The San Francisco call., 1897-09-21
DEATH ENDS
THEIR FEUD
Of YEARS
Frank Lynch Killed by
John Ashurst Near
New Idria.
FATAL QUARREL OF
PIONEERS.
One Had Accused the Other
of Stealing Cattle From
the Ranges.
SHOOTS WHEN ATTACKED
BY HIS FOE.
The Slayer a Man Who Long Age
Earned a Reputation for
Utter Fearlessness.

FRESNO, CAL, Sept. 20.-Frank Lynch
was shot and killed by John AshuTst
near the New Idria mines, in San BenitC
County, yesterday afternoon at about
O'clock. The principals IN the tragedy
were pioneers and extensive farmers in
the hills along the county border line.
and the whole West Side country is ex-
cited over the killing.
The shooting occurred in front Of Con
zales' saloon, six miles from the mines,
and was the result of ill-feeling that has
existed between the two prominent ranch
ers for the past two years. About that
long ago Ashurst, who owns big cattle
range in the hills of San Benito county.
was suffering severely from the depred a.
tions of cattle thieves. He came TO
Fresno and engaged the services of Dep
uty Sheriff Hi Rapelie, of Sontag and
Evaus fame, TO assist him in the roundup
of the gang OF thieves which he had To-
Gated.
Ashurst has a record for intrepidity.
He is a typical frontiersman, bold and
fearless. He and the daring Rapelje made
a midnight trip through Cantua Canyon
and visited the home of every Mexican
gang of cattle thieves. 1t seemed that
almost ali the Mexicans were members of
the extensive band OF criminals. Three
or four of the leaders were taken into Gus
todv and were afterward sent 10 the State
prison from San Benito County for their
crimes. Ashurst and Rapelje contented
themselves with giving the other Mexicans
torcibIe warnings to cease their depreda-
tions on the ranges.
1t was at that time that the trouble De-
tween Ashurst and LynCh originated.
The former openly expressed the opinion
that his neignbor, Frank Lynch, was the
lnstigstor OF the stealing of cattle from
his range. Ashurst said tnat Lynch laid
the plans for running off the cattle and
that he induced the Mexicans to do the
work. He even went so far as TO work for
the pardon of some of the Mexican prls
oners because he believed that Lynch had
Iaken advantage OF the weak-minded peo-
pie and led them into committing crimes.
Lynch, OF course, chafed under the ac-
Cusations, and, while he and Ashurst had
words over the matter mum ber of times
they had no serious difficulty until yes
terday.
They had attended a celebration held at
Gonzales saloon on Saturday night in
honor of the anniversary OF Mexican in
dependence. While the date of Mexican
iE1enendence was September 16 the peo-
pie of the Coast Ranve aid not celebrate
until Saturday, because the following day
was one of rest and could be utilized in
continued celebration and sleep.
Ashurst and Lynch met on Sunday fore
noon, and the latter began to take the
former to task for making the accusation
against him of being q cattle thief.
Ashurst replied that he had no retraction
10 make, but would repeat the charge. a
fight between the men was averted.
AT about O'clock in the afternoon
Asnurst, who mad hitched up TO drive
home, was leaning against his buggy en-
gagged IN conversation with a friend in
front of GonzaPs saloon, when Lynch,
who was also about TO start for home
came riding UP on horseback to where
Ashurst and his friend were.
Say" called out Lynch to his enemy,
81 have lost my spurs. l believe some
one has stolen them.
Don't you accuse me of stealing vour
spurs" replied Ashurst, who considered
that Lynch's manner OF addressing him
was equivalent TO charging him with the
theft.
Lynch took uuc0rage at Asnurst's def
ant answer and jun ped from his horse 10
do battle with his enemy. Ashurst SAYS
Lynch placed his hand 10 his hip pocket
as though to draw a pistol. and in self
defense, he claims, he reached for his
rife in the buggy and shot Lynch as he
was advancing. The bullet entered the
abdomen Just below the ster mum, and the
victim died about twenty minutes after he
fell. The shooter did not fire more than
one shot.
Ashurst Immediately gave himself up to
Constable Gonzales and accompanied the
officer to Panoche, where he is now wait
ing the result of the Coroner's inquest,
which was TO have been held this even
ing. If a charge OF murder is preferred
against the rancher it will be filed in
Judge Langford' 5 court at Panocne.
Judge Iangford stated to CALL CORE
spondenJ over the telephone this evening
that the sentiment among the people
there was all with the prisoner. While
Ashurst is a man OF very strong character,
he is upright and every body likes him.
He is about 40 years of age, and mas only
one eye. He has lived in the hills for
many years, and during the early days
had many exciting adventures. Then he
had TO cope with Mexican cattle thieves
single handed, and he gained remark a bic
record for his fearlessness. IL IS said
that one occasion when he located band
of Mexican thieves whom he knew 10
have stolen many head of cattle from
him, be went alone to their camp and
without any ceremony entered it and be-
gan clubbing the criminals He was
armed and ready for deadly work, if need
be, but the Mexicans were so afraid oil
him that not one raised hand against
him. Ashurst had 10 lake these extreme
methods 10 stop the depredations which
threatened to deplete his cattle range
Frank lynch. the victim of the tragedy,
had also resided for many years in the
Cantau hills-in fact, raised there. He was
well knprn and bore a good reputation,
but fc- the suspicion of cattie-stealing
that rested on him, but could not be
proved.