Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-11-09
DneI to the Death.

The Inyo Independent tells of q singular ana
bloody shooting affair which occurred recently
between Gordon Ellis and Pat Shea. at Ben
netts Ranch. Lincoln County, New, out to-
ward Colorado. A short time before the Aght
Ellis sold some borax locations to the Colenant
Borax Company, receiving S. 900 therefor. ON
the day before his last he got into dispute
with Mexican with whom he was gambling.
He notified the Mexican that he would then
and there shoot him, but only through the leg,
warning what would happen if he tthe
Mexican) did not conduct himself in a proper
manner. Thereupon he did shoot the Mexican
through the leg, and things went smoothly I'M
til the following day.
Ellis then had some difficulty with Shea with
whom he gambling, and told Shea that
he meant to shoot him through the leg, as
he had the Mexican the preceding day, if
Shea did not mend his ways. Shea dared
him to shoot an unarmed man. he then was.
Ellis blazed away at Shea's leg, sending ball
through it below the knee. Shea began abus-
ing Ellis whereupon, after due notice, Ellis
perforated Sheas other leg. During the shoot
ing some men present had started to their
camp, short distance away, to get their Hen
ry rifles, whether merely to protect their own
legs with view of interfering in behalf of
the wounded man, can only be surmisad.
While returning with their rifles they met
Ellis, and with drawn guns compelled him to
go back. Coming up to where Shea was. the
latter, applying foul epithet to one of the
men with the rifles, added: You cowardly
scoundrel. you want to shoot unarmed
man, too. do your" At this the man addressed
replied: IF you think am a coward, come
out here You cursed fool" concluding his
remark by throwing his gun down on the
ground near Shea and brandishng his fists.
Shea. though with pistol shot through each
leg, advanced in threatening manner toward
the man, but got further than the rifle,
which he immediately snatchcd up.
Up to this point Ellis had remained sitting
on his horse, apparently a disinterested specta-
tor; but when he saw Shea pick up the gun he
instantly slid off his horse on the side
furthest from Shea. The latter then cried to
Ellis: "Now. if you want to shoot at my legs
any more, step out from behind that horse
and blaze away" Ellis held his position be-
hind the horse. Shea told him that he did not
come out at once. and ''come a shootin," he
would drop the horse SO that he could shoot
the man. Ellis saw there was no help for it,
and, lodging under his horses head, ''came a
shootin' sure enough, his first shot striking
Shea ALREADY twice woundedl in the groin and
glancing upward. Shea, however, remained
standing long enough to fire two shots at Ellis,
knocking him in death throes to the ground,
Shea falling at the same instant. Recovering,
Shea rose to sitting posture and called to the
men who had in the meantime rushed in to
''Stand out of the way till give the scoundrel
another shot The dying man hearing the re-
mark, whispered: Don't let him shoot; I've
got enough" Shea was assured there was
need OF another shot, and lay down satisfied.
Ellis almost Immediately breathed his last. De-
ceased had 500 on his person, which was used
to defray burial expenses. The Independent
does not say whether Shea survived or not