Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-08
FRIEND,
GOES TO SLEEP
TRAGEDY FOLLOWS DEBAUCH
ON A RANCH
One Of Three Men Admits That He
Killed One Of His Companions,
but Claims It Was an
Accident

Charged with the murder of their
friend and comrade, Charles P. Nichols
and Patrick Flatherty of Toluca were
brought to Los Angeles late yesterday
afternoon and lodged in the county
Jail to await the result of the coroner's
investigation into the sudden death
of Nick McKinzie.
McKinzie was shot in the left breast
and instantly killed yesterday morning
following a long period of intoxication.
For several months past he had been
employed as a rancher near Toluca
and had been living in small cabin
just north of the Toluca bridge.
Ten days ago F'latherty and Nichols
left Los Angeles and went to visit
their friend They took with them
enough red wine to fill several jugs.
Drank Day and Night
1t was stated by residents of the
neighborhood yesterday that the three
men kept up the drinking day and
night but that they were very quiet
sleep off part of the drunk only to
begin again as soon as awake.
Yesterday morning Nichols arose and
declared he was going hunting. He
took down an old shotgun, and while
he was talking to McKinzie and Incl
dentally attempting to load the weapon
the hammers clicked and McKinzie
turned over with moan and died.
Nichols dropped the gun and stag
gered out of the cabin to a nearby
house, where he telephoned for Con-
stable Fred Weddington. When the
officer reached the place he found
Flatherty in a drunken stupor in one
of the beds. Opposite him in another
bed lay the dead man, and it required
several minutes to awaken Flatherty
and tell him of the deed.
Nichols Also Asleep
Nichols was discovered sleeping un-
der a pepper tree by the road some
distance from the cabin. He explained
that he had attempted to return to the
place after having telephoned, but that
he was unable to walk.
Both men were brought to Los An
geles and locked up at the county Jail,
while the relatives of the dead man
were notified.
Late Yesterday afternoon Nichols
and FJatherty had partially recovered
from their spree.
"I don't know anything about the
shooting" said Flatherty
"I had been out there with McKinzie
for several days drinking heavily and
have not recovered from that drunk
yet InlS morning lney tOlQ me NC
Kinzie was shot and killed. but at that
time was dead to the world and did
not hear the shot. I did not know of
the accident until they awoke we and
told me to get UP and go to Jail"
His Version of the Affair
Nichols was in a remorseful condi
tion when asked concerning the shoot
ing.
II had been staying with McKinzie
several days. he said.
II went out there and took several
jugs of wine along and we were very
drunk. 1 have not eaten for ten days,
and this morning I attempted to get up
and go hunting. We used to go hunt
ing together frequently, so 1 just
reached for the old shotgun and pre-
pared to go out. when McKinzie awoke
and said l had better load the thing.
1 got a cartridge and put it in the gun
and attempted to snap the gun to-
gether.
MY fingers were shaking fearfully
as a result of the drink, and in that
way I guess the trigger was pulled.
when 1 saw what had happened I
telephoned to the sheriff and then fell
in a stupor.
IT had not been quarreling and had
no erudge aPainSt McKinZie"