Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-16
A Dispute Over the Possession of Horse
Ends in Blood

a POSSESSION
Ends in BloOdshed.
FRESNO (Cal), December 18th The ill-fated
Billy Martin mne, at Temperance Flat Fresno
county, has just had a chapter of murder added
20 its already bloody history Henry c. Sulli-
van was arIaigned before Justice HOge yester-
day, at the Instance of ]. NJ Corrick, to show
cause why he should not be bound over to keep
the peace.
The case grows out of long-standing dispute
regarding the ownership of the Billy Martin
mine. About two years ago Corrick obtained a
judgment in the Superior Court declaring him
to be half-owner in the property. and when he
visited the mine after the Judgment was rendered
he got into a dispute with Sullivan, in the
course of which Corrick shot and wounded Sui
liyan. Sullivan returned the fire and wounded
one of Corricks men.
All of the parties were acquitted of the charges
made against them at that time, but Corrick
never went near the mine after that, and it is
alleged he had to remain away because he was
in mortal fear of Sullivan.
-At the hearing in the Justices Court yester-
day Corrick testified that in the early part of
August 1887. after the Court had decided he was
entitled to a half interest in the property, he
went to the mine with wagon and a team of
horses and two or three employees, for the pur-
pose of working it. He met Sullivan in the vi
cinity and told him that he going to work
on the claim, as the Court had decided that he
was the owner of half interest. CorIick went
to work Monday morning, when Sullivan came
along with pick handle in his hand and stood
on pile of dirt about ten feet above the hole
III WHICH COr1lcR was Working, ana q OlSpute
arose between them. Corrick seized double
barreled shotgun and Sullivan ran toward his
house and got n Winchester repeating rifle.
One barrel OF Corricks shotgun was accident
ally discharged in the air, but the second barrel
was better aimed, wounding Sullivan, who got
behind an oak tree and fred two shots, one of
which wounded Joe Barnett.
Corrick swore that he had since remained
away from the mine through fear of violence at
the hands OF Sullivan, hence this citation ask
ing that Sullivan be bound over to keep the
peace so that Corr.ck could go and work the
mine again.
Sullivan took the stand and after giving his
version of the fight, which differed but little
from Corricks testimony, said: "Since that
time have never spoken to Corrick. don't
know who the mine belongs to, and if Corrick
goes up there to work that mine won't molest
MIN. won't even speak to him. He can work
there all he wants to. am not in possession of
the property and / am not under any contract
10 keep possession OF 1t"
In keeping with the sentiment expressed
above, Corrick set about nal king preparations
to go to the mine at once and begin operations
This morning Cyrus Corrick, a son of J. NJ. Cor
rick, and man named ]. A. Hammerson,
started from Fresno with a team and wagon for
the mine. Corriek has ranch rented four
miles west OF town, and the men were instruc-
ted to go by it and change one of the horses in
the team for one on the ranch.
Arriving at the ranch they found ]. W. Hart,
cousin OF Cyrus Corrick in charge, and he re-
fused to give up the horse. dispute arose be-
tween the cousins and angry words ensued.
Finally Hart consented to let Corriek have the
horse, and the latter proceeded to harness the
same but the bride could not be found. Hart
wou not tell where it was, and Corrick made
a search IN the stable for it, and having found
it, Hart made a plunge at him with a dirk
knife. Corriek whipped out revolver ard
shot Hart in the chin making a severe flesh
wound.
Hart then said "An right; take the horse and
bride and ALL don't care" and started for the
house. Fearing that Hart would secure Win
chester rifle and use 1t on him, he followed him
to the house. Harts rife was under the mat
tress, and Hart went straight for it, but before
he could use it COrrick fired four shots from his
revolver, any one of which would have been
fatal. Corrick at once came into town, went to
the Jail and surrendered himself, and is low
occupying a cell.