Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1905-05-05
MURDER At SHERIDAN.
Ben Barber Kills a Ranch Hand at
Ben Palmer's Ranch.

Ben PaImer's Ranch.
Yesterday forenoon BENJAMIN Bar
Der, nephew of Ben Palmer, shot
and instantly killed a man named
Bower, employed on the Palmer ranch
Two shots were fired each taking
effect. Barber was Immediately ar
rested and confined in the Jail at
Genoa
The shooting took place in the cor
raj, near the big barn. The two men
had some trouble earlier in the day,
but just what led to the tragedy is
not known as the Two were engaged
in the deadly struggle by the time
witnesses were on the scene.
Barber went to the house and secuf
ed pistol and then went to the corral
Ben Palmer followed in the hopes of
getting possession OF the pistol, but
was too late. When the men came To-
gether Bower was leading a horse
Barber attempted 70 shoot at him bu.
Bower kept the animal between him
self and the enraged man. Barber who
is very tall man reached over the
horse and fired the first shot. 1t
took effect between Bowers ewes. bur
strange to say, it did not knock him
down. The horse at the report of the
shot, got away and Barber fired the
second shot, which lodged near the
heart With the second shot the
wounded man did not fall. but crap.
pied with his murderer In a mo =.
ent he collapsed and died before as
sistance could get to his side
Shortly after the shooting the Sh ar
III arrived from Genoa and took R,.y
Der to the county Jail Barber ha:
made no statement and is in suller
mood.
There are several rumors regarding
The cause of the tragedy. The oas
bearing the most effect is that Bowe,
had offered an insult to BARRIERS sis
tiers. who live on the ranch. 1t !!
known that the two had words in tn.
early morning and from what was sait
>after the tragedy Bower made a threa
against Barber
Barber who is a colored man, ha
not been considered in his right min
for some time. and in fact the neigi
bors declare that he a. times is d.
mented and not responsible for action
He has been acting in a strange mar
ner or some time and the row that h
had with the dead man confirms TIL
general opinion that he was and is {
GnsOund mind
The Paimers and BARRIERS are Of
residents of Carson Valley. Ben Pa
mer, a colored man. settled on til
home ranch with the first rush t
Nevada He became well known ovt
the coast as the breeder of fine horse
and his Bonner stock was sought f
far and wide His name has alwa,
been as good as bond. and Ben Pa
mer stands very high in the estim
ton of all the DeoDle in Western n
vada. The man who fired the dead
shots is a nephew He was reare
on the ranch and has acted as fC
men for number Of years. The Ps
mer ranch is situated near Sherid:
and at one time was the headquarte
for Carson Valley.
From all indications the trial
Barber fnr the murder will result
his confinement in the asylum
there is no doubt bn- be IS not
sound mind. The murder and the C
cumstances have stirred W a gre
deal OF talk in the Valley and la
eveuin" there was q general inqui
regarding the facts of the case. It
further said that the dead man W
partially of colored blood, though
all appearances he was white
investigation and inGuesr viii be he
today