The record-union., 1897-12-29
The Tragedy Occurred on One Of His
Ranches in Harvey County.
Was Shot in the Head and In
stantly Killed While Riding
Away From the Assassin-De-
ceased Well Known in Cali
fornia, Being a Son-in-Law o.
the Late Dr.. Hugh Glenn.

WINNEMUCCA (Nev.). Dec. 2S.-Ad-
ditionaI particulars were brought here
to-day by messenger of the murder of
Peter French, the largest land holder
and cattle owner of Eastern Oregon,
who was shot and killed on his ranch
in Harvey County, 225 miles north of
here, last Sunday afternoon. David
Grow is the messenger who arrived
here this afternoon with the news, hav-
ing been in the saddle forty-three hours
with zine changes of horses.
Crow left the scene Immediately after
the homicide. He says French and
band of vaqueros had rounded up
band Of cattle, and We're about to drive
them into a field on his ranch. French
went ahead on horseback to open
gate, and having done so, started back
to the cattle. A man on horseback
intercepted him, and they engaged In
a dispute lasting several minutes.
French started to ride away, but got
only 4 few feet when the other drew
pistol and shot him. French fell to
the ground dead, with a bullet in his
brain.
The murderer rode away, and
French's men, being unarmed, made no
attempt to capture him. Notice was at
once sert to the officers at Burns, forty
six miles from the scene of the trag-
edy.
French's men were too far away at
the time of the killing to recognize the
murderer, but it is thought he is one
of band of squatters who have been
annoying French, and against whom he
had q number of law suits pending.
French was 4S years old, and one of
the best known cattlemen on the Pa
cific Coast. His Oregon ranch is valued
at S2,OO0000. French had many vio-
lent enemies in the section where he
lived, and had often expressed the be-
lief that he would be murdered some
day. He was in the habit of going
armed, but was without a weapon
when shot down the day before yeSter-
day.
WELL KNOWN IN CALIFORNIA
SAN JOSE, Dec. 2S.-E. c. Single
tary and G. w. Cozzens of this place,
received teIegrams from Canyon City,
Or, this morning telling of the cow
ardly murder there yesterday of Peter
French by one Oliver oliver stole up
behind French and shot him in the
head with big pistol. The ball passed
entirely through the brain. Death was
instantaneous. 1t is understood here
that the decf was done on the streets
of Canyon City. and that Oliver was
arrested. There had been some diff
Guilty between the men over land and
this is supposed to have led to the
murder.
Peter French was a rich cattleman.
and well known in California He was
the sOn-in-law of the late Dr. Glenn of
Colusa, and was for long time asso-
ciated with him in his big wheat and
cattle ranch enterprises. He was a
brave, generous man, and had had an
exciting career. having won fame in
border wars with the Indians. OF late
years he has been raising cattle in
Oregon, spending some time there and
some time in San Francisco and other
California points Cozzens and Single
tary of this place have been interested
with MIN.
His headquarters in Oregon were on
the Glenn ranch, in Harvey County
He had returned but a few days ago
from Chicago where he sold a thousand
head of cattle, and was to have been
here within the next four or five days.
The two Misses Bert, Mrs, Tuerman
and Mrs. Rocker, residents here. are
relatives, and to these and other numer-
Gus acquaintances the news of his
murder comes as a great shock