The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1911-05-12

Smith and Long had trouble over the
ranch. and tie killing resulted from
that misunderstanding. Smith un-
doubtedly feared that Long might re-
cover5after being desperately shot as
he was in the habit Of getting over or.
dinariiy fatal wounds and in that case
there would ~ 6 day OF reckoning,
and Hence in order that there might
not be sequel. POSSIBLY unhealthy 10
himself, Smith beat in the head Of
Long with an AK after having shot
him down Smith escaped serious
punishment for the crime on the
ground of self defense, although those
tamiliar with he bloody incident feel
that |. was case of plain murder. The
following brief and unembellighed ac-
count of the shooting is taken from
the I.oomiston Journal OF January 4,
1894
Charlie Long was shot beaten anu
killed by Geo. H. Smith at the Kelly or
Kinchnlo cabin near the north end of
Palmer lake about five O'Clock On the
evening of January :. 1891 The first
news of the killing was brought up the
valley by Smith Himself, who informed
his father at the Phillips ranch about
the deed and the two came on to Loo
mstQp and told Lou Burrt II bout the
Ga!r. The only erect evidence as to
the details of The killing before the
jury was given by Lou Eurrel!, who
simply told Smiths story Us Smith
told it to him, although Messrs Whis-
tier. Ballou and Kinchelo told how
they went t. tho llace of the tiglt and
found the body the next morning AS
they vent together their testimony
was much the same as to the appear
ance of the body and the condition OF
the premises. They said they found
where the body had been dragged from
in front of the house near a sleigh,
then 4 few feet farther at an angle
and left near /; wood pile. with
bloody ak lying near. They testified
that Charlie Longs revolver WAS at
mis- cousin Jack Longs house and it
was zs.een there the next day after the
Wiling. . That fa,ns wpDr- 10 where
Smith was living unarmed Is far as
their knowledge went That they knew
of no reason why Long should have
gone to see Smith"
oil ,,Io 1,
version Of the killing as told oy smith
to Burrcl and ,estified to by lhc latter
at rhe coroEer'S inquest;
" Smith said he was in the house
alone, heard the cog bark locked out.
and saw Charlie Long coming 70 the
house. Asked him to cone in and sit
down Long refused and asked for
Smiths father, and for Kelly. Smith
said they We're up at Phillips ranch.
Long then sail, i came to kill yoI;
Smith said, you have, have you and
fired at Long His revolver vert Oft
twice and the chambers stuck and
would not work. He says Long fired
one shot, hut don't know where the
bullet went, it did not hit him. He
took the pistol he said was Longs to
Conconully. After he found he could
not shoot any more he clinched with
Long and got out doors, he all the
time striking and fighting Long. Knew
one shot took effect in Long as his
thumb went into the hole when they
clinched. After getting out doors Longs
said let me go home or 4 want to
go home, and then fell down. He
was afraid Long would rally and shoot
him and he got an AK Ga double Bit
and hit him on the head with it. He
saw that Long was dead and went
Out to the pasture for horse, came
back with the horse, found Long as
he lefy him and he then threw a quilt
over him, got on horse and came
away"
4 HEALTHY INCREASE.