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Show TWO DESPARADOES SHOT. The following is from a letter written by J. H. Martineau, Esq. (Esquire), to a member of his family, dated Eagle Rock, Oct. (October) 28th. All lovers of justice on reading the result of the shooting will rejoice. A shooting scrape occurred here at 2:30 today, in which two "cow boys" were shot and killed by citizens here in self defence. The men killed had been shooting around for about two hours, putting everyone in fear for their lives. Shots nearly struck some of Hammond's men who were grading, and the U. & N. R. R. carpenters had to hide behind the lumber piles &c (etc.). While I stood at a window of Anderson's house shaving, one of them - Mahone I believe his name was - shot at me, the ball passing just above my head through the glass. I did not see him till the pistol discharged, or it might have made my hand nervous. He then said to Mr. Keller, "If I'd had my own pistol I'd have killed the G-d d---m son of a bitch." He fired a little too high, but a good line shot. These men - "cow boys" they are called have kept citizens of this place and Blackfoot in alarm for over a month. There are some thirty five or forty of them, I believe. Before the fight begun here, these men had shot quite a number of chickens, also a fine dog of Anderson's. They also tried to find Mr. Bauminer of Providence, who is clerking here to kill him, but he kept out of their sight. They looked for him pistol in hand, through cellars and outhouses. Warren, Justice of the Peace, Blackfoot, has been telegraphed for and will soon be here to investigate things. The following is the verdict of the jury: Territory of Idaho, County of Oneida. We the jury, in the presence of the dead bodies of C. R. Gilliland and William Mohan, having been duly empanelled and sworn to enquire into the cause of death of the aforesaid persons, do find that the aforesaid persons came to their death by means of gunshot wounds, which said guns were fired by W. H. Keller, B. P. Chamberlain and Joseph Rummell, that the said shots were fired in self defence, and that each of them were fully justified in killing the said William Mohan and C. R. Gilliland as it was the only means of saving their own lives. We further find that said William Mohan and C. R. Gilliland were desperadoes of the worst character, and ever since their arrival in Oneida County have been a terror to the community in which they have resided. Given under our hands this, the 8th day of October, A. D. 1880. W. W. Black, Foreman,, Geo. (George) Payne, Wm. (William) Toombs, W. E. Barrett, Thos. (Thomas) Merrill, Elijah Jeney, Frank P. Daniels, Godfrey Fuhriman, Jurors. From the Blackfoot Register we glean further particulars of the tragedy. The names of the desperadoes were Wm. (William) Mohan and C. B. Gilliland, and a short time before they were shot, they invited roadmasters Geo. (George) Payne and Wm. (William) Toombs to drink with them. These gentlemen declined. The desperadoes threatened to shoot them if they persisted in refusing and four times levelled that the two gentlemen, swearing they would fire if they did not drink. The Register is slightly in error in saying that they did drink, as Mr. Toombs informs us that they did not, notwithstanding the danger of a refusal. Messers Toombs and Payne displayed much greater moral and physical courage than most men would under like circumstances. At the inquest Mr. J. H. Martineau testified as follows. "Saw Keller and Chamberlin come out of the store armed. Gilliland was standing by a post in the corral. Saw Gilliland fire at Keller and Chamberlin, who returned the fire and Gilliland fell. Mohan was close by Gilliland when he fell. Mohan ran behind a shed at the rear of the stable and continued firing through the cracks between the boards of the stable. Keller and Chamberlin continued firing until Mohan was killed." Jas. (James) Allan testified; Saw Keller and Chamberlin going toward the corral with guns, saw Mahan fire through the fence at them. He fired once and ran back toward the stable. He fired through where the door is broken, and the ball struck a post between him and Keller, I showed Keller and Chamberlin where he had gone and he (Mohan) seeing me pointing toward him, aimed his six shooter at me, but seeing Keller and Chamberlin he turned it on them. Joseph Rummell testified; Corroborating the above testimony, saw Mohan and Gilliland fire at Keller and Chamberlin. The fire was returned and Gilliland fell. I went into the store and got a six shooter and ran toward the rear end of the store, Mohan saw me and shot at me, I shot at him twice, don't know whether I hit him or not. Eighteen more witnesses were examined; all of their testimony corroborated the above. |