Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1907-10-24
N. N. RILEY SHOT
IN THE FACE
nan TROUBLE oNtR MoNEN
MATTERS ~ SAVRA.
MENTo.

Differences over money matters led
TO a shooting affair at Third and X
streets shortly before midnight In
which NJ. NJ. Riley. former manager
OF the Grand theater. was shot In the
left cheek by II. II. dull. a draughts-
man who worked on the plans for the
new theater building. Null fired two
shots at Riley. the first bullet going
through the cheek and lodging in his
mouth after SCATTERING his jaw bone
The second shot went over Riley's
head as he stumbled almost into
Mull's arms. Null was caught by l..
G.. Devol of San Francisco as he ran
from the scene and was turned over
to Patrolman Douglas. Riley was
taken to the hospital, where exami-
nation indicated that the wound is
not serious.
Null asserts that Riley owes him
$3.50 for work on the Grand theater
building and said that they had had
trouble over the none. until Riley
told several of his (Mull's) friends
that he would beat the latter to
death when they met BY chance
they met last night at the corner Of
Third and X streets and Null says
that Riley made a lunge to strike
him. Quick as flash Null pulled his
revolver and fired point blank at his
assailant. He pulled the trigger
twice and then ran to Fourth and X
streets where he was tripped up by
Devol and disarmed.
In speaking of the shooting Null
said to a reporter for the Union:
have avoided Riley for the last two
weeks, for | knew that if we met
there was going to be trouble. He
tried to get at me and fearing that he
would carry out his threat, I shot
him. He owes me $3.50 and has re-
fused to pay. Now he claims that
owe him that amount, but the truth
is ! was working for him and had no
way to get into his debt I am no
desperate and shot only when
thought l was going to be beaten.
w. Zanfrella, a partner of Riley,
was standing within two feet of the
combatants when the shots were
fired; he said: RILEY and l were out
together and met Null The quarrel
was short and the shooting followed
so quickly that did not have time to
see what happened. Null and Riley
came face to face, and as far as |
could see Null Immediately pulled a
pistol and began to shoot. AS Riley
stumbled forward on his face Null
shot the second time and that shot
passed within few inches of my
| head All I know about the cause of
| the fight is that Null owes Riley
some money, and has been trying to
avoid paying it. No, Riley did not
strike Mull-that is l did not see him
| if he did,
Riley could talk little ON account
of his wound, but managed to inform
the attending physician that the
shooting arose from money matters.
| After Riley was shot he was taken
into a saloon and while there he spit
the bullet out of his mouth on the
| floor.
Riley came to Sacramento three
months ago from Goldfield, Nevada,
and contracted to manage the Grand
| theater He had the Smith building
remodeled and after conducting the
theater for two months he sold his
interest and went out of business.
Null was employed by him while the
building was being reconstructed.
L. G. Devol, who caught Null is an
ex policeman from San Francisco. He
said that Null had the pistol in his
hand when he stopped him and that
he had to struggle to get possession
of the weapon.
Null was held at the police station
pending developments of the case. II
was not known last night whether
Riley will prosecute or not.-Sacra-
mento Union.