Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-02-13
The Ksys,one Tragedy.

The White Pine county grand jury
~empapelled by Judge Brown On the D.
of January to investigate the tragedy oi
January 7th at the Keystone, made the
following report on that unfortunate
affair:
ave have isHorod two charges oil
murder and one charge ~ criminal
libel.
We found one true bill for the crime
OF attempting TO kidnap and one true
bill for an attempt to commit the crime
OF false imprisonment.
In the matter NJ John 4. Traylor,
charged with the crime Of murder, we
have been engaged fer nearly a week
in carefully examining a large
number OF witnesses and we find that he
discharged all the shots that were fired
in the Office OF the New York Il Nevada
Copper Company Mt the Keystone on the
Tth day of january 1903, which resulted
III the death OF John Il, Smith, james
Stages and the man known rs Sam
Johnson, and the wOuadIng OF Max
Lambert and John Perry. We also lnd
that he acted ID self defense.
In the case OF james p. Gnskill, also
charged with the crime of murder ut the
same time and place, we have given it
the same careful attention and find that
no shooting was done by him
The White Pine Newo makes the FOL.
lowing IN on the report:
The above report re ndered last Fri
day afternoon - : p. M in open Court
by Z, 4 LDrS::; foreman OF the grand
jury, which had been in session for
seven consecutive days. making Il most
thorough and parnstaking investigation
of the recent tradgedy at the Keystone,
in which three men we're killed and to
wounded on the 7th OF last month.
The Jury was one OF the best tndt
could possibly have been gotten in the
county, being composed OF seventeen Of
our best citizens. no represented every
branch Of the mining and agricultural
industries OF the county.
They we're assembled together for the
PSApcSO "a NCeNA tlihiiS Il GIiiut Ihu
been committed, and il so. to find the
p~erpetator. or perpetrators; accordingly
some thirty witnesses were examined.
the majority OF whom were union men.
With but one exception, these witnesses.
in trying to evade tile Law Of justice,
bound more firmly aronnd their lender,
the chain Of guilt. In short their eyi'
dence proved c%onclusivcly that IL crime
had been preneditatei; tirat every nan
who went to the Keystone on the .nv1n.
ing OF theIth knew the purpose for which
he was there, Il that he was acting un
der instruction from the President OF the
Union; that they had gone there Tor the
purpose of taking Mr.. TrayIor out of the
camp. peaceably or forcibly. and per.
haps meant him bodily harm. that the
men had taken a hold OF Traylor bndwere
trying to force him from the office, when
he released his left hand and began
shooting to free himself. Mr.. Gaskil
never fired n shot, but instead used his
lists to ward of the enemies.
With such %unalteTable evidence be.
fore them. the jury could not conscien.
tiously do otherwise than render a yer
dict OF acquittai for Messrs. Traylor ana
Gaskill. From the bulk Of evidence n
was too apparent that Mr.. Lloyd. as ia,
President OF the Union. was responsible,
for the actions of his fellowmen anC
guilty OF the crimes committed. Tw,
indictments were brought again st hin
one for attempting to kidnap and tn,
other for false imprisonment.
This deplorable affair has dealt
serious blow To organized labor through
out the country. But 1t has taught tn,
inexperienced not to act too hastily q
without first considering the facts in tn,
case. Then to submit those facts to
higher authority, IN whom il vested tn,
power OF declaring strikes and conduct
ing then: along conservative and lcgiti
mate lines. That the action OF Nj
Lloyd, in this affair, are not approve,
10y labor lcadere, was rather forcibly i'm
pressed upon the members Of this Unto,
at their meeting last week. Both Wm
Mouyer, President Of the Western Fed
GRAFTON, and Tlios. Murphy, an attoruc,
from Denver, spoke in terms upbraidiul
every man that had anything to do will
the Keystone tragedy. Cautioned ther
about acting in the future withou
authority, and commended those VIII,
tried to prevent tho trouble. III