The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1879-02-16
LOCAL AND STATE NEWS.
from Saturdays Daily. |
THE FATAL ASSAULT NEAR
WELLS.
NELEY CAMrBELLs STATE
,,-a AExr.

"rH sl2N4.
Neley Campbell, the man who used
an AZ with fatal effect upon one John
Densmore, and inflicted dangerous
wounds upon another nan named Al.
Smith TDempsey ond B;ckford were
the names of these parties as given us
ut first last Wednesday night, Mt War
dell's wood camp, near Ioor's siding
on the Central Pacific Railroad, had
his preliminary examination before
Justice Crutcher. at Wells yesterday,
and was committed under bonds Of IA
thousand dollars. Being unable 10
furnish The requisite bonds, Campbell
was brought hero on tho train last
evening and placed in charge Of the
Sheriff. ST an interview With Camp.
bell at the Jail this morning, he uure-
ssrycdly made. in effect, the following
statement touching the desperate eu
counter, together with circumstances
connected herewith:
az have boon for some time past, in
tho employ o. Nardcll. sinking upon
n quart y,iu usnr his wood camp; "A
very industrious aud steady Young ,21n
named Clifford Ellis, worked with me
below, while a young man from Wells
attend, q the wiudlGss at the su.facc:
Smith aud DeUsinOru wore tcnriug for
warieil; they had Just received their
wages at the railroad, and retained TO
camp; on the day preceding tho a,tuci:
Ipon me, Smith cnmo TO tlc mine
where We were ut work and calling
Ellis out OF the shaft, asked him 10 go
~ the railroad after whisky; hearing
this came to tho sGiface aud advised
Ellis not to leave Lis work, rs such
action might cause him To- lose his lob.
Ellis. upon This hint. refused to 20,
hnd SnIlth went away aUgry. puttcIinI
something about getting even with ne,
TO Nhish | paid little attention, and 70.
turned with Ellis to work; subsequent
- '"'H''i H'EN LiIo with MS tenn
ND buggy to the railroad. where Smith
hun DensiGnre had gone, TO bring them
back to camp, aud shortly after his
return with tho men, Ellis cams 10 the
cabin where slept alone. and inform
cd mo that he feared / was in danger,
ms these mcn. Who had been drinking.
while in the buggy. had aado desperate
threats ngUius. me. Myself nnI others
IN the camp had regarded these men
nS bad characters. and though | knew
OF no cause for their serious enuiity
myself. Ellis statement made
ME uneasy. and after he had gone
home, l prepared az best ] could, 10
rcsi.t an attack. should one be
made. SUudGinE the fire light by
covering it vel; with ashes. | put on
my pants aud u"ct3, aud sat listening
until about III O'clock. WIN hot being
yet di>ks=btd, concluded that my fears
werc gr"nndlcss, nHl beins tired and
sleepy took of NY boots, go, into rry
bunk near tho roo! u my cabin, aud
went to sleep. could not have slept
more than n couple OF hours when |
w's awakened by n shot fired close to
the house, and slipping quietly from
bed, and To tho door. which was
slightly ajtr, I saw by tho star. light.
men standing only n short distance
on. n Of whom waS loading o gun Ut
the muzEic. and as they spoke. ] beard
one Hsk the other II 10 thought che
had got bin" 20 which tho reply was,
III wa hHvn't, No will" and both thou
advanced close u the door, and aiming
mp At the bunk which ] WAS known To-
occupy. the gun was discharged. when
both made q dash nj tho dor. ] was
crouchiug in tie dark close beside il.
nj the time, wish an ax-lhc only woap
on in tho hpugo-- and ~ Smith, who
WIS foremost. entered ] struck him upon
tho hcad with Tho ~. bu, had To strike
n second blow TO kuorh him down.
Densmcro, IN the meantime, struck mo
once with tho gun, aud 81, Smith fell, /
turned upon the former, who then
spraug outside with tue gun and ran,
following, md pressing him close, DO
turned and stuck at inc again with the
gun, p%arrying the blow with tho
NIX, which ] still retained. I
struck him in the face, telling
him 10 tho ground, and scizing tho gun
%ruck him q couple Of ticks with that,
when Dou6moro said ,"you son Of "A 49,
Why don't you finish mo-" I iinmcdi.
Nteiy rpn back to tho cabin md 10 my
utter aatonishmont, found no ono ,hcrc.
l then went to another cabin whcro
Waddoll and Lawson slept, and called
but received no response. found tina.
Smith. in his wounded condition had
got to tho house whoro he aud Dcns-
moro stopped. and foaring violence at
tho hands of some Of th,ir friends, I
started at once for Wells mud placed
myst I in tho hands OF tho authorities.
iSaimngundt.
Mrs. Given, vito OF our noighbor Mr.
Given, met with a painful accident TO.