The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-11-09
Duel to the Death.

TIC 1nyo Independent tells of a singular and
bloody shooting affair which occurred recently
between Gordon Ellis and Pat Shea at BEN
netfs Ranch, Lincoln County, New, out to.
wdrd Colorado. A short time before the fight
Elti=sold some borax locations to the Coleman
Borax Company, receiving 5000 therefor. On
hesday before his last he. got into a dispute
win Mexican with whom he was gambling
Henotified the Mexican that he would then
ana there shoot him, but only through the leg,
as warning what would happen if he (the
Merican) did not conduct himself in proper
mSener. Thereupon he did shoot the Mexican
through the leg, and things went smoothly un.
til tie following day -..
Ellis then had some difficulty with Shea, with
whom ne was gambling, and told Shea that
he meant to shoot him through the leg, as
he iaq the Mexican the preceding day, If
SheR did not mend his ways Shea dared
hiu3 shoot an unarmed man, as he then was.
Eilh blezed away at Shea's leg, sending ball
thrfsieh IT below the knee. Shea began abus-
ing tEiiis, whereupon, after due notice, Ellis
pSsssrated shea's other leg. During the shoot
ire come men present had started to their
camp, short distance away, to get their Hem
~ rifles, whether merely TO protect their own
lcgsor with view of interfering in behalf Of
the wounded man, can only be surmfsed.
While returning with their rifles they met
Ellis, and with drawn guns compelled him to
~ ptch. COInlLS up 10 Wner6 Sn0a was, the
latter, applying foul epithet to one of the
men with the rifles, added: you cowardly
scoundrel, you want to shoot an unarmed
man, too, do your" At this the man addressed
replied: IF you think am coward, come
out here, you cursed fool" concluding his
remark by throwing his gun down on the
ground near Shea and brandishing his fists.
Shea, though with pistol shot through each
leg, advanced in a threatening manner toward
the man, but got no further than the rifle,
which he Immediately snatchcd up.
Up to this point Ellis had remained sitting
on his horse apparently a disinterested specta-
tori 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
want to shoot the horse, but that if 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
shootin' sure enough, his first shot striking
Shea falready twice wounded) in the groin and
glancing upward. Shea, however, remained
standing long enough to fire two shots at Ellis,
the first with trif1ing effect, but the second
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 no
needof another shot, and lay down satisfied.
Fills 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.