The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1892-03-12
IT'S A SHAME.
S. J. Pritchard Shot and Killed at
0reana by Vim. Fleming.

No event has ever before occurred ia
tire people, as the shooting and killing
of Samuel j. Pritchard on the 9TH inst,
at Orean, by Constable Wm. Fleming.
Deceased was perhaps more univer-
sally known than any man in the county
in consequence of the active interest he
had takenin political matters, having
been elected county assessor twice,
which office he filed with credit to
| himself and to the satisfaction of bis
constituents, and at the time Of his
death being Deputy q. S. Marshall.
He bad chosen politics as vocation,
and, being unusually shrewd and far
seeing, had at the age of 35 years, the
time of his untimely and uncalled for
death, attained reputation and stand
ing that wonld doubtless, had he been
spared, secured for him brilliant
| future. Like all positive men, he had
his bitter enemies, but his friends out
numbered them as thousand to one.
He came to Idaho in the early days,
when but boy, and had been engaged
i n various vocations. Some ten years
ago he married Miss Minnie Ulrich,
whom be leaves heart broken, together
with two bright boys-the result of
their union--to mourn his sad fate.
Poor, unfortunate, generous, warm
hearted, impulsive, Sam, may your
sleep be dreamlees.
The circumstances of the homicide
are substantially as follows: Pritchard
had returned to the house of his father
in-law, Mr.. Geo. Ulrich, where his
family were staying, after an absence
of several months on off cial business
and seemed in low spirits and acted in
strange manner, threatening to kill
himself, and with u rife shooting several
of the pictures in the house, showing
plainly that his mind was deranged.
Mr.. Ulrich, fearing Pritchard would do
himself or som cone serious injury, found |
Constable Fleming and requested him
to arrest his son-in-law, at the same
time warning him to be careful, as
Pritchard was crazy and armed. The
officer started without a warrant, and /
found deceased on the race track, bare |
footed and without hat What oc-
CURED there is only known to Fleming, |
SO far as conversation is concerned. |
IN, Oh OF. Il ioto
of a hundred yards or more, whore he
was blowing. Fleming says Pritchard
had his hands in his overcoat pockets;
that he (Fleminp) told him he had
come to arrest him and to throw up his
hands, which lie refused to do, but
raised them (still in his poekets) and
Fleming, fearing Pritcbard was about to
shoot, Immediately opened fire; firing
three shots, all of which took effect, and
each one of which would have proved
fatal. Fleming gave himself up and
jury exonerated him. He
was subsequently arrested by Sheriff
McCabe, brought to Silver City, and
.aken back to Oreana for an exami-
nation.
The remains were brought to Silver
City and inferred on Monday, the 7th /
nst., under the auspices of the Masonic
odge, of which order Pritchard WAS an
aonored and honorable member. The |
unera was one of the most largely
lttended ever in that place, friends {
rom far and near being present to show t
heir respect for the memory of the ,
lead.
1t is to be hoped that the inyestiga-
ion may be thorough, and, if mar {
Ter has been committed, that the per-
,etrator may receive the full penalty t
# the law. 1t seems strange if an un- V
rmed man, who has always borne an c
nsullied reputation and who, at the !
ime, was doing no harm to any person, t
an be shot down by petty precinct 8
Aicer, simply because he has lost his i
lind. If such is the law, then il is /
ime it be changed, or men elected who
ave discretion and nerve enough to
iake an arrest without unnecessary :
omicide. Sam would never have
illed you had the circumstances been "