The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1890-10-25

From witnesses and others who atten.
ded the trial of Henry Parish at Ely,
white Pine county last week, for the
murder of ?. G. Thompson at Royal
City in this county on the 3rd of August
last, we learn the following particulars
OF the trial and the result.
The case was transferred last month
from this county to White Pine OH &C.
count of prejudice existing here against
the prisoner and it came up on Monday
the 18th inst. the witnesses and the
District Attorney from Lincoln County
having arrived there the day before. The
prisoner having no attorney in attend.
ance the Court appointed Hon. 0. H.
Grey as Counsel to defend him, and the
work Of impaneling q jury was then be.
gun. This occupied the forenoon and
the jury list was exhausted without oh.
tanning one. Another venire for Jurors
was issued returnable on Tuesday morn.
ing at 8 O'Clock and Court adjourned
until that time.
On Tuesday morning the trial of the
case was resumed, District Attorneys T.
j. Osborne of Lincoln, and A. B. Treece,
of White Pine representing the State,
and Hon. o. H. Grey, the defense. A
jury was obtained without much diff.
Guilty and evidence on behalf of the State
submitted until the evening recess. and
was also continued on Wednesday morn
ing. Practically no defense was made in
the case, the defendants main reliance
being to trip up or contradict the States
witnesses. This however failed and
after argument, the case was submitted
to the jury under instructions, at about
4'3O in the afternoon. The jury were
out an hour and quarter when they re.
turned into Court and filed their verdict,
finding Parish guilty of murder in the
first degree.
Sentence of death by hanging was
pronounced on Wednesday, the day fol.
lowing, by Judge Wells. and Friday the
twelfth day of December next was fixed
as the day upon which the execution
shall take place.
The case presented by the State against
Parish was as strong and clear as case
well could be and left no room for
defense. It was shown that on the night
Of the End Of August last Parish was in
James Curtis's saloon at Royal City or
Jackrabbit IL miles north of Phoebe,
drinking somewhat and circulating freely
around the place. A game Of draw
poker was also in progress, at which a
man named P. G. Thompson together
with Harry Hill, Robt. Martin and a
chinaman were engaged, the table being
set out from the bar and near the oppo-
site wall Of the house. Thompson was
stranger to all present having been in
the camp but two days and was going to
work in the mine on Sunday the day fol.
lowing About o'clock in the morning
Sunday, Parish lounged up to the card
table and leaned on Thompsons shoulder
watching the game. Thompson asked
him in quiet way to desist, that he
couldn't play poker with him leaning on.
him, at which Parish went away not ap.
parently at all displeased. He returned
after a time and repeated the act and
Thompson again requested him to stop
adding that he was annoying the game
Parish moved off muttering something
about Thompson being loser. and en-.
gagged in conversation with Curtis the
barkeeper. Presently the chinaman in
game held a club flush, which was
passed out on him, and on showing down
his hand, his companions, including
Thompson, set up loud laugh. Upon
this Parish came up again, saying he al
lowed no son of b--h to laugh at him
directing his remark to Thompson, and
calling him id cur. The players,
and others in the saloon, knowing Par.
rishs' dangerous character, fastened to
explain to him the cause of the hilarity,
and Thompson answered that he was no
cur and that he didn't give damn for
him (Parish). Under the explanation,
Parish then apologized to Thompson and
moved away back Of him, Thompson re.
Stunning the game. A minute later Par.
ish thrust his hand into his pocket, and
brought out large clasp knife which he
proceeded to open, observing which, two
parties present, fearing trouble Of some
sort, asked him up to the bar to drink,
and Iurged him to put up the knife.
Parish accepted the invitation to drink,
but laughed off the request to put up the
knife, and the trio moved to the bar,
Parish clasping the open knife in his left
hand. The drinks were poured out,
but without touching his, Parish stepped
across to the table, to the right and in
front Of Thompson. who was still play.
ing, and striking his right fist violently
on the table, said to Thompson, "You're
not only cur, but son Of a b--h and
bastard" and struck or pushed him
heavily in the mouth with his right fist.
Thompson pushed back his chair and
arose to his feet, and as he did so, Parish
stepped forward and making pass with
his right hand, struck Thompson in the
abdomen with the knife in his left, and
attempted to repeat the blow, but