Miscellaneous History Items

Shooting of Willis Spooner

June 26, 1885 Livermore Gazette 

We learn from the lips of Deputy Sheriff Ash, the following is regard to the late Willis Spooner.

Willis Spooner was indicted for forgery on May 23^rd, and a warrant for his arrest was placed in the hands of Mr. Ash, who on seeing a brother of Spooner, told him to tell him that he held such warrant, and to tell him to give himself up.  Spooner’s brother delivered the message, and was told to inform Mr. Ash that he “Had arms and would use them, and would shoot any man who attempted to take him.”  Mr. ash spent day after day looking or him, but he kept himself well out of the way, eluding the vigilance of all, and escaping from different parties at different times when almost within their grasp.  Learning that he had been seen in the timber of the Boone River near Goldfield, Mr. Ash placed a copy of the warrant in the hands of the constable and marshal of Wright County, who believing that Spooner was then at the house of one Eggleson, three miles west of Goldfield, got two men to go with them last Sunday, and the whole party concealed themselves beside a road over which they expected him to pass.  About 9 o’clock Spooner came down the road on horseback.  As he approached the party they stepped into the road and ordered him to halt, saying they had a warrant for his arrest.  His reply was, “Keep away from me, d—n you!  A second time he was ordered to halt, and refusing, shots were exchanged, and Spooner fell from his horse, loosing his revolver in the fall.  Before he could recover it, the party rushed upon and over powered him, taking away his weapon, which was a 38 caliber self cocker.  He was taken to Goldfield and his wound examined.  The ball had entered the back and lodged in the abdomen, and was pronounced fatal, causing his death a few hours later.  The coroner’s verdict was; “Willis Spooner came to his death by a bullet from a pistol in the hands of an officer in the performance of his duty.”  Just before his death he remarked that he wished he could have recovered his revolver as he fell from his horse, and have shot at least one of the arresting party.  He was buried in the cemetery north of Hardy, his brother taking charge of the body and the county paying the funeral expenses.