Weekly journal-miner., 1920-09-29
RANCHER KILLED
 AT HUMBOLDT
Especial to The Journal-Miner.

HUMBOLDT, Sept. 25.-OfficerS
 are apparently vainly trying to learn
 the circumstances surrounding the
 killing in midafternoon yesterday of
 Paul Legeski. small rancher just
 across the river from the Con-Ari-
 zona Shelter, and the racts sur
 rounding the beating into insensibh
 ity of Joe Smith, former smelter em- lploye.
 ! Legeski was apparently instantly killed when the contents of a shot gun were discharged into his back.
 Two other men, believed to have been with Legeski and Smith at the ranch, which is near the Billy Fielder place, are not located, although Sher- if Davis and deputies tonight en- gagged i'll a search.
 Smith, who regained consciousness this evening, is said to have refused to talk about the tragedy. He was so severely beaten about the head that he was unconscious for four or five hours, but, it is said, no bones were broken.
 That four men engaged i'll a drink ing bout at the Legeski ranch and that the trouble arose out of it, is the belief here Anton Tonek, a ranchct, is said to have discovered the bodies of Legeslli and Smith and to have reported the matter to Justice of the Peace A. K. Lee some time after 7 o'clock. Deputies were called into the case by the judge, but at this hour, 1:3O a. m., a great deal of mystery still surrounds the affair.
 His head and face a mass of bruis- eS, showin gpurple and ultramarinc beneath his swarthy and unshavcn skin. Joe Smith, victim of an intcn- sive beating at the Legerski ranch near Humboldt Friday afternoon, car ly yesterday morning told Sheriff Da- wis that Constable Ben Johnson of the Humboldt precinct and Elmer Bentley, smelter employe, were the two mysterious visitors to the Lc- gerski ranch, concerned in the slay- ing of Legeski.
 As a result, Johnson and Bentley were arrested at their homes in Hum- Doldt shortly before daylight Satur- day morning.
 Yesterday afternoon. Smith was brought to the county jail and held as ! material witness to the affair that ,ost one life and came near costing lis own.
 According to Smiths story, related ltter period of apparent reluctance, he was at Legerskrs ranch when Johnson and Bentley arrived late in he afternoon. Legerski is said to lave produced two bottles of liquor, ,ut the witness was not sure that the newcomers paid him anything for 1t. It any rate, after some drinks had 'NSu taNNll' d NudilO Ol OllSuCu, uulllS which Legerski left the house and tarted away. Johnson is said to have aught up a shot gun in the room and O have cmptied its contents into the ancher's back, instantly willing him.
 Smith was then beaten into inscnsi- ility, he believes with a club
 It was said in Humboldt that Bent oy lay around town part of the eve ing, apparently still under the influ- nee of liquor. When the tyo men rere arrested at their homes, how vel. the sheriff said they were ap- arently sober.
 Johnson Is Silent.
 Johnson, who has been constable { the Humboldt precinct for nearly vo years, yesterday rctaiucd attor- eys for his defense, and during the ay maintained a strict silence abuot he affair. Smith added nothing to he statement he made to the officers.
 His testimony was taken before a rroucr's jury at Humboldt yester- av afternoon and resulted in yer jet that Legerski came to his death 7 ieascr of a gunshot wound in- icted by Ben Johnson.