History of Those 
History of Those
Killed in Pioche
The following is a list of the men and women who were killed in and near Pioche. This list is incomplete because Pioche didn't have a newspaper in her early days.
1870
May, 1870, Ad Rogers was shot and killed in the hills about six miles east of Pioche, Lincoln County. He had gone out to examine some mining claims, in company with Moses Black. The latter reported that Rogers had been accidentally shot with his own pistol, which had fallen from its scabbard, the hammer striking a stone and exploding it.
June 29, 1870, Richard H. Dodd was killed by William Dodds, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Hard feeling between the parties, the cause.
September 4, 1870, Andrew Whitlock was killed by Jas. Maxwell, at Meadow Valley Mill, Lincoln County. The former was an important witness in a lawsuit over the title to a ranch, and Maxwell took this way to keep Whitlock from testifying, and then escaped over the line into Utah.
September 20, 1870, Harry Gorman was killed by George Hirsch at Pioche, Lincoln County. Grand Jury ignored the bill against Hirsch.
October 30, 1870, R.H. Carson, alias "Kit" was killed at Pioche by parties unknown. Antonio Cardenas was indicted for the killing , but was not convicted.
1871
February 15, 1871, John Clappy, with several aliases, was killed by Jas. D. Kennedy, in Pioche. Kennedy was convicted of murder in the second degree, and obtained a new trial. The case was finally nolle prossed.
February 18, 1871, ___ McDonald was killed by ___ McCoy, at Highland, Lincoln County. McCoy then shot and killed himself, supposed to be insane, a stranger in the vicinity.
February 22, 1871, Thos. Goldman was killed at Pioche, Lincoln County. Morgan Courtney and Barney Flood were arrested, but were discharged from custody, there being no direct evidence against them.
March 12, 1871, Thomas Gorson was killed by Mike Casey, at Pioche, Lincoln County. A business settlement was the cause.
May 3, 1871, W.R. Warnock was killed at Pioche, Lincoln County, while passing some forts on mines; a number of parties were arrested, but no convictions.
May 30, 1871, Mike Casey was killed by James Levy, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Acquitted, Mike Casey was the man who killed Thomas Gorson on March 12th.
July 7, 1871, Samuel Cooklin was killed by a sheriff's posse, at Pioche, Lincoln County. He resisted the officer, firing at them; they had to shoot him.
August 5, 1871, George M. Harris was shot and killed by D.A. Myendorff at Pioche. Harris slapped Myendorff across the face, thereupon the latter killed him. Myendorff was acquitted.
November 26, 1871, James Butler was killed by Special Officer Shea, at Pioche. Insulting and threatening language was the cause. Acquitted.
November 26, 1871, John G. Wood was killed by Pres Standifer, at Pioche. The citizens held that the killing was justifiable.
1872
July 12, 1872, Fannie Peterson was killed by Peter Fuller, at Pioche. They had been living together and had separated some time before. Sentenced to fifteen years in State Prison.
October 2, 1872, Charles Hickey was killed by Mike Holland, at Pioche, Lincoln County. A newspaper article reflecting on Hickey, supposed to have been furnished by Holland, the cause. The Grand Jury ignored the bill against Holland.
November 5, 1982, John F. Strain was fatally shot in an altercation between George Manning and a man named Dow, at Pioche. Cause, an election row. Manning, charged with the shooting, was examined and discharged.
November 20, 1872, William McCarthy was killed by James Woods, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Quarrel over a game of cards. Woods was acquitted, as McCarthy struck first.
December 28, 1872, Thomas Ryan was killed at Pioche in an underground fight between employees of the Raymond and Ely, and Pioche Phoenix Mining Companies. No one was punished for this deed.
December 29, 1872, Charles Swanson was fatally shot at Pioche by some unknown person. He was, at the time, going to work in the Raymond and Ely mine, but at that time a quarrel was in progress between that and another mining company, and guards were posted about the works. It being dark, Swanson was doubtless taken by the guard as an intruder and shot. A reward of $1,650 was offered for the arrest of his slayer but he was never found.
1873
May 1, 1873, Thomas Welch was killed by Frank Soule, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Old business transactions, Soule acquitted.
May 8, 1873, S.D. Potter was killed by Jeff Howard, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Quarreled over a game of cards. Howard got 10 years in the State Prison.
May 17, 1873, Charles Sanbourn and Gus Wright were found dead in the water at Coyote Springs, six miles from Bristol. No clue to the perpetrators.
July 6, 1873, John H. Lynch was shot and killed by James Harrington, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Dispute over a dog. He wounded three other men at the same time. Harrrington was sentenced to 15 years in the State Prison.
August 1, 1873, Morgan Courtney was shot and killed by George McKinney, at Pioche, Lincoln County, who lay in wait for him and shot him in the back. McKinney was acquitted.
August 1, 1873, B.H. Kistle was shot and killed by D.W. Cherry at Pioche. He was stealing Cherry's barley. Cherry was acquitted.
September 2, 1873, John Manning was shot and killed by Deputy Sheriff McKee, at Pioche, Lincoln County, in self-defense. Acquitted.
October 5, 1873, Antonio Cardinos was killed by Charles Peasley, at Pioche, in a bar room fight. Acquitted on self-defense.
November 2, 1873, Joseph W. Thomas was killed by William Rosamurgay, at Pioche. Dispute concerning wages. Sentenced to 15 years in the State Prison.
November 3, 1873, Mathew Cahill was killed by Robert McCollough, at Pioche, Lincoln County, in a Hurdy House. McCollough got out on bail and went to work In a mine and had both eyes blown out by a blast. He left Pioche for medical treatment and thus got free.
1874
November 2, 1874, Jim King was shot and killed by James Gleason at Pioche. He got 21 years in the State Prison.
1875
June 26, 1875, John Bass was killed by officers McKee and Kelley at Pioche. He opened fire on the officers, firing five shots. They had to kill him to take him.
October 9, 1875, Casper D. Larkin was killed by George Davis at Pioche, Lincoln County. He was sentenced to five years in the State Prison.
1876
March 13, 1876, Earl Hamilton was killed by John Rice at Pioche, Lincoln County. The latter was ejected from a ballroom and while the same was being done, he stabbed Hamilton with a bowie knife. At Hamilton's request, Rice was not prosecuted.
1877
April 20, 1877, Tim Sullivan was stabbed and killed by William Donnelly, at Pioche. The quarrel originated among the children of the men. Donnelly escaped, no attempt was made to recapture him.
1878
July 20, 1878, Michael Donahue was shot and killed by Robert Frazer at Pioche. The former was a witness in a lawsuit and Frazer took it upon himself to keep Donahue from giving testimony. Frazer died while awaiting trial.
If you notice anything wrong or
can add anything to the above,
please e-mail me: lorraine@pioche.net
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Last updated on 12/13/06 01:37 AM