Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-12-28
The Shooting at Iruckss.

The following detailed account Of the
recent mysterious shooting case at
Truckse. a brief item OF which was
among our Saturdays kilograms, We
clip the from the Truckee R<pub'ioan
Of Saturday evening.
Another deed raj done last evening
which will carry the name and fame OF
Truckee wherever newspapers are read.
At about six o'clock in the evening n
Of the men who had received notice 10
leave the town q month AGO. was stand
ing in Frank Rabsl's saloon talking with
his father and Frank upon the very
matter which has caused this unfortu-
nate state Of affairs. The three men
were standing conveniently near togett-
or, Frank leaning his arm ON the shelf
which runs l~engthwise OF the saloon and
facing the room; Spencer. the father, at
his right hand also near the shelf, and
Spencer, the son. facing the two but in
front Of Frank. Suddenly and quickly
q band Of masked men appeared in front
Of the saloon; some Of them entered
the number who entered are estimated
at from sir to eight-and advanced to-
ward where the men were standing.
Young Spencer was just about to turn
when a charge Of buckshot was fired at
him ut q distance OF not more than
twelve feet The charge. il appears,
hrst struck the back Of his wrist--but
none Of the shots entered thsre-and
then passed into the muscles OF the up
per arm about midway between the ell
bow and shoulder. The arm must have
been bent aud raised about breast high.
Eight shots took effect in his arm; n
Just grazed the skin on the outer side
and passed on, four passed through,
two were taken from beneath the skin
on the shoulder. and one Is still un-
accounted for. Several OF the
shots grazed the bone. and prob
ably opened the shoulder joint.
Il is thought that n or two passed
through the shoulder blade. When the
shot struck Spencer, he was turning 80
that he fell in the center Of the floor.
where he lay until the men retreated,
and ho was picked up and led away to
DR.. Curles' office. The Doctor was i'm
mediately summoned and dressed the
wound. Spencer suffered greatly. but
was made rs comfortable Us possible ct
Shinn's drug store, where he remained
until the westward bound train came
along, when he started for the County
Hospital at Nevada City in company with
his father. The affair caused great ex-
element on the street, and gave rise to
many speculations o. to who the masked
men were the responsibility being thrown
upon Committee Of 't6ol." as is natural
from the circumstances that have pre-
cseded this last act. The number OF
men seen at, and In front OF the
saloon is estimated at from twenty
to thirty. After the shot was fired q
whistle was sounded on the outside,
and the party was seen to rotreat across
the plaza toward the repair shop
OF the Central Pacific Railroad and moth
ing further was seen OF their move
ments. This much Is known Of tho
tragedy, but all else is wrapt in the pro-
foundest mystery. A month ago Spen-
Ger received notice signed "G0l." to the
effect that he must not be found in town
after q certain time. He went and return
cd about a week ago and has since been
about town, generally remaining during
the night at a cabin some distance out,
as wo nre informed. He was advised re-
peatsdly by officers and citizens to leave
and remain away until this unfortunate
state OF affairs had passed. He ac'
knowlsdged the wisdom OF the advice
and said every day that he intended to
leave and would leave at certain times
which passed and found him still here.
Threats OF q serious nature against
three or four men whom he Is reported
10 have spotted were reported rs coming
from him which may, and may net,
have hurried on this act. There
Is no questioning the character Of the
man and no denying the fact that the
criminally careless method OF prosscut-
ing offenders against the law has brought
about this deplorable result. There
seems 10 bs q determination 10 have the
worst elements Of our society removed
and We hope this will DO taken as q
warning by other men Of like character
TO seek other fields in which to play ne
farious games. We have already had
somewhat too much OF this and we hope
that tho last scene OF the last net OF this
terrible business has been played. Let
have our laws against gambling en-
80 that this class Of men will find
occupation here, and we will cease to
ha snoken of an n byvord and reproach. |