Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-20
MURDER AT FLORENCE.
Erastus Hankins Shoots
George EversOn.
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.
The Result of a Quarrel Between
the Families of Two Farmers
Yesterday Evening.

FiOfouCo, II slA uilleo houi iSoo huBoico
was the scene OF terrible tragedy. Eras-
tus Hankins, young and well-to-do far
mer, shot down and mortally wounded
George Everson, his former partner. Both
parties were widely known and have
been held in high esteem in florence and
vicinity, and the shocking tragedy has
caused great excitement in that quiet
neighborhood.
The first news Of the murder had in
this city was heralded at about 0 O'Clock
by the entrance OF the murderer him
self, accompanied by his brother, into
the police station. Two roughly clad men
Of splendid physique drove hurriedly up
in front OF the station and alighted
They jumped from the buggy
and at once made their way
into the office, and asked to see
Chief Cuddy. They were ushered at
once into his private Office, and the eld-
est OF the two said: "Chief, have shot
and, think, killed George Everson at
Florence. l want to give myself up"
The Chief was naturally taken aback.
"Shot and killed him, you say?" he re-
piled. "What do you mean; who are
you, anyhow"
"l am Erastus Hankins this mans y
brother, and have shot man at Flor
ence. want to surrender to you," re-
sponded the man.
"All right, I'll take you," said the
Chief. "You're my prisoner until this
thing is explained or cleared up"
The speaker, Erastus Hankins, sat
nno1Ix, lo .,x
Chief Cuddy questioned him, and then,
he telephoned to Florence for further
cerning the tragedy except the bare fact
tally wounded George Everson, in
kins with murder and had just
man entered the office. After briefly
informing him concerning the tragedy,
the Chief kindly gave the news gatherer
an opportunity to see and con verse with
Hankins.
Hankins was found seated on the
lounge. He looked cool and collected
and responded to the introduction given
the reporter to him by tho Chief with
extended hand. Hankins and the re.
porter were soon talking about the
tragedy and he was found to be commu-
nicative; il, fact perfectly willing
to make full breast OF
the matter. His side of the story is ap-
pended:
"My name is Erastus Hankins. | am
81 years OF age. and have resided in
Florence since November last. | left
hnn,Q n Inwa fhraa .x-itI
father and two brothers and went to
Ruby Valley, Nevada. There we en-
gagged in stock.raising. and then 1 met
the man | have killed, George Everson.
l left Ruby Valley with my father and
one brother and went direct to Ventura
county. Here l again met Everson. We
were looking for land there, but saw
nothing that would suit us. We came
down here accompanied by Everson, and
rented jointly piece OF land, about $50
This was in December and January last.
Everson, my brother and myself were
partners, farming the land.
SIN January, Everson and my father
bought piece OF land out on
They soon wanted to sell it, and told me
to dispose OF it for 81 SEQ. got s., 900
for the land, and there the trouble be-
tween Everson and me first commenced.
He did not want me to make the $500.
He quarrelled over this and demanded
the money. / refused to give it up, and
he, after saying that if it was anybody
but me who was getting the money he
would not care, left. Soon after this he
wanted the partnership between us
hynEar 7 onraad ond h,At hos
offered to let him take any Sd part of the
1876 acres he wanted. There was good
hay crop on the land. He refused to d.
vide himself, and my brother did it for
him. We took two-thirds and he a third
of the crop.
We harvested our crop. From that
time on Everson tried in every W ay to
annoy me and provoke a quarrel. |
never spoke to him at ali, nor he
to me, but lie would send
his wife over to my house
when was away and she would try to
pick a quarrel with my wife. Things
kept on that way until tonight. / had
been away and when | returned my wife
told me Mrs, Everson had been over and
had demanded fifty cents from her which
Mrs. Everson claimed she had paid out
for repairs on sewing machine she said
my wife had broken nearly year ago,
when Everson and | were good friends.
This made me mad, and told my wife
l would go over to Everson's and see if we
owed him anything l started over and
met Everson at the gate. l says: Ever
son, do | owe you anything? He says
| don't recken you do. i asked him what
he meant then, by sending his wife over
to annoy my wife, while was away.
told him if | owed him anything l would
pay it, but l wanted this quarrel
ling to cease right then. I
told him il he wanted auy
thing out of me that he could get it
whenever it pleased him. Just as i fin
ished talking he jumped at me, calling
me vulgar name as he came. pulled
out pistol and shot him just before he
reached me. He fell down and l returned
to my house, hitched my horse to nv
buggy, got my brother in and drove UP
here. That's all there is about it,"
Hankins made his statement coolly,
and at its conclusion fell back upon the
sofa, sighed heavily and murmered: 81
wanted him to let me alone. l knew we
were going to have trouble, and to get
away from him was going back to Ruby
valley tomorrow 10 raise stock with my
brother Joe."
"Do you always carry a pistol 20
quer;ed the HERALD man OF Hankins
al er moments silence.
"Most always" was the response. 81
had been away and the pistol was in my
pocket when my wife told me about what
Mrs. Eyerson had said"
"How old a man was Eyerson?'