Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-10-14
The Bruneau Horror.


EDITOR BULLETIN: A cold blooded
double murder was committed south
west of Hot Spring, about Is miles
from the head of Bruneau valley.
on the 10th of September. That
morning two men left Buncers
ranch on horseback and came to-
ward the valley. 1t is supposed
that they had travelled together
from Tuscarora, Nevada. About 16
miles this side of Buncel's the two
men were met by Ben Buncel. They
were walking and leading their
horses. Buncel stopped and talked
to them few minutes, and going on
about one mile further he met VIM.
Milligan, who was driving light
two-horse rig and leading horse
behind, for which he had saddle in
the wagon. The next day the two
horses the men were riding and the
saddle horse Milligan was leading
came back to Buncel's. Milligan
not returning, on Sunday Dow Dun
ming, thinking something was wrong,
started out and found where scuf-
Hing had taken place and where
heavy BODY had been dragged Fol-
lowing this up he unearthcd the
body of a man who had been bur-
ried about 80 yards from the road.
There were two shot wounds appa-
rently made with a 80 revolver.
One shot had entered back of the
left ear and ranged up, the other en-
tered at the right side of the neck
and ranged down. The body had
been dragged until the face was
scarcely recognizable. Noticing moth
ing further except that. wagon tracks
turned off from the road, Mr.. Dun
ming came on into Bruneau valley,
where he reported his hideous find,
and also learned that Milligan had
not arrived at his destination.
Monday the coroner went to the
scene and further evidence of foul
play being discovered the verdict
was held in allegiance pending the
search for Milligan. Monday night
Jim Tucker found the wagon about
one mile from the road, but it be.
ing dark further search was impos-
sible until the next morning, when
the tracks of the supposed murderer
were found going from the body
along the road back to meet Mill
gan; also places were found where
the horse behind the wagon had
reared and plunged to each side.
Some distance past the body the
wagon had been turned out of the
road and driven back close TO and
past the body again, some distance
10 where there was an overhanging
edge of rock, in the sand beneath
which was found the body of MILL
igan, buried face downward. He
mad shot in back of the neck, his
clothing being seorched, also the
skin burned with powder.
The theory is that Milligan was
onto the murderer while
1oing his bloody work, that he, act
ng on the old adage that dead
men tell no tales" walked back to
meet Milligan and with the utmost
lonchalance got into the wagon be-
iind him and deliberately shot him
n the back of the neck. The body
1ad evidently fallen out of the
wagon, as it was covered with blood
The supposed murderer saddled
me of Milligan's horses and came
o Conner's, in Little valley the
hight of the murder for supper, The
next morning he was afoot at Hot
Spring and ate breakfast at Arthur
Fences house, from whence he made
1is way down the valley, across the
snake river to Mountain Home,
where IL is supposed he took box
ar for parts unknown. 1t is thought
he object of the first murder was
'obberv, the victim being known to
AVE considerable money in his pos
iession.
The first body found had a piece
IT rope around the neck, by which
t had been dragged. Both were
buried face downward Xxx.