Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-08-01
A DESPERATE GUN FIGHT.
". A. Bacon Shoots L. J. Fraitas
Three Times.

A desperate she citing ARRAY occur
red last Sunday morning at the head
Of Tea creek, about fifteen or sixteen
miles from Mardis, between w. A.
Bacon and L. j. Fraitas. two we'll
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 jugular 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 MIR. Ba-
con that there 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 iIl-win to-
ward MIR. Bacon. However this may
be, Fraitas left his camp about 8
o'clock Sunday morning to look after
his sheep, with Winchester rifle on
his shoulder. He had gone but sixty
or seventy yards from his camp when
he saw Bacon coming toward him on
mule. Bacon rode up close to
Fraitas and a quarrel ensued, in
which Fraitas called Bacon a liar.
Bacon then got off his mule and ran
up the side of the mountain on
level with Fraitas. The men we're
only ten or twelve feet apart when
Bacon fired, hitting Fraitas in the
right leg. below the knee. Fraitas
fired his Win chester, but missed, and
Bacon fired two more shots, hitting
Fraltas in the right leg and ueck.
Fraitas then fell down and Bacon
rushed on him and began to beat
him over the head with his pistol.
Fraitas grappled' with Bacon and
they both rolled down the side of the
mountain, Fraitas landing on 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 off, and Fraitas
told the man to get Bacon's gun.
This the man did and then Fraitas
told him to get his Winchester, which
was under Bacon. The man got the
gun and Fraitas then struck Bacon
two or three times in the face with
his fist and let him go. Bacon then
got up and went away. Fraitas' man
and one Of Bacon's, who had come
up, then took care Of him.
Mr.. Bacon's story differs somewhat
from the above. He claims that
Fraitas 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 Le-
fore he (Bacon) fred the first shot.
After the shooting Mr.. Bacon came
to town and gave himself up to Sher-
If Campbell. Mr.. Fraitas was taken
to Mardis and from there to Deeth.
He was brought from Deeth last
night on 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. The wound h the
neck IS slight compared with the
condition of his leg.
A 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. A new
complaint was fled before Justice