MATTERS IN NEVADA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 107, 26 February 1870, Page 3

MATTERS IN NEVADA.

A correspondent writing from Dayton, August 29th,, says :—: — A preliminary examination for murder, that has excited much interest, has just closed at Genoa, I took dinner at a log restaurant, formerly the famous rendezvous of the riders of the pony express, and early prospectors of the Washoe mines ; it is the oldest building in the state, having been built in the spring of 1850 by the Reese Brothers of Reese River notoriety, and "was for many years known as the "Mormon Station." Here the noted desperado Sam Brown, after killing nine men at different times in California and Nevada, remained for nearly a week and defied the officers of justice, who came down every clay from Carson to take him. The audacity of this man was astonishing. As the sheriff and his posse would ride up armed to the teeth, Brown, who would usually be sitting in the bar-room, with two or three Colt's revolvers and an 18-inch bowieknife in his belt/ would come to the door, wish them good morning, and invite the whole party to come in and take a drink ; the invitation was generally accepted, in the hope that some unwary movement would be made that would enable them to secure him ; but after sitting about all day in the vain hope of getting behind his back, — - Brown in the mean time entertaining them with humorous stories and lively sallies of wit, without ever hinting that he had the most remote idea of the object of their visit, — they would mount their horses and return to Carson empty handed. Brown was finally killed by one Van Sickles, a station keeper, whose life he had threatened. Entering I the court-room, I found the court in i session. The murder had been committed in what was known as Pine Nut Valley, a locality that for years had been noted for the lawless character of its inhabitants, and was of the most cold-blooded description. A wood ranch, owned by Mr. J. L. Roach, had been "jumped," or appropriated by Rankin. Roach, a man of undaunted courage, and the rightful owner of the ranch, offered to settle the affair with pistols. This Rankin declined to do, and some days afterwards lay in ambush and shot Roach from off his horse, in a most cowardly manner. Such was the dying testimony of the murdered man, supported by strong circumstantial evidence. The trial was one calculated to inspire only feelings of the gravest description, but some of the incidents occurring during the examination were of a most ludicrous character. On the right of the Judge sat the widow of Roach, a tall, rather ungainly, but modest-looking woman, evidently from Missouri, and said to be one of the best " buckaro's" (wild cattle drivers) in the State, with her counsel and several witnesses, and on the left sat the prisoner, his lawyer, and seven or eight rough-bearded, uncouth-looking men, with their hair cut short and standing out like the spines on a chestnut burr. These worthies of the mountains rejoiced in the euphonious soubriquets of " Bullwhackers," " Muleskinners," and " "Woodchucks," the names designating the occupations that they followed, as teamsters and woodchoppers, &c, and appeared to be ready to testify to any extent to save Rankin. Nearly all present, including the Judge, were chewing tobacco vigorously, and the floor was covered with sawdust, about two inches thick, apparently with a view of making it one enormous spittoon. During the examination, while an attempt was being made to destroy the strength of the dying statement of the murdered man, by alleging that he was not aware of the fact that his wound was mortal, a wild woodchopper, evidently just out of the mountains for the first time in several years, was placed upon the stand, and the following dialogue took place : — Lawyer (blandly) — " Mr. G-., was it your opinion, on your first interview with Mr. Roach after he was shot, that some of the vital tissues in the abdominal region had been irremediably injured ?" " Sir," replied the witness, gasping for breath, scratching his head in ludicrous perplexity. Lawyer — " Please state to the Court your conclusions in regard to the wounds of Mr. Roach on your first interview." "Witness — " I kalkerlated his goose was about cooked." Lawyer — " Do you mean by that that you considered his condition as extremely critical ?" Witness—" "Wall, I made up my mind the fust time I seen him that he was bound to peg out." Lawyer — " Use a little plainer language, Mr. Gh, what shall we infer from your expression 'pegging out ?' " "Witness — "I mean that I thought he'd pass in his checks less 'n a week." Lawyer (impatiently) — "What did you tell Roach about his chances of recovery?" Witness — "I told him that I thought they'd get the drop on him this time." Lawyer (very short) — " Did you think Roach would live or die of his wounds at your first visit?" Witness (indignantly)—" l told yer I thought he was bound to go up when yer first asked me." Lawyer — " That will do, Mr. Gr., take your seat." An attempt to prove an alibi on the part of the prisoner utterly failed, and lie was bound over to the Supreme Court.