Weekly journal-miner., 1916-12-20
HumbugRdnchers Shot While Taking
 Sheriff Prisoners
JOHN AND NELSON SNIP SON MEET DEATH AT HANDS OF MEN ACCUS- ED OF BURGLARIZING RANCH HOUSE.
(From Saturdays DailYl

Sheriff Oe ounS, ms deputieS ana several posses are securing the noun tains in the vicinity of Crook canyon for two unidentified men who shot and killed Nelson and John Simpson, of the Kentuck ranch, Humbug dis trict, late Thursday afternoon. Sheriff Young and his deputies tracked the two men as far as the Dunkirk mine last night before sundown and re- mained there until this morning when the search was renewed.
 According to accounts of the shoot ing which were recited to Coronei Chas- H. McLanc and the sheriff, the Simpson brothers were bringing in two men who had robbed their house on the Kentuck ranch several days ago. John Simpson rode over to Crown King Wednesday and secured a John Doe warrant for the two men from Justice of the Peace Ben Marks. His brother joined him and together they trailed the two men until they found them somewhere on the road between Crook Canyon and the Ken tuck ranch
 Having been deputized by Marks, they placed the men under arrest and compelled them to walk ahead of their horses until they reached the Crook Canyon mine where John Simpson telephoned the sherif7s office to send man to meet them at Sem ator and relieve them Of their pris- oners.
 Apparently they started out immc diately for Senator and had reached a point two miles this side of the Crook mine when their two prisoners sud denly turned upon them, and produc ing guns, commenced shooting. Fritz and Henry Vierthaler two boys com ing home from school, heard the shooting and saw one of the men dash up the road on his horse and fall sud- denly to the ground
 Either too frightened to say any thing when they reached home or not realizing what had happened, the boys did not mention what they had wit messed to their parents. Returning to school yesterday morning they say the body of John Simpson lying beside his dead horse and rushed to school to inform their teacher, who immediately notified the sheriff.
 Before Sheriff Young arrived the body of Nelson Simpson had been found in the road 300 yards from that of his brother His horse was found later a mile away where the bridle reins had become tangled in the heavy undergrowth and held the animal cap tive. 4 rife was found tied in its scabbard
 Six empty 3S calibre special revolver shells were found near the body of John Simpson and several 5O-30 cart ridges were scattered around the road. mute evidence that the Simpson brothers had returned their assail- ants fire before dropping to the ground
 A 50-30 rife. which John was known to have been carrying, was missing and 1t Is believed that the two men stole his gun after killing him His brothers horse evidently became frightened and ran up the road with its wounded rider remaining in the saddle until the horse left the road.
 Nelson was shot through the head the bullet entering over the right eye and coming out the top of the head John was struck by two bullets. one entering his heart and probably kill ing him instantly and the other. . soft-nose bullet entered his abdomen almost disemboweling him.
 When the meagre particulars of tn, shooting were received the sheriff started out immediately on the trai of the two men and sent after nor, men to assist in the hunt. By mean. of a peculiar mark left by one of tn, mems shoes. they were traced for sev craI hundred yards in a southwestcrll direction from the scene of the mur der.