Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1895-08-18
me EXPECTED Rls RlppfnEn.
Charles Craft Killed by
c. E. Pearson at MardiS.
rULL PARTICULARS or THE
TRAGEDY.

Tho expected has happened a. MAJ
dis. Yesterday forenoon between 1
and II o'clock Charles E. Pearson
the Justice of the Peace at Mardi,
shot and killed j. Charles Graf, a
the result of an attempt of Graft an,
n j. H. Call to inmp III. rapel
owned and occupied by MIR. Pearson
since about the first of August, 1886
Immediately after the killing Nj
Pearson started for Elko to give him
self up, and arrived here about 10 o.
clock last night and going to the iai
surrendered himself to the Sheriff.
A reporter of the INDEPENDENT
called on Mr.. Pearson this morning
at the Sheriff's office and found him
in good spirits. He expressed him.
self as willing to be interviewed and
mado the following statement.
MY first acquaintance, personally,
with MI. Graft dates from election
day, 1894, although | knew Graf by
reputation before hat time. 1 was
one of the inspectors at Mardis at the
last election, and MI. Graft came into
the room where the election was held
and made an aggressive demand on
me to bring the election returns to
Elko. His demands were refused
and Graft abused me shamefully.
From that time on Graft got into va.
r1ous difficulties and so inundated
people that they were afraid to prose-
cute him. For a month or two every
thing went along quietly and Graft
came TO my house and said he had
forgotten everything and wanted to
be friends. I told him that l had no
ill feelings in the matter and that life
was too short to cherish animosities
and to let it go. After this Graft got
INTO various difficulties and finally
abused aud assaulted Waite Waters
and he came to me as Justice of the
Peace for a warrant. / investigated
the matter and issued the warrant,
He was arrested and brought to trial
on a charge Of assault, The evidence
was so overwhelming that Graft ad
mitted it wus true, and l fined him
SlOand assumed the fine myself rath.
er than seud him to Jail. He promis.
ed me that he would behave himself
and keep the peace, not only with me
but with every other person.
about month ago, when l came
out to the railroad to get my supplies
for haying, Graf, in connection with
!. II. Call, cut my fence and jumped
my ranch. / had them arrested for
his and taken before Justice Black
of Starr Valley, who convicted them
and fined them $50 each. At the
time they jumped my ranch and dur
ing my absence, they staggered
around my house with their guns, pre-.
tending to be measuring, and intimi.
dated my children. BEFORE and after
they jumped my ranch, they made
their brags that il they did not cat
tho hay on the ranch the Valley
would run with blood. After they
were fined they gave an appeal Lond
and came back to Mardis. The first
! saw of Graffwas yesterday forenoon.
1 heard OF him at 10 o'clock, at which
time he was in the field with my men
trying to intimidate them. He told
one OF them to the effect that he in.
tended to kill me. From the threats
he had previously made to kill me I
hnd made up my mind that / had to
protect myself as ! could not restrain
him legally. After he left the field, he
came to the house where | was at
work on a hay stack and demanded a
gun ne had left in the field when he
was arrested for jumping the ranch
l told him the gun was put out OF the
held with the rest Of his camp outfit.
lie then gave me notice that. he held
me responsible for all OF his stuff and
1 accepted the notice. He then stat.
sd that he must have that ground. /
accepted that notice also. He then
ceased speaking and I asked him II he
had any further business with mo. |
tie answered that he had il he could
get at mo. Then told him to leave
and no said no would not. Ny mind
was then made up from whet I had
heard that he was capable OF throw.
ing my family out OF the house in my
absence or doing anything olee that
might occur TO him. 1 again ordered
him to leave and he refused in such n
manner "a showed me that he intend.
ed to stay and hold possession in spite
OF the feet that II was my home, and
believing that hc intended TO kill mo
IL resisted, I got my gun and com.
monced TO shoot He did not have,
time to draw his gun II he had one.
] felt that I had TO protect myself
thon and there. I shot nee with a