L.B. Chiara

BATTLE MOUNTAIN SCOUT

July 22, 1932

Chiara Death Unsolved; Funeral Held from Home

Lander Slaying Suspect Held in Humboldt County Jail

Two Men Arrested For Questioning After Slaying, Known

Nine Witnesses Called In Shooting Quiz; Mexican Is Held

L. B. Chiara, 50, deputy sheriff of Lander county and night watchman for the town of Battle Mountain was shot and killed by unknown assailants at 2:00 a.m. Saturday as he supposedly attempted to frustrate theft of a car.

Three suspects, two men and a woman were arrested in Imlay at 8:00 o’clock Saturday morning by Constable E.J. Thacker who took them off a west bound Southern Pacific freight train, acting on instructions from Battle Mountain officers.

Finds Clue

Shortly after the shooting Constable Jack Phelps picked up the first clue that of the two men and a woman, who had made arrangement to stay all night, and the woman, had even made an appointment for the next afternoon to rent a house in the restricted district. They were discovered to have returned blankets to Mae Williams, proprietor of a resort, and left hurriedly.

They were brought to Winnemucca by Sheriff Graham Lamb of Humboldt County and were received there by Constable J. Phelps of Battle Mountain who took them on to this town for investigation.

The lifeless form of Chiara was found in an alley at a point between the Horton Mercantile store and the Bilkin meat market in Battle Mountain shortly after local residents had heard two shots. A bullet had entered his chest to the front of the right side just under the arm.

…The officers believe that Chiara may have detected someone trying to make off with the car, that he may have tried to stop them and that the would-be thieves shot him for his trouble.

…James Slatton, member of a trio arrested Saturday morning in Imlay and to whom the finger of suspicion points most ominously, was taken to Winnemucca Sunday by Lander county authorities after being questioned at length in Battle Mountain Saturday night and Sunday and having been identified as one of two men who were in Battle Mountain Friday night with a woman.

…According to a United Press dispatch this week the finger prints of the two men had revealed that they both have long criminal records and that Slatton is wanted in Salt Lake for questioning in regard to a robbery in which a Salt Lake officer was killed.

S.J. Ballin, R.L. Taylor and George B. Feldman had been impaneled by Coroner Ramsdell the night of shooting to make an investigation. …The jury after hearing the testimony rendered a verdict of “death from gunshot wound, inflicted by a person or persons unknown.”

Plaque Location & Image

Center Wall Column 7 Row D     View The Plaque