The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1886-02-18
Shooting Affair at Sand
Run.
Accidental killing Of Reese
Spencer.
The Shooting OF jim Nixon.

Intelligence was received il
this city Tuesday night al II o.
clock, by Sheriff Gallagher, thai
two men had been shot anC
killed al Sand Run, between tie
hours Of nine and ten o'clock in
The evening.
Two hours later Sheriff Gala
CHER, Coroner G. G. Gage, DR.. l
G. Wright and Squire Brehm.
took a special train for New
Straitsvi!ie. and after a tiresome
tramp Of five or six miles over
the hills, arrived upon the scene
of the tragedy at 1 o'clock in the
morning
The body Of Reese Spencer was
found laying upon the railroad,
where he had fallen after receiv-
ing the fatal shot. A mantle had
been thrown over the body and
two men standing guard, when
the Coroner took charge of it.
James Nixon, who was danger
ously wounded, had been taken
to a neighboring house and was
under the care of DR.. Lyons.
At that hour all was quiet and
orderly. Z. L. West and Ben
Eas,erling the men charged with
doing The shooting, surrendered
quietly to the officers. 1t might
he said right here that as soon as
the shooting was done, Easterling
telegraphed to Sheriff Gallagher
the results of the affair, and
stated that he and West were
ready to surrender.
The statemen, of the killing of
Spencer and the shooting 6f Nix
on, is gwen aud received from a
gentleman who was present and
saw the Whole affair:
MONDAY last pay day at the
mines, and as is usual, the men
INDUCED quite freely in drink
Among those who had been Ia,
king on considerable was James
Henry Nixon. In his cups this
man was considered dangerous,
and the frequent escapades that
he has been a party TOO, shows
that he was q bad citizen to meet
when drunk. On Monday after
room he filed himself with bad
liquor andj..started out with the
sole purpose of doing up Ben
Easterlins. He was armed with
murderons looking dirk knife
and had hunted Easterling from
place. to place during the evening
like a wild beast. Nixon
finally came to Tom Vests sa
loon and asked that this man be
sent out and he would kill him.
was in the saloon at The time
and told Easter!iug that he must
not go out; that if he did. would
be killed. He said, l will do just
as you tell me. In the mean time
Nixon was making Il terrible as
sault on the door. Presently Tom
West opened the door and went
ont. stepped out at that time
myself. West said to Nixon.
Jim. haven't always been a
friend to you?' Nixon made no
reply but struck West blow
with his left and immedi-
ately followed it up with his
right hand. When he struck
West with his right hand, l saw
the glittering blade of the dirk
knife and thought West would
be killed. Just then West stepped
into The house and the door closed,
Nixon then took Il run and jump
at the door, and after the third
trial it gave way. la all instant
there was the crack of a revolver
and saw the snow fly. Another
shot followed Immediately, and l
saw Reese Spencer, who was On
the rail road about twenty feet
away, siagger and fall. Imme-
diateIy after the last shot he
door of the saloon was closed
Nixon, after the shots were fred,
dropped down by the side of he
building and out of range. After
the door closed he ran across the
platform at he depot and swore
he was the best man at Sand
Run. / told him he ought 10
keep still, that one man had been
killed on his account already. Il
did not see Nixon again for about
twenty minutes. Tom West had
in the meantime gone home. AZ
Ter it was known that Spencer
was dead | started to Vests
house. Just al this time Easter
ling, who had remained in the |
saloon during the fracas, slipped
out Of the back way and started |
towards Vests also. Before
got to Vests house, two men
came running up. l could not
tell then who they were, but fol-
lowed on. When they were in
fifty feet Of the mouse they were
scuifling, when one Of them
slipped and fell face down in the |
mud puddle. These men were |
Nixon and Easteriing. The one
that was down was Nixon. and |
had followed Easterling TO this |
place. AS soon as Nixon fell |
Easterllng commenced firing. l
followed at him and said, stt