The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1892-04-16
W. A. Steele Killed by Peter Medlen

| 6nOt gun was D6Hru aDOVe tue CUustdH III
noise of the great mill and the eeaseless
roar of the swelling waters of the turbu-
LIANT Jordan, as the gathering gloom of
night begun to settle upon the gulch in
which nestes the busy town of De-
Lamar. The hour was seven O'Clock on
last Tuesday evening. The smoke from
the discharged gun slowly curled around
the head of Peter Medlen, in whose
bands the weapon was held. On
the ground not twenty feet away sat
disconsolate woman in whose lap rested
the head of her husband, into whose
side the murderous discharge from the
still smoking gun had found its way,
and the victim, moment before in the
prime of vigorous manhood was slowly
breathing away the moments that would
make his wife a widow and his two
helpless and innocent children father
less. The man upon whose brow the
clammy perspiration of a rapidly ebbing
life was already gathering, was VIM. A.
Steele. Now newly rounded mound
of earth on the hillside, in sight of his
erstwhile humble home, covers all that
was mortal of the remains of husband
and father whom the hasty passion of a
neig Dor destroyed. That former neigh
Dor is now in prisoners CELL commun-
ing with his own unhappy thoughts
while awaiting his trial for murder.
William A. Steele and Peter Medlen
lived on adjoining lots on little fat of
ground west of the creek, where gnlch
comes down at the upper end of town.
There is cluster of small houses and
tents in that quarter, all occupied by
families. and good feeling has not al
ways existed between the neighbors
AS climax of several petty disputes it
appears that Steele proposed to locate
privy at place where it was objection
able to Medlen's family, Medlen came
home from his days work and found
Steele digging pit on the site selected,
and ordered him to desist. Steele was
defiant, went on with his work, and
from all accounts each used very insult
ing language toward the other. Medlen
went into his house and came out with
his gun. The families of both parties
and several of their neighbors, attracted
by the abusive language and threats,
had gathered around. Steele did not
desist from his purpose or stop his pro-
voking insults at the sight of the gun,
and after moments more talk between
the two angry men, Medlen rashly
raised the gun and fired, with fatal
result.
James Pascoe, a special deputy sheriff,
heard the shot and the screams of the
victims wife, ran over to the place
when Medlen, who had turned and
gone into the house handed him the
gun and gave himself up. The news
rapidly spread over town, and there be-
ing slight fear that an excited crowd
might attempt to take the law in its
own hands and try Medlen before Judge
Lynch, he was taken to the Company's
assay Office and guarded until morning,
when an examination was held before
Justice of the Peace Lamb, and the
prisoner committed to the charge of the
sheriff of the county without bail. The
dispositions of quite number of wit
nesses were taken, but as report of
the evidence might pref udice the case,
it will not be reported here. Coroner
Richter came down from Silver City in
the morning and held an inquest over
the remains, the kernel of the verdict
rendered being, ''came to his death |
from a gunshot wound inflicted at the
hand of Peter Medlen.n
The victim was shot in the left side. |
The gun was loaded with number six |
shot, and it tore fearful hole in Steele's
body. He did not, however, expire
until two hours after he was shot.
Steele left his family in destitute condi-
ton, and the funeral expenses were
borne by the county.
The funeral of the deceased took place
Thursday afternoon, and was largely
attended. Rev. Geo. Buzzelle oficiat-
ing.