The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-02-08
DETAILS OF THE
SAWTELLE KILLING

The following account Of the killing
of Bill Sawtelle by "Slats" Ruther-
ford is taken from last Fridays Ely
Record:
On Monday night about the hour of
II o'clock, VIM. Sawtelle was shot
through the body and arm by Rodger
NJ Rutherford on the sidewalk in
front of the Elite saloon, from the re-
suits of which death occurred in a few
minutes.
The cause leading up to the shooting
seems to be surrounded in mystery, at
least on one seems to know the origin
of the trouble. It is said however,
that the men had disagreement sew
eral days previously, and that each of
them had made remarks about the
other. 1t is stated that on the night
of the trouble some one told Ruther-
ford that he had best be on his guard,
as it was the intention of Sawtelle to
"get him. Rutherford then left the
saloon, borrowed a revolver and re-
turned. When he entered the building,
so the story goes, he met Sawtelle, and
not desiring to have trouble he started
to leave, when Sawtelle called to him,
stating that he desired to see him on
matter of Importance. Rutherford
passed out of the front door followed
by Sawtelle. When they reached the
sidewalk it is claimed that Sawtelle at
tempted to draw his gun with his left
hand, but that Rutherford was too
quick for him on the draw Rutherford
fred three shots in all, one of which
missed the mark, the other two taking
effect, one in the stomach and the other
in the right arm. Sawtelle fell to the
sidewalk, while Rutherford started up
the street, but was arrested by Night
Policeman James McDonough and
Henry Nicholson. Mr.. MeDonough at
once took Rutherford to the city Jail,
where he was locked up until the fol
lowing morning, when he was turned
over to Sheriff Grain. Mr.. Nicholson
and others took charge of the wounded
man, and removed him from the side
walk to the rear rooms of the Elite
saloon. DIR. Holmquist was sent for,
but when he arrived the unfortunate
man was already dead.
When Nicholson and others ap-
preached the body on the sidewalk,
they found that Sawtelle's left hand
was lying over a 3S Smith & Wesson
special pistol, which had not been
fred, with his finger still in the guard.
This incident would tend to prove that
the story of the defendant and his
friends was correct in regard to the in
tent of the dead man to take the life
of Rutherford, who saved himself only
by his quick action.
But little is known of the former
history of either man. Sawtelle, it is
claimed, was originally from Casper,
Wyoming, where it is alleged that ne
killed a man. 1t is also stated that he
killed one or two other men at differ
ent times in his life, and was general
ly known as "gunman,' but in re-
gard to this nothing of definite ma
ture can be learned at the present
time A life membership in the Ea-
giles lodge of Casper was found among
his possessions. 1t is also stated that
his wife is resident of Casper. Saw
telle was a resident of Ely for year
or more during the boom day. He fol
lowed gambling as an occupation.
Rutherford, it seems, is native of
Winnemucca, where his parents reside
at the present time. Some time
during 1913 he was sentenced at Tono-
pah to serve an indefinite term of from
fifteen months to four years in the
state penitentiary for burglarizing
Chinese point in quest of opium. He
served about two years and was pa
rolled on the earnest recommendation
of his relatives and friends. He claims
that while in the penitentiary he was
cured of the drug habit, and has not
since been addicted to its use.
On Tuesday morning Sheriff Grain
wired Warden Dickerson of the arrest
of Wallace, alias Rutherford. On We'd
nesday morning a reply was received
stating that if the evidence at the pre-
liminary was not sufficient to bind him
over for trial in the district court, the
sheriff was to retain him as a prisoner
of the state, and that an officer would
then be sent to convey him to the
prison, where he would be required to
serve the unexpired time of his SEN
tenee.
Rutherford will have his preliminary
hearing before Justice of the Peace
Edwards at clock this afternoon
The body of Sawtelle was shipped
to his former home at Casper, Wyom-
ing, yesterday morning for interment.