White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-09
NEVADA STATE IN THE MAKING;
ELY, CAPITAL OF WHITE PINE

miners were parleylng on the road.
When the deputy began to realize
that trouble was imminent he pro-
posed to Traylor that they should
leave the Office by the back way and
return to Ely. but Traylor, fearing
that the property might be damaged
by the miners. refused to leave. Big
Tom then told the mine manager
that he was foolish and declared that
he himself would return to town
whether or not Traylor accompanied
him. Traylor then asked the officer
for the loan of his gun, after which
the deputy left Traylor, who was
then alone. had gun of his own in
addition To that given him by the
deputy, and he placed one in each OF
his outside coat pockets.
Within few minutes after the
departure of the deputy sheriff a
committee of five miners marched
into the mine office. the president of
the union. William Lloyd, remaining
outside and standing near the door
The miners committee again asked
Traylor II he purposed To start up
the property and received a reply in
the negative. Lloyd. from his posi-
tion just outside the door. then
shouted, Bring him on. boys" and
two miners, one on each side. graft
bed Traylor and started for the door
Traylor. whose arms were free be-
low the elbows. drew both his guns
and shot one of his captors through
the head and the other through the
heart. both men dying instantly. Be-
fore the other three men could over
power him he shot and killed the
third man and seriously wounded the
other two The men who were killed
outright were John Smith, Shamrock
johnson and Jim Skaggs. Jim Berry
was so badly wounded that he died a
short time later, while the fifth man.
Max Lambert. was taken to a san
Francisco hospital in serious con-
dition but later recovered from his
wounds
After the shooting Taylor escaped
by the rear door and made his way
to Ely. while the miners who had re-
NAMED outside the cabin gathered up
the dead and wounded and brought
them to Ely in the two rigs which
had been hired by the committee.
Traylor left Ely the night of the kill
ing. going TO Elko. where he surren-
dered to the officers and was at once
released on bonos.
At the subsequent grand jury in
vestigation of the case Traylor's let
iers TO his employed were submitted
in evidence. together with a state
ment made by one Of the wounded
miners that the rigs had been hired
for the purpose of kidnapping Traylor
and taking him to Wells. and Tray
lor was at once ordered set free by
The Jury. which found that he was
justified in his action and merely act
ed in self-defense. | understand that
rraylor is nov living in Denver
As n result of the grand Jury
probe Lloyd. president of the miners
union, was indicted on a charge of
attempted kidnapping. After his ar
rest he was released on bonds fur
nished by his brother-in-law. j. b.
Mcconie. Lloyd failed to appear on
the date set for his trial and his
bonds were ordered forfeited The
decision of the grand jury. follow
ing closely on the heels of the kill.
ings. is reported TO have had o
strong bearing on starting the how
of capital to Ely which resulted in
the great subsequent development of
the camp The tragedy was also
great blow to the miners union.
which was a long time in recovering
its former prestige