Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-06-10

q. q. ONcf1 Killed and His Two
Sons WOunded nv N mo

4. q. O'Ncil Killed and His Two
Sons wouDded by a Mob.
1t will be remembered that about q
month or so ago William Bassett, q ranch
man and stock raiser in Spring Valley.
White Pine County, was waylaid and shot
from his horse, receiving a bad wound in
the arm from a rifle bullet. The state
ment was made that the shooting was
done by r. G. O'Neil and his two sons,
who were alleged to have concealed them
selves behind rocks in a canyon and TO
have shot at Bassett as he entered and
rode towards them, not expecting any
such murderous assault. R. O. O'Neil,
The father, published a circular, OF which
the SENTINEL received . copy, shortly after
the affair occurred, stating that the above
charge, made by a correspondent Of the
White Pine News, was false in every par
t%icular; that he and his sons could prove
an alibi, and that he challenged and
courted 9 judicial investigation.
1t was understood that Mr.. Bassett, who
had been shot, declined to prosecute, and
that the affair would end without trouble;
but it seems that the O'Ncils lave made .
good many enemies in the valley, who
we're 50 much incensed at the last act with
which he was charged. and OF which the
neighbors very generally believed him and
his sons guilty, that they would not let
the matter drop. Either they forced him
to give himself up for examination, or
else he, finding that he was NOT safe.
owing to the bitter feeling that was enter
20 al anatnok hsnxanlf c.I c~~o A14nohk
it best to seek the shelter Of the law at
Osceola, where the nearest Justice Of the
Peace resided.
1t appears that q crowd Of men followed
him thither, thinking that he might nm
dertake to leave the country, determined
to kill him. Heated by the pursuit Of
their victim, and fearing that he might
escape punishment il tried, they made up
their minds to lynch him. He got to
Osceols several hours ahead Of his pur-
suers and gave himself up.
He was Pit under arrest, but in OsceOla
there is no place Of confinement, and he
was allowed to 60 on his own recognizance.
Apprehending danger from the presence Of
an unusually large number Of ranchera
from Spring Valley who had threatened
him, and who he knew were his mortal
enemies, he begged the Justice to grant
him the protection Of the Law until his
examination should take place.
When put under arrest he was disarmed
and helpless. The Justice refused to give
him the protection he asked for. He went
out on the streets between l and 2 O'Clock
In the afternoon, Friday, and was attacked
by the crowd, who were waiting for him,
and riddled with bullets from six-shooters.
His son William WA badly wounded and
his SON Richard slightly wounded. The
father, who had no weapon to defend him.
self, fell and expired almost Immediately,
while the som we're overwhelmed by the
number against them, and could make but
q feeble opposition. They were covered
from several points, and though they drew
their pistols and showed fight, they were
shot and disabled before they could shoot
more than once or twice each in return.
No one of the attacking party was wounded.
The names Of those who were in town are
known, but it will be difficult to prove, ex-
cept by the O'Neil boys, who did the
shooting.
The citizens of Osceola are indignant
over the cowardly affair. They did not
know until the shooting was all over that
0'Neil had asked to be protected, and they
censure the Justice severely for not calling
upon them 70 snieiu us PEisoneI iTom
murder.
In Ward the people bitterly condemn
the action Of the mob. owing to the fact
that O'Neil was in charge Of officers Of the
law when attacked, because the act seemed
one OF extreme cowardice for a crowd to
take such an advantage Of an unarmed
man. At last accounts no arrests had
beer made, but Sheriff Lander started
from Hamilton yesterday to the scene Of
the dastsrdly tragedy, and will doubtless
take the necessary steps to bring the
assassins to justice.