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

tneSo storleS, uiu not stOp 10 tnlnk
for themselves. but like monkeys re-
peated them as products of their own
brains. They did not stop to think OF
| the damage they were doing, of the
/ injustice to a man who then was
? lying perhaps fatally wounded be-
cause he was MAN enough to do his
duty in protection of the very people
defaming him. They didn't stop to
look underneath to find a reason fol-
the stories-no, they stopped fol
nothing, but went merrily on spread
ing "the word" After 1t got good
start the instigators stood back, shut
up, and laughed at the poor fools un-
knowingly doing their bidding be-
cause the fools hadn't enough sense
to think for themselves deliberately
let someone else do the thinking and
joyfully spread ideas which we're not
theirs at all.
From several sources we learned
there are men in this city actually
glad Nelson got shot and apparently
hoping he'd die, il grins were true
signs. And we have every reason to
believe our informants sized the stu
alton up correctly.
And now we're going to try and
give you some reasons.
We want to ask you a point-blank
question, folks. and believe you'll
have to reason 1t out as a fair ques-
ton: Why do you suppose these
stories were spread? Why do you
suppose any man could be SO unkind
as to blame peace officer for an act
that might cost him his life, in the
performance of his sworn duty to
protect other people in this city?
Doesn't it seem reasonable to you
that men must have a powerful in
centive to stoop to lying and misrep-
resenting man who was so noble as
to take his life in his hands in the
manner Nelson did? Doesn't it seem
reasonable that the dirty dogs had
a strong personal interest that would
lead them to take advantage OF man
unable to protect himself. perhaps
| dying at the moment the defamatory
stories were spread?
Stop and think about that for a
moment? Don't take our word for it.
Well tell you our idea of the rea-
| sons they had-because If Nelson
should die they might be able to "get
one of their men in" who would per-
nit them to carry on their dollar
gaining practices. regardless of the
right or wrong of methods pursued.
Nelson has dared to buck" them, has
to degree stopped some of their
dirty work by his mere presence on
the job. While they were at it they
found good chance to discredit
Hickam, who is Nelson's faithful
deputy and who Is also making 1t diff
ficult for the crooks to carry on their
illegal occupations. Hickam must
also be gotten rid Of before they can
pursue their own sweet way.
Are you commencing to get the
idea, some of you people who "felP'
for the propaganda?
The Silver State is able to rely
upon facts concerning the Nelson
shooting as brought out at the cor
oner's inquest held yesterday after
noon over the remains of the dead
Negro. We ask no one to take our
word for single statement-the
facts are available first hand for the
mere direct asking.
One of the stories that gained al
most complete circulation was that
Nelson had been called from his bed,
or had met Hickam Immediately be-
fore the shooting took place, leaving
the inference that Hickam had failed
to assist Nelson in making the ar
rest. You see, that puts Hickam in
a bad light as either afraid to do his
duty or incompetent. 1t is an abso-
lutte untruth and spread for the rea-
sons mentioned, to create public
opinion against Hickam. that vicious
men might again do as they please by
Hickam's displacement by a man
who can be bought.
Facts in the case bear out the
statement. The coroner's inquest,
Hickams statement, and statements
of roundhouse employees prove the as
sertion. Hickam's statement is that
he last talked to Nelson concerning
the case before 1880 o'clock Sunday
night and that Nelson was on his
way to lie in wait for the Negro at
the roundhouse before 8 o'clock thas
evening. Roundhouse employees say
Nelson was there all of that even