St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-26
JAKE STEIBER'S SHOOTER.
How Nevada Desperate Lost His Fine
Breeeh Loader.
THE EDITOR KEPT
Life In Esmeralda County During the
Mining Boem---Always
Polite.

ought to know Dormer. He was
printer and all-round newspaper man
here a good many years ago. and
worked with Henry George before
George got bald-headed and rich writ
ing about poverty.
"Dormer is secretary of state OF Ne
vada now, and they call him the Hon.
John NJ. Dormer' over there, and want
him to run for United Stetes senator.
"DOrmer went from the editorial
chair of the Candelaria True Fissure to
his present position.
During his connection with news
paper life in Southwestern Nevada Mr..
DOrmer had considerable experience
with several frather boisterous charac-
tiers, some of whom were known as cut
tiers and shooters, and who were i'm
patient of adverse criticism.
among these one of the most mallg-
nant-tempered was Jack Steiber, a
gambler and lodging house keeper of
rather unsavory reputation. Steiber
OScillated between Candelaria and Belle
vile, seven miles away.
Zone winter night, in Belleville, Stei-
Der thought it necessary, in the dis
charge of his self-imposed duties as
regulator of society, to mash in the
skull of an inOtfensive old Mexican who
was indiscreet enough to hold seven
full against Jake's pat flush in poker
game.
1.-THE Mexican fingered for several
days and finally died in great agony.
There was much Indignation i'm the
community, but very few people cared
to say great deal about the murder,
because Steiber was known as holy
terror, the discreet citizen of that land
of self-cockerS and bOwie-kniveS, wish
ing as far as possible to avoid trouble.
Jake announced that he would not
allow anybody to criticIse his action, and
that if anybody bounced him because
he had done what he considered his
duty, they would have to look out for
themselves.
SIN the next issue of the True Fissure
an account of the killing was published,
and the authorities were called on to
properly punish the offenders,
LAS a consequence Jake was arrested
and held to appear before the next grand
jury, which was to meet at Aurora, the
county seat, eighty miles away. He
gave bonds for his appearance, and a
day or two afterwards went to Aurora,
where the grand jury was in session.
after arriving in Aurora, Jake took
expensive rooms in the best hotel and
kept open house like a politician run
ming for the United States senate. He
entertained his friends and admirers in
handsome manner, and was loud in
his declarations as to what he would do
to punish any person who presumed to
press the charges before the grand
jury.
duced by the good cheer of which he
hn ,fol- ISL l. L
fine breech-loading shot gun, and, TAX
ing it into John Twins North Star sa-
loon, announced that he intended to
kill Dormer with it if he dared to put in
an appearance while the grand jury
was in session.
''It so happened that business called
Dormer to Aurora, and, without know
ing anything of the dread threat against
his life, he arrived IN town within
couple of hours after Jake's Warlike
declaration had been made public.
Jake did not expect Mr.. Dormer. and
what he had said had been more in the
way of bluff than anything else. for he
did not think there there would be any
occasion for testifying his sincerity.
Not wishing to spend all his money in
one house, he went to John Noyaco-
vich'S barroom close at hand; In order
shotgun being rather cumbersome, he
left it behind the bar in the North Star,
saying that it should be kept until he
called for IT.
During this temporary absence Mr..
Dormer arrived on the stage and went
at once to Twins place, where he was
sure of warm welcome.
1.-The first man who greeted Dormer
was an honest little Sawed-Off IriShman
named Jimmy Harrington, who in the
etfusiveness of his greeting was almost
annoying. He was decidedly under the
influence of liquor and his language was
scarcely Understandable. Assuming a
confidential tone, he said:
"'See here, Dormer, old boy, I'm yer
friend, and don't yer forgit it. Pm yer
tries to do ye up they'll have to git to
me first.
"'Now, if ye're heeled, it's all right,
but if We haln't, ye'd better git heeIed,
right quick. Eve got two of the best
guns in Nevaddy, and ye've got to take
one of 'em right how.
"'Pll stand by We, and don't we forgit
1t, and Pm yer frind and don't We forgit
it, and guess they can't git away with
both of u.s.
cat the conclusion of his speech
Harrington pulled out an immense self
cooking pistol, halt a yard long, and
tried to shove it into his friends over
coat pocket.
"Dormer had not heard of the threat
against his life, and as none of the
sober men In the crowd supposed that
Jake was in earnest, they had not
thought it necessary to tell him about
the wild language and the shotgun.
n Of
fered the pistol, Dormer said:
"'Oh. never mind, Harrington. Of
course | know you are all right, and [
guess we can stand off anybody that
wants to have any fun with u.s. At
the same time, in regular Nevada style.
he put his silver on the bar and called
for drinks for the crowd.
"While Ed Greeley. the barkeeper,
was mixing the cocktails the shotgun
attracted Dormer's attention, and being
an enthusiastic sportsman and inter-
ested in all matters relating to outdoor
pleasures, he said to the man behind
the bar:
"'Ed. let me see that gun. 1t looks
like good one.
"Greeley mechanically handed him
the weapon, simply saying: Look out
for it, Johnny; she's loaded
"Dormer was admiringly inspecting
it, when the door opened and in walked
Steiber.
"'There he is. Dormer,' said Harripg-
ton. There's the man who said he was
a-going to shoot ye, with that very gun
ye've got in yer hand; and Pm yer
friend, and yer bet yer life I'll stand by
yer, and, bedad, they can't get away
with both of US, not if Jimmy Harring-
ton knows himself
"Steiber stood aghast. He was the
most surprised man in Esmeralda
county. He supposed. of course, that
Dnrmer had been told of his. threat and
had purposely taken possession of the
gun in order to protect himself. As
Stunning an air of hraYadO. lake said.