Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1886-03-07
THE POWERS MURDER.
Prewett Continues in His ndeav
Ors 60 SHOW n killing Was fn
Self. Defense.

Prewett Continues in His Endeav'
ors 10 show Ia killing Was In
Self.Defense.
ESPECIAL TO THE s~ENTINEL.l
HoLLIsTER. CAL, March Gin thu
Prewett case this morning the defendant
Prewett, was again put on the stand. He
testified that he never stayed away from
home nights unless he was absolutely com
PEELED to. He feared that his property
would be burned up. His family seemed
afraid they would be poisoned, or the house
blown up. "About 8 o'clock l thought ]
would go up to Twins and brand a steer
which 1 had purchased from him. l got
my horse and took my shotgun with me;
that was my usual custom. l then went on
up Williamson Canyon about q mile to
where the road comes in across O. fidge
from Bear Valley and ven down to Twins
and found him %chopping wood half q mile
this side bf his house. l asked him where
the cattle were. He said he hadn't seen
them since morning. l went back to the
house TO prepare q fire for branding. and
he VEN across the canyon to drive the cat
tie up. He came back and said he could
not find them. He got his horse, and he
and l went down the canyon toward Will
low Greek to look for the cattle. About
one mile down I heard Twins cow bell
aud went in that direction. After going Q
short distance / saw two or three cattle off
to one side. The rest Of them were some
ways down the road. Irwin turned off to
90 after the two or three cattle, and l went
on down the road after the others. About
$50 yards further down l met DR.. Powers.
He looked at me, aud / said: Good day,
DOCTOR He said putting his hand back in
his pocket, IN fight you a DUEL had a
gun across my saddle. l picked it up. apd
told him did not want to fight. He kept
on trying to draw q pistol, and l pointed
the gun at him. He struck at the gun with
his left hand, as II to push it aside or
grab It. l then fired the left barrel at
him. The horse whirled around, and swung
US face TO face. He seemed to be
pulling something from his pocket. /
fired another barrel as soon as | could. In
firing the first barrel I in tended only to
disable him, and the second shot I in
tended to kill him in defense Of my own
life. l believed in good faith that my W
life was in danger, based on reports l had
heard and my knowledge OF the mans
CnkrHCt6E. Az TUG beCUuu suOb OWcIb Whn
on horseback. After the second shot he fell
forward from his horse right where the
road crosses the gulch. 1 then rode away
and went home. l came up with Irwin
about SO or 100 yards away. and went on
with him as far as his house."
Cross-examination: l testified that the
killing took place about 4:30 or P. NJ.
Irwin took no part in this matter. He did
not have q gun.
Ibid you not induce many persons OF
that neighborhood TO assemble at Willow
Greek for the purpose of lynching
Powers?"
Answer: 81 decline to answer"
The witness here stated to the Court
that he had taken a solemn oath never to
divulge anysbing that would tend to i'm
plicate others in the affair. and that no
penalty the Court could infiict would in
duce him to associate other parties with
the killing.