Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1895-08-10
THE EXPECTED HAS HAPPENED.
Charles Craft Killed by
Z. E. Pearson at Mardis.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE
TRAGEDY.
FULL,

The expected has happened at Mar
dis. Yesterday forenoon between 10,
and IL o'clock Charles E. Pearson.
the Justice of the Peace at Mardis.
shot and killed j. Charles Graf, as
the result of an attempt of Graft and
one j. II. Call to jump the ranch
owned and occupied by Mr.. Pearson
since about the first of August, 1886.
Immediately after the killing Mr..
Pearson started for Elko to give him
self up, and arrived here about - o.
clock last night and going to the Jail
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
made the following statement:
"My first acquaintance, personally,
with Mr.. Graft dates from election
day, 1894, although I knew Graft by
reputation before that time. 1 was
one of the inspectors at Mardis at the
last election, and Mr.. 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 we're refused
and Graft abused me shamefully.
From that time on Graft got into va
rlous difficulties and so intimidated
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. / told him that i had no
i'll 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 q warrant. | investigated
the matter and issued the warrant.
He was arrested and brought to trial
on charge Of assault. The evidence
was, so overwhelming that Graft adj
mitted it was true, and I fined him
$40 and 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.
aAbout month ago, when I came
out to the railroad to get my supplies
for haying, Graft, in connection with
j. H. Call, cut my fence and jumped
my ranch. I had them arrested for
this 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 if they did not cat
the hay on the ranch the Valley
would run with blood. After they
were fined they gave an appeal bond
and came back to Mardis. The first
[ saw of Graffwas yesterday forenoon
/ 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
had made up my mind that / had 10
protect myself as could not restrain
him legally. After he left the, field, he
came to the house where was at