Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1881-10-26
THE RENO SHOOTING.
Deposition OF ID. W. Balch, One Of the
Wounded.

The following is the deposition Q
d. w. Balch, taken from the Rem
Gazette:
d. w. Balch sworn-Live in Sal
Francisco. Owned 20 shares paid W
stock N & o! r. r. Was at Judge
Webster's house on the Goth, when we
looked over the proxies and arranged
an order of meeting. Nothing was
said then about excluding anyone the
next day. We talked that we were
the only stockholders of record and had
a right to exclude those not stockhol-
ders. Was not armed at the meeting.
DO not AIRY arms. When we entered
the door all inside rose right up. Some
one told them to leave and the trouble
commenced. We tried to put Meme
chan out. He had pistol in his hand.
Wheeler had not sat down. Before 1
knew it was in front of Wheeler and
he fired twice. / felt no bullet strike
me and no shock. Did not know !
was hit till began to spit blood. Some
one was holding me back. l could not
get at him. Did not see McMechan
fire. Coffin was on my left hand side.
Did not see him with pistol. Nc
Mechan's pistol was struck out of his
hand Oh the floor. tried to get it but
Coffin kicked it out Of my reach to-
wards McMechan. Left the room as
soon as 1 was aware that 1 was shot. /
was four or five feet from the nerth
wall when / was shot. Did not look
for any trouble. Heard eight or ten
shots. Did not fall on the floor. Did
not see Fowler with a pistol. Saw
Scoville rise from the floor, but did not
know he was shot.
Crcss-examined-We to Webster's |
because Wheeler's party was in pos
session of the railroad Office. We !
thought we had right to meet where
we pleased. We were to meet next |
lay at Webster's house. We did not
expect Wheeler's party, on account of
he injunction. Nothing was said about
Moore and Fowler going out on the
inc. Did not hear about their bringing
n Iaborers to be at the meeting. We
alked about their interfering at the
Meeting, and Webster advised us to
'ut them out if they tried to organize
he meeting. On the way to the Office
omeone said that there were some men
here to get their pay. We had no
understanding about using deadly
Weapons, but intended to put them out
t they interfered. When We got into :
he middle room everybody rose and
hat made some confusion. did not
ear anything said. I had been sick
couple Of weeks and was easily ex-
tied. McMechan sat near the south
asst corner. l was mistaken in saying
nat McMechan had pistol in his hand
,hen he rose up. did not see it until
was knocked out of his hand. l
rent towards Wheeler when he was {
ointing his pistol at me. l was not '
rmed, and if Wheeler says came to-
ards him with pistol it is not true. Z
do not own pistol, and had none c
nat day. l saw Wheeler's pistol !; s
ould not say what kind it was, do not
emember whether it was bright or !;
therwise. He fired twice at me. /
as struck four times by bullets. In
ne right wrist, in the chest, in the :
boulder and on the left side Of the
cad. Had my hat on; have not had :;
since the affray. Do not know who
,ot through my hat; do not know !;
ho shot me through the wrist. The
physicians probed seven or eight inches
the shoulder but did not find the ball.
healed. Wheeler shot me in the :
reast. knew it was his shot, for the
stol was so close to me and aimed
CHIT. l was shot when went over to
cMechan.
Do not know any reason why Nc G
echan should hit me with chair, q
,cept that he wanted to knock me II
,wn. I do not know as / was doing \