The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-27

John Nicol is dead. Joseph Lewis is
seriously wounded and may die. Such
are the net results of a tragedy which
happened at Plain City yesterday The
shooting of Lewis was done deliberate
ly by Nicol, who afterwards rode home
and shot himself through the head, ex-
piring a few minutes afterward.
AS published yesterday in The Her
aid. warrant had been issued for
Nicols arrest on a charge Of petit
larceny. This charge was preferred by
]. w. Lewis, and on the matter COM
ing to Nicors knowledge he deliberate
ly set about to kill Lewis, who was
then at Salt Creek. about mile from
NicoTs home in Plain City. 1t was
about IL o'clock when the young man
heard that a warrant was out for him.
He was at work with team about the
barn at the time. He quietly unhitched
his team and went into the house, tell
ing his father he wanted his pistol. His
father asked him what he wanted of
it, but the son gave q rough answer,
saving no matter what he wanted of
it, he wanted it. He took the pistol,
mounted a horse and left. He first
went 10 the little store kept by Mrs.
Coy, where he called for some cart
ridges. The woman took down 10 cents
worth, as that was the number he usu-
ally bought He slipped five into his
pistol and said: Charge these; that
- Lewis has got out a warrant for
me- and I'm going to fix him." Mrs.
Coy was very much frightened at his
reckless manner and ran out to give
the alarm. The boys parents were
also apprehensive- and were trying to
get word to Lewis OF impending dan
ger But meanwhile young Nicol had
galloped across to Salt Creek, where
J. W. Lewis, in company with MS
adopted father, James Stewart, and
Mr. Thomas. was at a sheep camp
Nicol rode up, and calling to Lewis,
said he had come to settle with him
about that watch business Young
Lewis, seeing the pistol of Nieol,
stepped behind a wagon, but Nicol
refined his horse around to get a clear
view OF him. On this, Lewis
STARTED TO RUN.
Nicol fired once, Lewis fell and his
assailant then turned his horse and
galloped back toward home.
Mr.. Stewart and Mr.. Thomas put
the victim in sleigh and started for
Plain City, arriving there at the Stew
art home almost as soon as Nicol.
The latter went to the house of G.
w. Thomas-not the one who witnessed
the shooting-and dismounted from his
horse. He still had the pistol. To Mr..
and Mrs Thomas, who were outside,
he said: Il have fixed that = Lewis,
and now 1 am going to fix myself Mr..
Thomas, not comprehending the awful
seriousness of the young mans words,
made some remarks. whereuoon Nicol
repeated: Il have shot Lewis and now
| am going to shoot mvSelf.
Don't &c that, don't shoot; not
while my wife is here" Thomas called
out Mrs. Thomas also screamed for
him not to shoot but John Nicol placed
the muzzle of the revolver close to his
left temple. A moment later he was
ouivering in the throes of death, a
gaping wound in his temple and the
smoking pistol close at hand on the
ground.
few minutes later Deputy Sheriff
Harrop arrived with a warrant for the
arrest of Nicol on the charge of petit
larceny. The young man died Just
eight minutes after firing the last
shot. Two bullets had done all the
work. There was one loaded cartridge
in the dead mans pocket and three in
the pistol which was an American
Bull Dog" As calibre. His body was
left where it fell until a coroner's jury
could be summoned, which was done
/ by Justice GeuOeS.
| Meanwhile a telephone message had
been sent to ogden foB DR.. Driver. Mr..
Nav of Plain City notified The Her
AIDS Ogden office of the trouble few
minutes after the suicidal shot was
| fired.
DIR. Driver went at once to Plain
City and examined Lewis. The shot
had struck him in the back about over
the left kidney. Presumably ii ranged
downward but the ball could not be
! located. The bleeding of the wound
was nearly all inwardly, which is an
ominous sign. The doctor is quite
hopeful of his patient and says at any
rate no fatal result need be expected
| for a few days. A vigorous constitu-
ton and temperate habits are in his
favor.
! ]. W. Lewis is a young man about
20 years of age. the adopted son of
James Stewart who emigrated to Utah
! from the south a few years ago. The
young man has many friends.
Nicol has been regarded as black
sheep for quite a while. He was out
on bonds to the district court, having
| been bound over by Justice Perrin on
by John Berry who alleged that Nicol
| took S45 from his pocket the day be-
| fore last Christmas while the two were
| in a wagon together riding home to
Plain City.
The petit larceny trouble arose out
of what at first appeared to be a jest.
A number of the. Plain City young
men were comparing watches and
chains Nicol took Lewis watch and
transferred it to his own pocket saying
he would give it back later. Repeated
requests from day to day for the watch
were refused and Thursday Lewis
swore out the warrant. 1t has been
ascertained that the watch was pawned
at Kertz' pawn shop for $3.50 by a
young man answering Nicofs descrip-
| ton but giving the name of Stewart.
The pawn ticket for the watch was
found by Deputy Sheriff Harrop in
| Nicol's pocket.
The shot was fired at Lewis from a
distance of about 20 feet, Lewis being
on the run and Nicol still on his horse.
His reputation for being a good shot
| is evidently deserved
On July 4, 1894, Nicoi married Miss
Lizzie knight at Plain City. In the
| following January she left him and
| it is understood that a divorce was