White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-08
iBy B. 4. MIIILER.)
PART THIRTEEN


the quiet of the usually tranquil com.
inunity. One of the most noteworthy
of these tragedies was the killing OF
Johnnie Hewlett by Ed Crutchleyi
who owned claim about twelve
miles south of Egan canyon, where
ne had stored considerable water
which he had piped down from the
mountain TO where he had installed
water troughs and built stock cor
rails for the use of the stocKmen dur
ing the roundups. Hewlett had cat
lie and horses on the range, using
Crutohley's watering and corral priv
ileges until they had some trouble in
Cherry Creek In this fight Hewlett.
who was young ard muscular, got
the best OF Crutehley, who was
around three-score years, before
friends separated the two men. Bad
blood resulted and Crutehley forbade
, Hewlett further use of the corrals.
Hewlett, however disregarded this
warning and Crutchley was unable to
keep him out without closing the cor.
rails TO other stockmen.
Finally feeling between the two
men became so bitter that Crutchley
warned Hewlett that II he ever drove
his stock into the eorrals again he
would Kill him. Only few days
stock I'm. so Crutchley loaded his
shotgun with heavy slugs and when
Hewlett entered the corral with his
herd Crutchley shot him, killing him
instantly.
Evidence at the coroner's inquest
tended to show that the two men had
some words before the killing from
The fact that Hewlett. who was shot
through the breast had his coat of
as II in preparation for n fight
Crutchley, who came into town i'm
rnediately after the shooting at hrst
claimed that Hewlett had been killed
by other stockmen. but suspicion
pointed sc strongly TO him that he
was arrested He Immediately re-
tanned w G Love as his attorney
and told Love the facts OF the kill
ing.
Love demanded the release OF the
prisoner on the ground that the kill
ing was done in self defense. but feel
ang ran SO high among the friends of
Hewlett that Crutchley was held TO
appear before the grand jury at Ham
ilton. This was. ! believe. in the
summer OF 1888, and by the time
court met in the fall Crutchley had
apparently partially lost his mind and
n while on the stand wandered from
and again claimed that Hewlett had
been killed by other stockmen. At
aorney Love made a strong plea to
save the prisoners life and to have
him sen. TO the asylum. but failed 10
convince the Jury, which found
Crutchley guilty of murder in the
first degree. Having no money and
few friends. Crutchley went to the
gallows for what many people be-
lieved was murder done in self-de.
tense
Crutchley was. | believe. the first
man legally hanged in White Pine
county. The second, and the last TO
the writer's knowledge. was Hank
Parrish, convicted OF killing a man
named Thompson. I believe. in Phoebe
in 1890. Parrish secured change
of venue from Lincoln county 20
White Pine county. but was convict
ed of first degree murder and hanged
at Ely. Billy Bassett being sheriff al
that time
Perhaps one of the saddest TRACE
dies In the history of Cherry Creek
occurred the day after election In
1894, | believe. when Patrick Dolan
shot and killed Pat Greene. The men
were close neighbors, engaged In
farming and stockraising In Steptoe
valley north of Cherry Creek, Mr..
Inoiap living twelve miles from town,
while the Greene ranch was about
two miles farther north. While the
two men had not been on friendly
terms for some time prior to the
shooting none OF the townspeople had
suspected that their enmity was SO
deep rooted that IL would lead to
murder. .tN EtNHtt
The original cause OF the trouble
h was reported. was a disagreement
over school matters, one district be-
ing set aside for the two farms and
the school building being located
midway between the homes of the
men. The day OF the shooting both
men were In town and both supposed
ly under the influence OF liquor when
the long-standing quarrel was renew
ed. but without attracting any par
ttcular attention from the town resi-
dents. Dolan, however, suddenly
left Cherry, went to his ranch. Sc
cured shotgun and returned to
town. He found Greene. with a num-
ber OF other people, standing on the
sidewalk and without getting out OF
his wagon or giving warning OF any
kind, he raised his gun and shot
Greene through the head. killing him
Instantly.
Greene, a small man Weighing
about 1870 pounds. was OF a quiet and
peaceable disposition, while Dolan,
who weighed about 240, was OF pow
erful build. Prior to the murder
both men were popular and both had
families, which were highly thought
OF In the community. The killing
excited great deal OF feeling. how
ever. and Dolan. who was tried at
Ely, was convicted OF first degree
fur lin 20
Imprisonment. Dolan's wife and
small children were present at the
trial and excited a great deal of sym.
pathy for the defendant, and this, to-
gether with strong plea made by
his attorney, Henry REEVES, saved
him from the gallows.
While there were many Cherry