Killing at Haiwee

An unknown Mexican was killed at the railroad camp at Haiwee last Saturday.  The man by whom he was killed was an 
American named Cooper, and foreman of the gang in which the Mexican was employed.  The facts as given below were 
obtained from a man at the camp, and an eyewitness to the tragedy.

The Mexican was driving a scraper team and was unhitching the team before going to dinner.  He had stopped on a 
deep grade, and was trying to force the team down the side.  The horses refused to go and he commenced beating 
them.  Cooper interfered, telling him how to handle the team.  The Mexican asked him who was doing that, to which 
Cooper replied that he would do the rest of it, and the Mexican could go to camp.  It seems that the custom there 
is for the foreman to take charge of the team when a teamster is discharged until another man is out with the 
teams.  The Mexican then drew a knife and made an attack on Cooper, chasing him for about a hundred yards.  
Cooper went to camp and got his gun, which he put in his pocket.  He and the Mexican reached the cook tent at 
about the same time.  The Mexican made an insulting remark, to which Cooper replied that they were on even terms.  
The Mexican again started to attack Cooper, reaching into his coat, when Cooper drew his pistol and fired twice, 
both shots taking effect.  Cooper then went to Little Lake and gave himself up to the deputy Sheriff there, 
afterwards coming to Independence by auto to surrender himself to the officers here.

Cooper was in the employ of the Shattuck & Mimme Company with whom he has been working for nearly a year.  He has 
been employed in railroad construction work for nearly three years, and has a good reputation.

The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California
Thursday, October 14, 1909
Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, March 10, 2005