The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-03-01


the flashes of the guns. ran to his
sssistance.
Nelson, who did not lose conscious
ness until after taken to the hospital,
told them that he had killed the
Negro and to never mind him, but to
Get the white man." describing him
as having a scar on his cheek and
wearing a clean pair of overalls. And
Nelson demonstrated when they in
sisted upon attending to him first.
The men put Nelson on an engine
and took him to the depot, removing
him to the hospital in a taxi secured
by Deputy Sheriff Pinson. who had
been called and who was upon the
scene with Night Officer Hickam
within a few moments after the shoot
ing occurred.
Upon reaching the hospital 1t was
found that the bullet which had been
fired from thirty-two automatic pis-
tol had entered Nelson's right chest.
penetrating the lung and coming out
of his back. For time slight hope
was held out for his recovery, but
yesterday better and better reports
were issued, Nelson rallying in Won
derful fashion, until last evening DR..
Pope, the attending physician, stated
he believed Nelson would recover.
The dead Negro, upon being re-
moved to Carlson's undertaking par
lors, was found to have one bullet
wound in the center of his chest. At
the time of falling and when found
he had a pair of stolen shoes under
his coat and the pistol from which
Nelson was shot. Neither his name
or anything about him is known, as
he had no papers or anything in his
pockets by which he could be identi-
fed. He was found to be well sup
/, piled with ammunition, however hav-
ing a box of loaded cartridges in one
pocket and magazine fully loaded In
another, denoting that he was a des-
perate sort and fully prepared for
any emergency. Part of the bullets
were soft-nosed lead and others cop
per- -jacketed. 1t was one of the cop
per-jack eted bullets that hit Nelson,
making a clean wound clear through
and principal danger is from infec-
tion from the copper. Both kinds of
cartridges were mixed in the maga-
zine found in the automatic and had
Nelson been hit with one of the soft
nosed lead bullets it undoubtedly
would have killed him as quickly as
the Negro died.
The Negro, who was evidently in
his early thirties, had been seen
around here since just before the rob-
berry and on the night of the shooting
had stated he was going to leave for
points west.
Pinson and Jones made a search
for the white man described by Nell
son and finally located him in an
empty boxear, where he had evil
IDENTIFY intended to spend the night.
He was arrested and placed in Jail,
but no weapon was found upon him.
Yesterday he gave his name as James
Williams and said he knew nothing of
the affair, though he had been with
the Negro at different times.
1t had been rumored around town
that Nelson was shot in the back, but
this was decidedly contradicted by
DR.. Giroux's statement at the inquest
that although it was hard to de-
termine the points of entry and exit
of the bullet by the holes made in the
body, the clothing was not cut at all
in the back, while there was a hole
in the front and the bullet was found
on the operating table, having fallen
from the clothing.
AT the inquest held yesterday after
noon by Coroner Ritchie, the jury,
consisting of Peter st. Peter, j. w.
Ferguson and ID. f. Gaffney, it was
found that Nelson was carrying out
his official duties and was absolved
of all blame.
Early yesterday morning Western
Pacific railroad officials sent word
here the company was prepared to
go to any lengths or any expense to
save Nelson's life, and if considered
advisable to import specialists or sur
geons the railroad company would at
tend to details and meet the expense.