Gilpin observer., 1904-02-04
sheriff and undertaken. He had hired

that the evening Of the murder he iu
company with Gooch, Bullock, mar
named Shade and johnson had beer
playing cards in McDonald's saloon
Shortly after midnight johnson accused
Bullock OF holding cards out Of the card
deck and abused him some. but or
Mcdonald telling them to keep quiet
things kind Of settled down. He heard
Gooch tell johnson to come out on the
railroad track and bring his partner, and
he could lick them both. McDonal said
he wanted to close up, and all went out
side, Gooch and Bullock going down the
street, and got onto the porch Of the
Moffat hotel. 1t was moonlight. alth ough
a little cloudy at times. In few min
utes johnson went down towards the
hotel, although it was in an opposite di-
rection from the camp. When johnson
got in front OF the hotel, witness seen
one man jump off the porch and run out
and hit johnson. He seen the man hit
him two or three times. Did not go
down to help his partner, nor did he call
the attention OF Mcdonald aud Shadle to
the fact that there was fight in the
street. He then seen the two men come
from the porch OF the hotel up the street
and they joined witness and companions
in front of the saloon. Shade. said, II
have dollar left, let's getanother drink" F"
All went into the saloon and had drink.
Gooch remarked, Il guess / hurt my
hand more than did the other fellow"
He then went down to get johnson to
get him to go home, and was accompa-
MED by Shade. Found johnson gasp
ing for breath, and the blacksmith re-
marked that the "man was as good
as dead" Went to Sims lodging
house and tried to get a bed, but could
not, then went to the livery stable for
help, but found no one. Then ran to the
camp three miles above and got West
man. Upon return found johnson ap-,
parently dead. Carried him into the
Blacksmith shop and sent for assistance.
Upon cross-examination, asked why he
did not tell Mcdonald and Shade there
was fight, said he never thought Of it.
Ed Mcdonald was the next witness.
He is the proprietor OF the saloon in
which the trouble started. Said he
heard angry words, and inquired the
trouble. johnson said Bullock was
cheating. Witness asked Swanson il ne
had seen anything wrong, and he said he
didn't. Johnson kept muttering and
talking to Bullock, who is a cripple.
Gooch told him that he couldn't pick on
a cripple and that he Gooch, would not
let johnson jump on cripple. Did not
hear Gooch offer to fight johnson and
partner. All had been drinking whis-
key during the night. Finally got the
men out OF the saloon and Gooch and
Bullock went down the street. johnson
started to follow, and witness brought
him back and told him to go home.
johnson broke loose and went down the
street. 1t was bright night. Did not
see any fight, neither did Swanson call
his attention to any. Soon after Gooch
and Bullock came back and all went into
the saloon and had another drink. Did
not know there had been a serious fight.
Heard Gooch say that he mad hurt his
hand. Did not know johnson was muir
dered until the next morning.
DR.. Asquith was the next witness, and
stated the nature Of the wounds. He
made an autoey on johnson, assited by
DR.. Ashbaugh. Estimated johnson was
about 81 years Of age, 8 feet S1s inches
tall. and weighed about les pounds.
Found nearly all tho wounds on the
heads with the exception Of ono on the
shoulder and ono ON the left side OF the
neck. Upon opening tho Uranium found
several blood contusions. johnson had
died from hemorrhage OF the brain. The
right ear was lacerated, and a wound
about Ave inches long and one and one.
half inches wide on the right cheek
Lower lip was cut and the entire left side
OF face mass OF wounds. Near left eye
an incised wound was found. Tho left
side Of the nose was broken. Tho bone
at the base OF the skull was fractured by
blow, and in the doctors estimation
this was the blow that caused death. II
was made by half round instrument oi
some sort, and the blow was struck from
she rear. Could not have been done BY
falling.
DR.. Ashbsugh was the next witness
and testified to materially the same
things as DR.. Asquith.
Tho next witness Was George Rum
boldt. He worked with Gooch. and the
following day was at work. AZ they
were getting ready TO 60 down the shaft
Gooch remarked that he Was not feeling
we'll, and would like to have drink
Witness told him 10 take his hsrse and