The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-05-24
MIRC0WCH PAYS THE PENALTY.
Slayer of John Gregovich, Tono-
pah Merchant, is Shot to
Death in Penitentiary

On the first anniversary Of the crime.
Andrew Mircovich, who killed John
Gregovich at Tonopah was executed by
shooting at the State prison at Carson
Wednesday, May IA. 1t was the first
execution by shooting since the law was
passed two years ago.
Three guards pulled the triggers Of
rifles held in vises. whose barrels pro-
jected from a wall. One rifle had q
blank cartridge. The prisoner sat in
chair 30 feet distant, facing the rifles.
Mrcovich was shot at l1:15. He
walked from his cell without assistance
and refused to allow the black cap to
be placed over his head. The three
rifles were fired simultaneously, only
two being loaded. Death was instant.
aneous aud the execution was q success.
Two shots entered his heart. Twenty
fivs people witnessed the execution.
The Board of Pardons met to consider
the case but took no action. Before
leaving his cell the prisoner stated he
hadn't had q square deal, but refused to
make further statement. Officials stat.
ed he was one of the bravest men they
ever saw go to his death.
For the execution q machine secured
in the East by former Warden George
w. Cowing. several months ago, was
used. It consists of three rifles. secure
ly fastened in a frame. which is placed
in tower. The guns are aimed by ma
chiDery, and three guards are selected
to pull the triggers. Two of the guns
contain bullets and the third is empty.
The guns were aimed at the heart of
Mirkovich, and ho fred the empty
gun never will be known. The mur.
derer was strapped in a chair. which was
placed about 30 feet from the machine
Of death. He was powerless to move
other than to turn his head slightly.
The machine had been tested at the
prison and worked to the satisfaction of
the prison officials. A piece of card.
board about the size of mans heart
was used as target. One of the bull
let's cut the exact center of the target
and the other pierced it fraction Of an
inch from the center.
There was no desire on the part of
any of the guards to participate in the
execution Of Mirkovich, and it is said
that the names of all the guards were
placed in hat and the three selected at
random were detailed as "trigger men ~
The Mircovich case was one of de.
liberate and unjustified murder. Gregg.
vich, the victim. was former resident
of Eureka and at the time of his murder
a prominent merchant of Tonopah. He
had been named administrator of the
estate of Q deceased person.
Mircovich claimed to have some
money coming from the estate, and
made demands repeatedly on Gregovich
to make a settlement. This Gregovich
was unable to do because the estate was
still in the course Of administration.
He explained this to Mircovich, but his
explanation was not satisfactory. Greg.
ovich was stabbed without warning by
Mircovich as he was taking a train out
of Tonopah. Mircovich at the time ex-
pressed no sorrow for his act. and de.
clared that he wished no delay in the
trial and execution. The case went to
the Supreme court on o motion for o.
new trial. which was denied. and Mir
covich was resentenced short time ago
by Judge Frank Averill.