand
in the right pocket Of his jacket. Rule
followed him in that position until they
got to a round table that was standing
in the middle Of the ROOM. Rule never
closed his hands. Skewers fell back on
the table, and while he was laying with
the small Of his back on the edge, ho
drew his hand from his pocket-whcre
he had kept II all the time-and also q
pistol which ho pointed at Rules head
aud fred. Rule Immediately fell on
his hands and knees and remained IN
that position for three or four minutes
without moving. He never made any
movement TO draw n weapon during the
scufie, but held his hands open and ex-
tended tho whole time"
The Arrest.
After tho shooting. Skswers ran up @.
street. until he met officer Jackson,
when he gave himself up and was locked
in the County Jail. He is a Cornish
man, slim, light build and not Of a des-
pcrato appearance. He had been em-
ployed as a helper in the blacksmith
shop OF the Beleher mine.
The Deceased.
Alfred Rule, was twenty-five years OF age
on the 18th Of July last. He a born
in the parish OF Cambron, Cornwall,
England. and had always borne the
reputation Of a sober. industrious man.
He was buried to-day. from the wash
inr,on House. on the Divide, and his
funeral was attended by a large number
OF sorrowing friends and acquaintance.
lie belonged to no order or society.
The Verdict.
The jury returned a verdict in accord
anee with the facts above reported. and
we're then discharged.