White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-19
COTTON" T|BBS
KILLS HERDER
BONIFACIO EGOSQUE, FATALLY
SHOT AT ELLISON RANCH IN
WHITE RIVER VALLEY-TIBBs
DISAPPEARS AFTER SHOOTING

west of Ely, Thursday morning, a
camp cook named Tibbs and
famillarly known as Cotton"
killed a Basque sheep herder, by the
name of Bonifacio Egosque, and
Immediately left for parts unknown.
Tibbs was in the employ of Adams
e. MeGill, and in statement to Ed.
Gililland, who lives about five miles
down the canyon from the scene of
the tragedy, said that he had
shot the sheep herder in self de-
fense. This statement is said to
have been made to Gililland very
soon after the murder, Tibbs having
mounted a ranch horse and gone
at once to the formers place. Gill
land states that he advised Tibbs
to come to Ely and give himself
up, and this Tibbs had said he
would do, If he thought he
could get a square deal" Tibbs
soon after started in the direction
of Ely, and was followed by
Gililland. who traced him for awhile.
but did not notice which direc-
tion Tibbs had taken, he having
evidently turned out of the road.
Gililland came to Ely and told
the story of the shooting as recount
ed to him by Tibbs. This was to
the effect that when Tibbs had
called the men to breakfast early
Thursday morning. four of them
had advanced toward him in
threatening manner. whereupon he
had ran and secured possession
of his gun. Turning with the
weapon in his hand. one Of
the men grabbed the gun by the muz-
zle with both hands, and Tibbs think
ing himself in danger, had pulled the
trigger The bullet entered the
mans abdomen. and he fell to the
aPPhA1hAA3 dJAhb oh 1hNNs
Another man, known as Joe, then
came towards Tibbs, who ordered
him to stop or be shot, at the same
time pointing the gun at him. Joe
and the other two men turned and
ran towards camp, and Tibbs think
ing they were going after weapons,
picked up a saddle and going to a
field where a horse was feeding
saddled and bridled the animal
and set out for the Gililland place
Tibbs, in his story to Gililldnd,
stated that the men had made
previous threats upon his life, and
that he believed they intended
to kill him Thursday morning.
After hearing the story of the
shooting from Mr.. Gililland, Under
Sheriff Jackson and Justice Leish-
man at once started for the White
River country, in the Fletcher auto,
with George letter at the wheel
They were accompanied by j. e..
Robbins OF the Nevin-Graham un-
dertaking parlors who went along
to prepare the remains for burial
The cook, Tibbs. is recalled as
having been the partner of b. G..
Jenney, who was shot and killed by
an Indian. Young Black Eye, near
Duckwater, last year. The Indian
was never arrested, but was OK
onerated for the shooting, as 1t
was brought out that Young Black
Eye had fired the shot in protec-
tion of young squaw whom the
white men were attempting to
assault.
The Ely officials returned here
Friday afternoon, bringing with them
the body of the murdered sheep
herder. None of the Basques at the
camp could speak English, and at
the inquest to be held in Ely, 1t will
be necessary to employ an Interpreter,
In the examination of witnesses OF
the shooting. No trace has been
discovered of Tibbs since he left
Gililland's place, and his statement
that he intended to come to Ely
and give himself up, is looked
upon as a ruse to throw searchers
off the track. II is extremely likely
that he has put long distance be-
tween himself and the scene OF the
killing.