Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-09-28
THE COFFEY HOMICIDE.
Particulars of n killing by an
Exe.Wttuess of the Affair.

BULLIoNvILLE, New, Sept. %, 1882.
Ed. SENTINEL: Having read the item
in your paper, that was taken from the
Frisco Times, in regard to the Psnaca
homicide, knowing the statement to be
utterly false in every particular, and
wishing to see justice done to the prisoner,
Lew Carpenter, l send you for publication
the full particulars of the affair as seen by
a disinterested witness. The causes which
led to the shooting were fully set forth by
Mr.. Turner of the Phoebe Record in a late
issue of that paper, so l will confine myself
to the fatal encounter between the men,
which resulted in the death Of Coffey. As
the dance was progressing nicely at Social
Hall, Panaca, on the night of the 4th
instant, Lew Carpenter came to one of the
doors and commenced a conversation with
a young man, during which he la%ughingly
said: Il wonder if they would let an old
sport like me in there" Coffev was
standing close by, and, overhearing the
remark, said: 1--WE don't allow any id
stinkers in here" whereupon Carpenter
answered Coffey by saying: ''This is no
place to quarrel. Come outside if you
nave anything to say to me-" Coffey went
out, remarking as he did SO: Il will go
any place with you, and, Furthermore, you
know what l. think of you" When
asked by Carpenter what that was he
replied: "You are a id dirty stinker,
and you have played me for the biggest
one in the country" While this CONVEX
sation was going on the two men stood
close together, looking each other in the
eye, and with their hands on their pistols,
Coffey's being in his right hip pocket and
Carpenters in his bosom. Bob Nc
Clutchey came up about this time and
tried to talk them into letting it drop, but
Coffey would not be pacified, and said: Il
will talk all | d-n please" Shortly after
this Cotfey repeated the word ''stinker,'
when Carpenter retaliated, and both men
started to pull their pistols. Carpenter
got his out first, but it would not r~evolve.
Both men fired about the same time, and
it is hard telling which one had the adj
vantage. Your informant is inclined TIC
believe that if there was any Cotfey had
the best of it. Several shots were fred in
quick succession by both parties, Coffey
doing some very wild shooting, which
Carpenter took advantage of by rushing
in on him in a stopped attitude unit
within a few feet of Coffey and then de
livered his fire. After Coffey had emptiet
his revolver he retreated into the hall
where he dropped it, but picking it W
again he returned to the door and flung il
at Carpenter, after which he made for
bench, seemingly a very sick man. Car
penter in the meantime came rushing int
the hall, and when he got within a few
feet of his opponent he threw his pistol a
him, hitting him behind the ear ant
knocking him to the floor. Picking hi
pistol up again he threw it at the prostrat,
form of Cotfey, when, on hitting the floor
it exploded. All this happened inside o
a minute, and caused the widest excite
ment, women f%ainting and strong mer
falling down in their efforts to get out o
harms way. Coffey had a great man,
friends among the Mormon people il
Panaca and Glover Valley, but the ma
jority of the people here and at Phoebe art
in favor of the acquittal of Carpenter.
CITIZEN.