White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-01
CH|GGER| ADMITS
FIXING GUN TRAP
ARREST FOLLOWS SHOOTING
THAT WOUNDS JACK WRIGHT,
IN MURRY STREET CABIN
HELD FOR DISTRICT COURT.

The victim of the gun-trap acci-
dent, reported in last Sundays News.
was Jack Wright. whose right hand
was seriously injured by the charge
from the double-barreled gun that
was set off when Wright opened the
door in Andrew Ghiggeri's cabin, on
Murry street.
Wright received treatment at the
county hospital, and the wound is
getting along nicely. The end OF the
third finger was torn away, and num-
erous shot penetrated other portions
of the hand. He considers himself
in luck, as the trap was set in po-
sition calculated to bore a hole in the
person of anyone opening the cabin
door.
It seems that Ghiggeri had left the
district for Willow Creek, and ae-
eording to his claim, set the gun trap
to protect his cabin from thieves, as
ht ~ btCh DlOhtn lUtO OH
previous occasions when he has been
absent.
Following the shooting incident,
Sheriff Grain swore out warrant for
Ghlggeri. who was arrested at Will
low Creek, Tuesday, by Deputy Sher-
in Nicholson. who returned to Ely
with his prisoner.
At preliminary hearing Wednes-
day morning. before Justice Cart
wright. Ghiggeri was placed under
$1,000 bonds. which were later in
creased to $4,000. District Attorney
Billings considering the first sum too
low. and bringing the case before
Judge Coleman of the district court,
resulting in the re-arresting of CHG
geri on bench warrant and the in
crease of the required ball Surety
was furnished by Ed. Wilson and
Fred Stevenson. in the sum of $1,000
each, and the respondent released
from custody.
Ghiggeri admits setting the gun
trap for the protection of his proper
ty. and at first stated that he had act
ed with advise of counsel who had
informed him that he had a right to
guard his house In such a manner
The lawyer mentioned denied this
emphatioally. and Ghiggeri after
wards modified his previous state
ment by saying that the lawer had
advised him against setting any trap
that would endanger life.
The statute of Nevada provides a
severe penalty for setting gun traps;
in such a case as Ghiggeri's there is
maximum penalty of twenty years
in states prison.
The dangerous possibilities of a
gun trap for infiieting death or in
jury upon an innocent party are
many. Had fire broken out in that
particular cabin or in that part of
the city. necessitating entrance to the
building. some one in performance of
duty would have received the charge
of shot. Children. also. not infre-
: 1uently prowl about unoccupied
'Vouldings and sometimes their curl
osity leads them to go inside or
make the attempt. In this instance.
the door to which the murderous gun
was attached was not even locked.
and had some innocent youngster un-
Willingly started to go in, tragedy
would have resulted. In fact. while
1t Is conceded that person has
perfect right to protect his property
within reason. there is nothing to
justify any arrangement that will in
flict death or great bodily injury re-
gardless of circumstances.
Wright claims that he has known
Ghiggeri for several years. and that
Saturday night he had gone to the
cabin for the purpose of sleeping
there.