Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1899-08-04
A DESPERATE GUN FIGHT.
W. A. Bacon Shoots L. J. Fraitas
Three Times.

Three Times.
y desperate she citing aifray occur
red last Sunday morning ut the head
OF Tea creek, about fifteen or sixteen
miles from Mardis, between W. a.
Bacon and l.. j. Frai,as. two well
known citizens Of this county, in
which Fraitas received two bullet
wounds in his right leg, below the
knee, and one through his neck, just
missing the iugulnr artery. Both Of
the men are engaged in the sheep
business, having leases OF bands OF
sheep from w. f.. Mahoney. 1t ap-
pears from the statement OF Mr. Ba-
con that the rc has been considerable
friction between him and Fraitas for
some time, in regard TO ranging their
sheep. This is denied by Mr.. Fraitas
who claims that he has no ill-will TO,
ward Mr.. Bacon. However this may
be, Fraitas left his camp about 8
o'clock Sunday morning TO look after
his sheep, with n Winchester rifle on
his shoulder. lie had gone but sixty
or seventy yards from his camp when
he saw Bacon coming toward him on
a mule. Bacon rode up close 10
FJlitns and n quarrel ensued, in
which Fraitas called Bacon a liar.
Bacon then got Off his mule and ran
up the side Of the mountain on a
level with FraitHs. The men were
| only ten or twelve feet apart when
Bacon fired, hitting Fraitas in the
right leg, below the knee. Fraitas
fired bus Winchester, but missed. and
Bacon fired two more shots. hitting
Fraitas in the right leg and ucck.
FraitGs then fell down and Bacon
rushed on him and began to beat
him over the head with his pistol.
fraitas grappled with I and
they both rolled down the siue OF the
mountain. Fraitas landing Oh top.
Bacon still had his pistol and Fraitas
struggled desperately to get it. He
finally caught Bacon by the right
arm and held it. One OF Fraitas'
men then came up and Bacon told
him to pull Fraitas II, and Fraitas
told the man to get Bacon's gun.
This the man did and then Fraitas
told him to get his Winchester, which
va under Bacon. The man got the
gun aud FraitAs then struck BncOn
two or three times in the face with
his fist and let him go. Bacon then
got up and went away. Fruitas' man
and one Of Bacon's, who had come
up, then took care Of him.
Mr.. Bacon's story differs somewhat
from the above. lie claims that
FraitGs drew his gun ON him and
cooked it while he was on his mule
and that Fraitas shifted his gun from
his shoulder across his left arm be-
fore he Baconl fired the first shot.
After the shooting Mr.. Bacon came
to town and gave himself up to Sher-
iii Campbell. Mr.. Fraitas was taken
to Mardis and from there to-Decth.
He was brought from Dccth last
night ON II freight train and taken to
the hospital. His right leg is severely
injured, the bone being badly spin
tered. 1t IS doubtful whether his leg
can be saved. Tho wound in the
neck Is slight compared with the
condition of his leg.
y warrant was sworn out before
Justice Pearson Of Mardis. charging
Bacon with an assault with intent TO
kill. and placed in the hands Of Dep
uty Sheriff Graham to serve. Ora.
ham arrived last night, but as Bacon
had given himself up to the Sheriff
the warrant was not served. \ new
complaint Il filed before Justice
Morgan this forenoon, and the pre-
liminary examination was held. Mr..
Bacon waived the right to make a
statement hLd the Court held him in
$1,000 bonds to appear before the
grand jury. He gave the bond and
was discharged FROM custody.