Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-07

Fatal Encounter mt Bige-
lows Hall.
GUS BOTTO KILLED BY JESSE
BIGELOW.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE
ARRAY.

formance WAS ove at Bigelow's Hall,
a number of pistol shots were heard in
that vicinity. and n nan came rushing
up town with the information that
Jesse Bigelow had shot Gus Botto. A
number of people ran to the hall, and
found Botto lying OIL the floor, nearly
unconscious aud evidently in a dying
condition. He was Immediately re-
moved to his residence, on Buel street,
and Doctors Owen AMI Bishop suin-
moned to his aid. On their arrival an
examination was made, and it was
found that he had peel shot FIVE times.
One ball had entered to the left Of the
navel; another penetrated just below
the heart; one above and one below
the right nipple; and the fifth ball
entered he lett leg midway between
the knee aud hip, breaking the bone.
He was partially conscious when taken
to- his home. and A. NJ HIllhous.. Esq,
was sent Tor to lake his dying deposl
ton. He attempted to speak, but was
too far gone to make himself inteliigi
bic. We caught the words, IL want to
make a will; | want to give; | am
Rone"-which WAS the sum OF his ut.
terances. lie WAS breathing very
heavily, and there was no doubt in the
minds Of the %bystanders that his end
was drawing near. AT five minutes
past III O'clock a gurgle in his throa
announced he last yasT, and he died
without a struggle. h doctors IN
formed us that the wound in the ab
Gpmen WAS the immediate cause of his
death, although the one below the
heart was also fatal.
THE CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY.
There we're but two witnesses to the
tragedy-Joe Mcpherson and the
property mainland we give Jesse Bige
lows statement. The latter was inter-
viewed by a SENTINEL reporter after
he was arrested by officer Mckee aud
lodged IN jail. He was very commu
NEGATIVE, and claims to have acted in
self defense. He says that about half
past eight o'clock in the evening. after
the performance of the Female Min
streis had commenced, Bo to met him
in the entrance to the theater, aHd
asked him why his seats, that he had
purchased, had not been reserved for
him. Bigelow replied, that consider
ing the crowd and jam, 1t WAS impp>si-
be FOR him to attend to the matter,
upon which answer BOtto, as he
claims, commenced abusing him, call
ing HIM opprobrious names. Fearing
personal injury, he retreaied behindt the
bar, with the intention of arming
himself with a pistol that lie usually
kept there. Batio followed him into
the room, renewing his abuse. and
among olher things. threatened that ii
he caught him down own he would
put a head on him. Ne reply being
made, Botto left, an | after he was gone
Jesse armed himself with "a self cock
ing pistol, u whistler" of the largest
callbre.
II AFFRAy IN THE HALL.
About fifteen minutes after the en-
t%ertainnient was over and while Bige,
low was in the hall. Boito entered at
the front door. walked down toward
him, near the stage, and said: 81 want
you to give me two dollars" Bixrlow
replied, - can't do il; / have settled
with the shOwmen, and what money |
had lett Is at Hank Knights saloon"
Botto had by this time approached
within three feet. and had his hands
to the rear. under his coat. He said:
II will make you do it," and stepped
forward, when Bigelow, who had his
right hand On his pistol. and the latter
in hi> coat pocket, drew it, and com
menced firing. AS he pulled it. Botto
grasped the Weapon with his |, fl hand.
aud caught b gelow bv the shoulder
with his right, but failed t. eithsr wre>t
the weapon away, or avert the fatal
shot. AS the second shot was fired, he
sunk TO the floor. and received the
third shut in his ley. The last two
were fired AS he lay ON the floor.
Sweeney, the we'll known livery liable
proprietor. who had run into the hall
just AT that time. wrenched the pistol
from Bigelow, who retreated into the
dressing ROOM, where the ladies were
making their toilets. He then sought
| out Officer Mckee and gave himself IN.
The above ~ the substance of Bige.
lows version of the affair. He stated
To the reporter that he considered his
life in danger. and that he wanted to
make sure work of il; that he had
been repeatedly and continually
abused, aud IL was time to put a stop
to it.
The SENTINEL man mex sought out
Joe Mcpherson, who has beer tending
bar for Bigelow for some time past. He
WAS also u Witness to the trag-
edy, and co%rroborates Bigelow's ate
ment with a few minor exceptions. He
rela' 90 the incidents both early in the
evening and at the shooting. He says
that Botto came into the saloon and in
CURED for B~ig.low, and that he told
him he was in the hall helping the
troupe pack up. whereupon Bhto
went into the room and the converse
ton occurred, substantially AS repeated
above. He says that Bolto had his
arms hanging down nv his side, aud
when Blgelow drew The pistol. grabbed
his right arm with his lett hand and
his shoulder with the other. There
was a struggle. but it was evident that
the first shot weakened Botto SO that
he could make no etiertual resistance.
lie SAW both fall to the floor after the
second shot. but is undecided as to the
number of shots fired. While both
were sitting on the floor Botto fell back
and said, "Fur God sake take him
away, take the pistol away. stop him !"
The ID man Utyaa abOnt the