The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1905-11-03
]. @. thompson, COWARD. CUB, FIT

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In the earlier and crude days Of Goldfeld there was little 20 define
the boundaries of the different lots Except where the surveyors stakes were
not Knocked DOWN. and there was little or n objection Ito anyone crossing
a lot if a short ut could be made thereby. As the town rev more densey
populated and more metropolitan and the pioneers and later comers brought
their wives and families heret this condition of affairs had to be stopped
more or less and lots $ere enclosed in order that the women folks especially
could have more privacy about their houses and yards and also to prevent the
stealing of wood ad other articles left out of doors.
Until a short time ago the residents IF the southern section Of the town
were cheerfuny allowed the privilege of crossing the LOTS facing west m
Fifth avenue between Crook and Myers. The wne of m of the lots
and for purposes If Identification it may be stated that he is the editor of
The News-knew personally and liked nearly all of these people who used
this short ut and, feeling friendly with all, hedtated about preventing the
crossing, even in face of the annoyance
Soon, however, horses were driven through at reckless speed endanger-
in the lives of children playing there. and the of the lot found his
wood pile dwindHng five times as rapidly as lie used from it. He then had
a temporary fence put up his design being merely to hint to those using
the crossing that they were not to 10 SO in the future
The owners legal and moral right to keep tr@paHers off the lot which
he bought, paid for and occupied IS a residence is SO palpable hat none bt
a jackleg shystert lawyer would attempt % dispute.
II appears that ON j. G. Thompson, whose sign oer hso office in the
Of tho Palace saloon, alleges that he is a lawyer, discovered that on tn
statutes books of Nevada there is NJ provision against trespasdng except on
patented mining claims Probably the statutes of no other state is deficient
shyster whose practice never reaches higher than a justice court, knows
that Il average justice Oft the peace rs not well ve~ed in law n likes to
decide eases On the plain printed statutes If the state.
Whether Thompson "a endeavoring to work u p some cases n a tech
nicahtS or whether he wal the one who had beer stealing the wood-Or more
probably for both reasons announced to a nelghbor that ''that fence
wouldn't keep him from crossing and on several different occasions he did
go across. This was unknown to the wner of the lot but coming home
last Saturday evening and going into tn dining room he noticed Thompson
duck under the fence and proceed Ito cross the lot.
Not dropping the bundle If exchanges al proofs which filed his m
the hurried ut and demonstrated with Thompson. The latter insisted
he would go through as ofen rs he pleased and the former as strongly rs
serted that in the future he would take steps to prevent it, and ordered
him off the lot.
After sizing up the owner of the lot and carefully weighing his words,
Thompson said: 81 am a good deal bigger mn than you are n you can't
stop me.'. As the owner weighs but 1T pounds and Thompson weighs at
haM les pounds the truth of the first part of his remark was bruta1y ap
parent. lse awper, however, replied that no matterh how big a mn or dead
ba1 was that continued to trespass on his lot, he would endeavor to find
means TO prevent st.
Words continued to pass back and forth M finally the lie was passed
from one tt the other. Up to this time, and for a moment thereafter, though
both talked enphaticany, there vas moi the slightest evidence on the part
of either of an intention to engage n a physical ncount Bt all of SUI.
den Thompsons eyes dropped and he noted that the of the lot had
his both arms filled with papers Seeing his opponent or the moment ut
tsly dosonsele@, Thonpson's cowardy heart rejiced and he struck with
all his might. The blow landed on his opponents lip and made a deep cut
which CAV every evidence that Thompson had used a brass knucke To
give the cr the benefit of every doubt it might have been made with a heavy
ring which h To- wears-and fortyfv pounds advantage n weight should
be enough to satisfy even as big a coward as J G. Thompson.
The n Of the lot then dropped his papers, cinched with Thompson,
and was holding his " until they were separated by neghbors and Thomp-
son skunk of.
The editor of The News b@s the indulgence of his readers for going
so extensively into what may appear 20 be only a mi brawl It is not
so. however. 1t is the attempt of a contemplate shyster, who is trying
to take advantage of a techncaity which may bring every lot owner into
trouble in defending his legal and moral rights. And every lot owner is
camp should be Just az much interested as III ne who made the stand Oh
his rights. Thompson and his opponent eve had an unfrendy word up
to this night.
The editor wishes to add but this: He is unfortunately much below the
year to bake four vacations for the benefit of his health and is now under
DR.. Burdiek 8 care.
BUT-
During his forty years of life he has generally been given credit for
possessing full share of physical and moral courage and he has a record
wherever. he has lived which will bear the most rigid investigation. And
that he is not ready to defend his personal and property rights from shyster
lawyers, Daeknaiing crooks or deadbeat newspaper men he will quit the
strenuous life of a mining camp and HE himself to q community where feed
ing chickens OF herding sheep is the most courageous thing a man is called
upon to do.