The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-03
FATAL AFFRAY
At GOLD BUTTE
Fremont Cobb, Formerly of
Salt Lake, Kills Jack
Warde of Arizona.
ROW OVER MINING GROUND
COBB is HELD TO THE GRAND
JURY.

Moapa. New. May 2.-On April %, at
Gold Butte, New, Fremont Cobb killed
Jack Warde because of trouble over
mining ground. Cobb today was held
TO the grand jury by Justice McDer-
mot of Overton.
The above sentences are all that is
necessary to record the bare facts in
Volved in the Gold Butte tragedy OF
April 20. But because of the fact that
the survivor of the tragedy Is well
known to many Salt Lake residents, a
few details Of the killing will be of in
terest to readers of The Herald.
Charles and Fremont Cobb were, IN
iii recently associated under the firm
name of Cobb Brothers. engaged in the
mercantile business at this place. Each
of them married in Salt Lake, their
wives having been sisters and members
of the HepwOrth family. Early in last
year the Cobb brothers secured by pur-
chase some mining ground in Gold
Butte, and subsequently added several
locations to their original holdings.
Jack WaTde was from Arizona, where
his parents reside. Warde was a typi-
cal prospector. full OF tireIess enthu-
siasm In his chosen profession. Among
the numerous admirable traits of his
naturally sturdy character was the
defect of unbounded and Obtrusive ego
tism and which was the chief cause of
his undoing.
The quiet, almost reticent. nature Of
Fremont Cobb was the very reverse of
the bubbling egOtism OF Jack Warde.
The merits or dement's of the contro-
Versy that led up TO the tragedy are
uBimportant.
From the evidence given during the
examination before Justice McDermot.
At OveTtOn, little town in the Muddy
valley, the following is an impartial
story of the killing:
During the afternoon of the tragedy
Warde had INDUCED rather freely in
intoxicants, which increased his nor
NAL volubility. Armed with a gun and
belt filled with cartridges Jack went
10 Granite Spring and told his troubles
10 several prOspectors. including Joseph
Z. Simpler, to whom he said: I'm go
ing TO have thousand dollars before
night or I'm going to have blood A."
With that Sanguinary remark Jack
started for Copper City some three
miles distan,.
About o'clock p. m, April %. FIRE.
mont Cobb, L. NJ. Culver, J. Edward
Sproat and Mrs. Sproat were sitting
in tent at Copper City. Mr.. Sproat
heard a step outside and, stepping TO
the opening, met Jack WaTde. The lat
ter asked: who sent for me?" Mr.
Sproat replied: mo one that I know
Of" Mr.. Culver then went outside ;;ud.
placing his hand on Warde's shoulder.
asked him to leave and avoid trouble
Jack pulled his gun and warned Culver
not TO touch him. With his gun drawn
and pointing slightly upward, Warde
stepped to the tent door and, .;eeing
Cobb, called him dirty cur and in
Yited him out on the flat to shoot il
out" Noticing the presence of Mrs
Sproat. Jack remarked: 7 beg your
pardon. I hate 10 do this in the pres
ence of a lady, but I've got to-" At
that instant two quick reports rane
out, Warde fell to his knees, then 10 his
hands and knees, then fell on his face
Partly rising. the unfortunate man
muttered Jack Warde viii never
and expired. one shot had entered his
chest, the other entered his head Just
back of the right ear.