Iron County register., 1885-10-15

AttOrney-Generdl, VINO In formulating
that opinion wrote himself down an
ass. THOMAS CALLAHAN.
Oct. Sd.
On the 1st inst, Ben. C. Nance kill
ed his brother-in-law, Levi Critzer, at
the Nance farm. on the Silver Mines
road, six miles west of Frederick
town. They quarreled about mare
Critzer had borrowed that morning.
Nance, who was living with the Har-
vey family, about a mile distant, ac-
.conpanied little boy who went to
bring her home. ARRIVED there"
says the Ptaindealer, Levi Critzer
and Willie Hicks met them and went
out into the stable lot to get the mare
which was loose. Some difficulty was
experienced in finding her bride and
harness and young Nance remarked
to Willie Hicks that 1T would be bet
ter to return horse after borrowing
it, To this remark Critzer replied say
ing, L don't want any OF your lip
Nance retorted that his remarks were
made to Willie, not to him. The men
and boys were then standing at the
northwest corner Of the stable. Critzer
then told Nance that he could lick
him on less ground than he was stand
ing on and followed 1t up by showing
his first under Nance's nose, saying,
Smell OF your MASTER Nance SHOW
ed Critzer away and said, THAT Is not
recorded Then Critzer struck Nance
in the face with his fist hard enough
to stagger the latter up against the
stable, and Critzer having lost his foot
ing almost if not quite falling to the
ground. Nance on receiving the blow
drew his knife, and old-fashioned horn
handled pocket-knife having a four
inch blade, and began cutting his as
sailant, the thrusts being directed at
the throat and neck. 1t is supposed
that one of the first thrusts severed the
windpipe but Critzer fell within a few
feet of the corner of the stable where
the murderous fight began, receiving,
it supposed, no less than five wounds.
Critzer then broke away from his as
sailant and started for the bars between
the house yard and stable lot, intend
ing, perhaps, torun to the house for as
sistance, or what is more likely only
to get out Of reach of Nance's DEATH
dealing blows. He ran to the bars,
distant 40 feet, aud then weakened by
loss of blood, and the death rattle al
ready in his throat, fell. Ere he was
PROSTATE upon the ground his foe was
upon him, his face, eyes and hnnds
dyed in Critters blood which had
spurted upon him as ne withdrew the
knife from the wounds i'm Critzer's
throat. Again and again did the steel
and sheathe itself in the quivering flesh
of the fallen man and not until Willie
Hicks, whose childish voice hitherto
hushed by the horrible sights which
had transpired in 80 few and fateful
minutes, found vent in the cries of
Murder! Help! Help!' did the bloody
work cease. Then Nance leaped 70 his
feet and as If with wings Of wind he
almost flew down the path leading to
old man Harvey's.
As he left Critzer said In q whisper so
hoarse and faint as to be aimost maud
ible, Charley, take his knife away.
take his knife away To Jimmie Hicks
another brotheI-in-law who then ar
rived and asked II he was hurt badly,
he answered witt, difficulty, I am cat
all to pieces and then the spirit Of
Levi Cri,zer departed. His body was
carried into the house where an exam
ination showed no less than fourteen
six in the back, two in back
of head, one In back OF neck, one across
the right side Of the nose and lip, one
across right ear and three In throat and
ook ~