Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-10-23
A DOUBLE-BARREL SHOTGUN.
Its Deadly Work on Hugh Boyd
at Acton.

It's Deadly Work ON Hugh Boyd
ut Acton.
Judge Sbaw's court was taken up yes
terday with the trial of Robert Campbell,
familiarly known as ''Three. Fingered
Bob" for the killing Of Hugh Boyd, near
Acton, at the head Of the great Soledad
caflon where the pass is into the
Antelope valley. The killing took place
on tho 9Th day of June last.
Two men, named Capers and Foley, OF
the neighborhood, were eye-witnesses of
the affair, and told the story yester.
day under oath.
Capers and Foley were going along the
rtaG late in the evening after their work
was done. They saw two men on horse
back short distance ahead of them,
who seemed by their loud tones to be
quareling. Capers said to Foley, "There
is 'Three-Fingered Bob quareling
with some one. They are drunk. :"
The other man proved to be Hugh Boyd.
Boyd's horse was ranged along the road,
and Campbell's was ranged across it,
with his head towards Boyd as the latter
sat in the saddle. As the two pe1es-
trians approached the cavaliers, Camp
bell said to Boyd that if he did not do
something he would shoot him, at toe
same time leveling his gun 81 his oppo.
nant. Boyd replied, "Shoot, you -
- -, you have not the nerve to do
it." Boyd was not armed. Capers and
Foley ran up and seized Campbell and
took away his gun. Foley removed the
caps from the cap tubes and then handed
the weapon back to Campbell, telling
him to 60 on home. Campbell rode
away, and as he did 80 Boyd called after
him that he would get gun and they
would "shoot it out the next time they
met" Then they walked along, Boyd
riding just in front of them. At a turn
in the road Campbell came riding back,
and when Boyd saw him he spurred up
his horse and rode towards his adver-
sary. Campbell began to rein his horse,
and called to Boyd, ''Do not come near
me or 1 will shoot you" Boyd called
back the very same defiance he had used
shortly before as reported above land rode
right on. As the two came in sight of
each other they were nearly 100 feet
apart. Just after the above warning and
defiance were exchanged they were
within ten feet of each other. AS Boyd
finished, the two pedestrians saw
Campbell level his gun, bringing it
up to his shoulder and taking de.
liberate aim. Then he discharged it,
and the load stirred up the dust in the
bauk TO the right of Boyd. By this time
| CamphelPs horse had come to stand.
still. He had been checking his pace
from the time he first got sight Of his
v,fo 81 l.
in the road. Campbell, after firing the
J first shot, called to Boyd to keep off, bu'
! the latter kept on, making circle around
! Campbell in the road, and as he got or
the other side of him and close uI
Campbell faced around in the saddle
brought the muzzle of his gun to thai
side, and without taking aim discharged
the second barrel. Boyd fell, and Camp
bell rode rapidly away in the direction
he had returned from. Foley started tc
go away, but Capers said to him
that they had better remain. They wen
up to Boyd and found him badly
manned, the whole charge of shot hav
ing taken effect about the diaphragm
cutting the liver to pieces and severinf
the aorta, or great artery Just above the
heart. In a few moments the man wal
dead. As Capers said, "He was dead
dead, very dead" |"
The weapon, large, double-barre
shotgun, was shown and identified by
the witness; also the vest Of Boyd. with
the perforstions of the large shot al
through its face. Capers testified that 81
far as he could see, Boyd was totally un
armed.
The case is still on trial.