The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-07-08
SLAYER CONFEssEs
To COLD FLOODED
MAHAN MURDER
AUSTIN BROUGHT BACK FROM
ELY AND LODGED IN JAIL;
MAY BE INSANE


mentally unbalanced, Ed. Austin,
the self confessed murderer Of
Thomas R. Mahan, aged prospector,
whose body was discovered late
Sunday evening at the Austin cabin
in the Dolly Warden mining district,
was brought into Elko by Sheriff
Joe arris and has made COM
plete confession to the sheriff, ac-
knowledging his part in the death
of his companion for many years.
Following the discovery of Ma
hans lifeless body Sunday evening
by Geo. Madalea and Geo. Henry
at the Austin cabin, the actions Of
Austin were watched by the authori-
ties at Currie. Upon the arrival
of the two men in town it was no
ticed that Austin Immediately took
his departure, starting south. A
message was sent to the sheriff Of
White Pine to that effect and Aus
tins arrest was contaminated on
Monday at the Zubiri ranch near
Cherry Creek, and this man taken
to Ely by Constable Graves.
Upon the return of Sheriff Harris
from his Whiterock trip on Mon
day he and District Attorney H. U.
Castle left for the scene of the kill
ing. Upon their arrival at Currie
Harris was notified that Austin had
been apprehended and left immedi-
ately for Ely, returning with his
man last night.
The cornoner's inquest was held
yesterday at Currie before Justice
of the Peace ]. G. Schmidt. During
the taking of the testimony it de-
veloped that Austin had been over
taken in his flight on the road to-
wards Ely by Charles Skinner and
his wife. Austin stopped them and
told them that it would be best for
them to take him with them as far
rs Ely. Skinner told the man that
they were not going to Ely but that
he could get in and ride as far as
they went. He said something to
them about "if they knew what had
happened" they would probably be
glad to accommodate him with a ride.
His actions appeared queer to them
and it was not long after their ar
rival at the Zubiri ranch that the
officers from Ely arrived for Austin.
When confronted by the officers
he said to Zubini, ~ did it, did
it" and said he was afarid 1.-THE
mob would get him." Madalena
and Henry testified to having come
upon the body when they went to
look for Mahan from whom they
had borrowed team. The body
was lying partly inside the door Of
the Austin cabin, with the back of
the head shot away by gunshot
charge. The verdict Of the coro-
ner's jury was that Thomas r.
Nahan, aged about 80 years, a ma
tive Of Pennsylvania, come to his
death at Dolly Warden, Elko county,
Nevada, on the second day of July,
1922, by means of gunshot wound
inflicted by one Ed Austin, of Dolly
Warden. Elko county, Nevada"
Austin told the complete story of
the shooting to Sheriff Harris, after
he brought him to town. 1t appears
that Mahan had been working on
one Of the Austin claims and had
quit. Austin took his belongings
to his (Austin's) cabin and Mahan
had called for his belongings and
was told not to come into the cabin
again. Not needing the warning
Mahan appeared at the Austin cabin
shortly after nine o'clock Sunday
morning; Austin was lying upon his
bunk and when he noticed Mahan
approach discharged his shot gun at
the man. The charge took effect
In the mouth, glanced upward and
tore out the back of Mahan'.
head. The body dropped directly at
the entrance Of the cabin.
Austin says that he lay there for
sometime thinking about the matter
and imagines he heard people out
side talking about the affair, al
though this hardly seems possible
Later he started out on foot for
Currie, arriving there about mid
night. He appeared nervous to all
with whom he came In contact, and
when he noticed the approach early
the following morning Of Msgdalens
and Henry, he realised that they
knew Of the deed, and he started
for the hills.
A charge Of murder was filed
against Austin this afternoon, and
the sheriff seems to believe that the
man 10 mentally unbalanced. 1t ap.
pears that he lost his wife about
ten years ago and has never seemed
perfectly normal since that time
Elko Free Press.
RETURNS TO ELkO