The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-07-05
LESLIE HANKS IS
SHOT NEAR CAR[|N


: One of the weirdest occurance'
that has taken place in this section
of the state in many years, and one
that makes us wonder if we are ye
very far removed from the "wilo
and woody" days of the old west
resulted in the death of Leslie
Hanks, and the probable death o.
John Goblin, brother of Tod Gobir
of Elko, Hanks demise being caused
by bullets wounds alleged to have
been infiicter by George Allen and
La Mrs. Guthrie, known as "The
Queen" of Carlin's underworld, and
Gobin's condition being the result OF
carbolic acid, druk at the point OF
a gun by Allen reports the Elko
Free Press.
The story of the tragedy is one
which even the widest Imagination
could hardly conceive and the whole
affair seems more the workings of a
dope or drink-crazed mind than
that of normal human brain.
Several versions of the affair have
been going the rounds of Elko and
after pursuing the various stories,
the following has been pieced to-
gether as probably as near the truth
as could be gathered.
Goblin and Hanks have been rid
ing for ranch near Tuscarora, and
were on their way into Carlin from
the north country. They were pass
ing through the canyon, known as
Soap Creek, when they came upon
place said to have been previously
known to them as the still which is
alleged to have been run by Allen.
The two men stopped and asked for
a drink, and were refused. A hot
argument resulted, following which
Hanks and Goblin started away from
the house, intending to climb into
their car and continue on to Car
lin.
Goblin started to crank the car
but while in the act of doing so,
heard a shot and turned to see
Hanks falling to the ground with a
bullet wound in the chest. Allen,
according to the story, then came
running out with forty-five in his
hand and sticking the gun in Hanks
face, pulled the trigger to make
sure of the job, blowing away the
right side of the unfortunate mans
head.
Realizing that Goblin would likely
prove a material witness in the case,
the man and woman forced him to
enter the cabin at the point of a
gun, and while 1.-THE Queen" held
him captive, Allen is said to have
mixed drink of moonshine which
was mostly carbolic acid, and told
Goblin to drink or they would shoot
him.
Realizing the seriousness of the
situation, Goblin took the liquid into
his mouth, intending to hold it until
he could get away from the two to
spit it out. 1t seems, however, that
he swallowed some of the acid be-
fore he was turned looose, but spit
out most of it.
He climbed into his car and man.
aged to make it to a hereby ranch
at which place he enlisted the aid
Of three cowboys and started back |
to get the body of his dead COM
panion and also to arrest the murd- |
erers.
The party had not gone far, how
ever, when they met Allen and his |
feminine companion, who were evil
IDENTIFY following, to pick up Goblin |
when he died of the acid poisoning. |
When they perceived the rest of
the party, they Gained down and
went back with them to the cabin,
where Hanks body was put into
the Ford, and the two alleged
taken into Carlin at the |
point of a gun.
Allen and Mrs. Guthrie are now
lodged in the Carlin jail, and at last
reports from the railroad city,
Goblin is a raving maniac as the
result of the action of the poison,
and it not expected to live.
The affair took place in Eureka
county, and the alleged murderers
are being held in Carlin awaiting
the arrival of the authorities from
the county seat.
District Attorney Mathews made
the trip to Carlin this morning i'm
mediately' upon receiving word Of
the tragedy, but was not called upon
to do anything as the affair did not
take place in Elko county.
1t is thought, according to the in
formation received here that the
woman fired the first shot, and
Allen to take the blame for the
murder from her then fired the
second. Both are said to insist
on taking the responsibility for death
of Hanks.
The motive for the crime is not
fully understood here, it appearing
that there is much more behind the
scenes than has yet come to light.
1t hardly seems possible that an
argument over the alleged refusal
of Allen to provide a drink would
be enough to inspire the shooting.
although it is stated that Allen and
Mrs. Guthrie were either intoxi-
Gated or under the influence of a
drug, at the time all this happened.
1t is known that Allen worked
on the Hunter and Banks ranch
some time ago with Hanks, and
that there never was the best of
feeling between the two while work.
ing together, but what should cause
Mrs. Guthrie to fire the shot as
she is alleged to have done, is not
definitely established.