Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-08-19
H THIRD DAY.
Evidence for the Prosecution
Temporarily Closed.

Deputy Sheriff NuckOIs ON the
stand-He Tells why He Left for
C~leveland's Ranch-A witness fol
Prosecution Disappoints Counsel
ON That Side-Endeav0r TO Con
tradict said Witness.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
HAMILTON, Aug. II, 1883.
The hearing Of testimony by the prose
cution in the preliminary examination Of
defendants, before named, charged with the
murder Of r. @. O'Neil, was resumed this
morning at 0 O'Clock.
ALE. r.. NUcKoL's TESTIMONY.
Did not arrest O'Neils; only went with
Matson, who took them to Osceola. We
passed through Spring Valley, stopping al
ell the rsnches-Cameron's, SIMPSONS,
Flannagan's and Cleveland's. O'Neil (the
old mani expressed nc fear Of mob vio-
lence after leaving Cherry Greek. He was
afraid before leaving. That's why I &C.
companied Matson. On arrival at Osceola
Matson had to go to summon witnesses.
/ told him that I would see that prisoners
appeared next morning to plead to charge.
Prisoners allowed to go free. They ap-
pesred next morning for trial voluntarily.
Trial postponed. I told Matson l wouldn't
guard them for $40 q day. Didn't want
the bother. Not afraid Of them. After
noon of June Z, about 4 or 5 O'Clock, left
town in buggy with A. G. Cleveland for
Gregory's ranch for recreation. Was gone
IA hours. Returned next day. O'Neil
on my return was dead. Cleveland invited
me to go and he returned with me. Up to
time of leaving l had no intimation that
Dunton and Williams were officers. Didn't
inform Justice OF the Peace that I was
going away. Only on June 8. Didn't
know that Dunton and Williams solicited
their appointment. Was told they did.
O'Neil wanted me to remain and said he
would pay my expenses. l said didn't
want him to, Sheriff would pay my ex-
penses when engaged officially az Deputy.
Next day after shooting William O'Neil
gave me these names Of men as belonging
to the mob: NJ. Z. Bassett, Geo. Williams,
Dunton, Fletcher, Odgers, Flanagan,
Kulsn, name Of another, q man working
for Cameron he did not know. Can't
swear positively that he didn't name
Simonson.
~
Live in Osceols; keep q saloon there.
From my place, night Of tragedy, heard
shots. Got up and dressed. Quick as
first shot was fred saw man run down to-
wards SINNERS cabin. Saw William
O'Neil Is minutes later. He was then in
front of Justice Office and said he had
been shot. Right after shooting came out
and saw Dunton, Williams and Hotelling
IN frcpt ~ ~ oalcnn Duntnn aatd O
man had broken into q vacant house and
he would like to know who it was. Will
Jams went away to Justices office. The
other three of US went to the house, in
which match was lighted to see il the man
wa in there. The man referred to is W.
T. O'Neil, who had broken into unoccu-
pied house in his fight.-REPoRTER.
Didn't know then myself how things were.
Couldn't find the man. We had lantern
and Dunton went around with us hunting
in sagebrush. Dunton told me he was at
the spring when mob came along; covered
him with guns and tied him and left a
man to guard him. Said Williams united
him, but did not say when. Spring $50
or 200 feet from SINNERS cabin. Three
or four minutes after l heard first shots
saw Dunton without arms on him. He
was free and united. Dunton didn't say
how Williams got through the guard to
unite him. l Joined Williams at Justice
Office shortly, where he was relating cir
cumstances how the mob had come and
captured his prisoners. Didn't say he
made any resistance to mob. Saw the
buckshot in corner OF my porch after
shooting. They were not there before.
Neither Dunton nor Williams disclosed
the name Of any one OF the mob. I
know no one Of them. Morning Of June
8 followed tracks OF men from q little
above SINNERS cabin to graveyard. Saw
where eight or nine went there for
horses. Thence tracks OF horses went
towards Spring Valley.
THOMAS D.
Morning Of June 8 saw shooting there.
My house is right along side OF Bussy's
saloon, nearer to SINNERS cabin thar to
1t. Was standing in my door when I saw
q shot % from q shotgun. Saw a man fire
the shot from towards SINNERS cabin.
After that shot / saw Dunton there; met
him shortly afterwards on the street.
Asked him what was up. He told me that
Ave masked men came up and took the
prisoners away from them. George WILL
Jams WAS standing by US at the time. He
asked George Williams to cut him loose;
had his hands behind him. George went
behind him. Didn't see him make motion
to cut rope. Didn't see any rope. This
conversation occurred some Is minutes
after the shooting.
ROBERT PECK.
Morning Of June 8 heard shooting, fol-
lowed instantly by an unearthly yell. !
got MP out OF bed and looked out after the
shooting was oil over. Saw q man coming
out OF Skinner's; . man about the size Of
Williams. Saw six men go by window
after shooting. Didn't know who they
we're. They were going towards graveyard.
They did not speak. / thought the O'Neils
were in house yet. Saw Dunton 10 or 20
minutes after shooting. He asked me il /
didn't hear him walking up and down my
house all night. I told him no. He told
me he had been overcome and gagged OF
the spring. Didn't see Williams at all ct
this time.
ISAAC VAN TuNKs.
The defendant Fletcher. upon hearing
me read an article from the White Pine
News with regard to the lying in ambush
for and shooting OF Bsssett by the O'Neils,
declared himself Ia favor Of mob law. He
said il a mob should be organized he
would always be ready TO Join il for the
purpose OF putting the ONeils speedily out
OF the way. He did not try to induce me
to join in any mob. but tried to embitter
me and others present after the reading Of
article referred to.
THOMAS o'BRIEN.
I took the paper containing account OF
the shooting OF Bassett to men with herd
in Steptoe Valley. Met Fletcher, defend
ant. He said no had heard Of shooting.
but didn't believe it. He said he knowed
the damn sons Of bitches would not shoot
a man in the face, but would shoot him in
ambush, and that he would help mob them
IL . mob was raised. On 5th or 9Th day Of
June we we're riding towards Cleveland's.
He said he was going to Cleveland's. I
asked him il he had heard anything more
Of the shooting of Bassett. He said the
Justice Of the Peace at Osceoln had been
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