Harry Boland

Murder at Cerro Gordo

News reaches here this afternoon of a fatal 
shooting affray at Cerro Gordo at noon today 
in which William Crapo shot Harry Boland and 
John Thomas.  The former is dead, the latter 
living and resting easy but shot three times.  
Crapo is still at large and defies anyone to 
arrest him.  Excitement is high at Keeler and 
if Crapo is captured he will probably be lynched.  
The report states that Crapo shot both men from 
behind while they were going up the hill.  Each 
received two or three wounds.

The dead and wounded men have been brought to 
Keeler.

Sheriff Gorman left Independence at once for Cerro 
Gordo.

Henry B. Boland, the murdered man, is 42 years old, 
and a brother of Tom Boland, the well-known Keeler 
merchant.  He leaves a wife and two small children.

Thomas, who was also a mark for the pistol of Crapo, 
has been for a long time foreman for the Newtown 
Mining Company at Cerro Gordo.  His is about 47 
years old, and has always borne a good reputation.  

Crapo, the murderer, is well along toward fifty in 
years, and has long been a resident of Cerro Gordo.

The affair is doubtless the outcome of the recent 
election business "on the hill."  More particulars 
will be awaited with a great deal of interest, but 
if the account received is correct it would not 
cause a great deal of surprise if there is another 
chapter added to the history as soon as Crapo is 
captured.

The Inyo Register
Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, December 29, 1892

Transcribed by Pat Houser for 
Inyo County GenWeb, June 5, 2004