The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1909-02-27
CONTRACTOR LENIGER KILLED
BY DISCHARGED EMPLoYE
Murderer Escapes, But Is Captured
Next Morning by Battle Mountain
Oficer-Now Lodged in
County Jail

Thursday noon, at lZ:3O, y. IL. Len
iger was shot to death at his grading
camp near Valmy, by notorious
eolored character named Dave Will
liams. better known as Big Boy
The inquest was held at the scene
of the shooting yesterday by Coroner
Langwith, of Golconda, and a jury.
From the evidence adduced it would
seem that Williams was obliged to
make fight for his life.
The trouble which led to the killing
was over an alleged debt of $4, which
William Mcconnell, better known as
"Fatty.v another colored employe,
claimed Williams owed him. The deb.
was the result of a gambling trans
action which occurred in Winnemucca
over year ago. Both men had been
engaged in a game of cards all of one
night. and whenever one would go
broke the other would lend him money.
When the game broke up, there was a
dispute as to how the account stood,
Hllains tiaih''hs my "eiS ofSh anu
FATTY insisting there was a bal
ance of "a coming to him.
Upon making his escape from the
Winnemucea officers some two weeks
ago, who had warrant for his arrest
on a charge of selling whisky to In
dians, Williams made his way to Len
igers grading camp, near Valmy. He
was put to work, and had in seven
days, at So per day, owing SO for
board. At o'clock Thursday morn
ing he was dismissed by Leniger, who
told him to go to the tent and remain
until dinner time, when he would settle
with him.
At noon, FATTY" put in an appear
ance and demanded that Leniger hold
out the 81 Williams owed him. During
the argument that followed over this
demand, Patty fired three shots at
1t is also said that Leniger fred twice
at Williams. also without effect.
Opposite the dining tent, few
yards distant, is situated the horse
corral, at one corner of which is sta
toned a pile of baled hay. Will
lams made break for cover behind
the corral, when it is claimed Leniger
told "Fatty" to go around one way
while he went the other and they
would get him. Williams took refuge
behind the pile of baied hay, and as
Leniger came around after him he
fred at close range, the bullet entering
the latter's heart, causing instant
death. During the battle Williams is
said to have fred twice at "Fatty,
but without effect.
Williams then took horse and
made his escape in the direction OF
Battle Mountain.
The sheriff's office was at once noti-
fed, and, as Sheriff Lamb was tenn
porarily absent, Deputy Sheriff Muller
dispatched Constable Moore to the
scene of the tragedy. The latter was
accompanied by District Attorney
Ducker and Marshal Johnson, of Col
eonda, who happened to be in town
At the same time Battle Mountain
officials were notified. Constable Hash
of that place, at once formed posse
and took up the trail of the fugitive.
Yesterday morning, Mt about $50
O'Clock, Williams was surrounded in
the brush about four miles east of
Battle Mountain. He offered no re-
sistance, and was taken to town and
lodged in Jail.
As the killing was committed IN
Humboldt county Sheriff Lamb was
notified, but when the dispatch ar
rived the officer was on his way to the
scene of the shooting. He returned
with his prisoner on freight train
early in the afternoon.
G. II. Leniger came to Winnemucca
from Oklahoma in June, 1907, and at
once went to work on the Western Pa
cihc grade, as a subeontractor under
Nancy Bros. & Co. He was about 50
years of age, and is survived by a
widow and four children, two sons and
two daughters.
John Nancy left for Goleonda on an
early morning train to arrange for the
funeral.