Walter Williams

TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE

July 28, 1868

LOCAL MATTERS

A Tragic Affair – A Desperate Thief Takes Refuge in a Tunnel, Shoots a Man who is Aiding the Officers of the Law, then Blows out his own Brains.

This city was thrown into an intense state of excitement on Sunday evening last, by a most bloody and tragic affair, growing out of an attempt to arrest a thief by the officers of the law, and resulting in the death of both the thief and a man named Walter Williams, who was assisting the officers… Walter Williams, the victim of this insane desperado, was a man much esteemed by all who knew him. He was a blacksmith and had been long in the employ of the Gould & Curry Company. He was 37 years of age, a native of Lime Lake, Hungerford, Canada West, unmarried and had but one relative in this State, John R. Williams, a second cousin… Had Hill been taken out of the tunnel alive it is believed that a desperate attempt would have been made to hang him up at once by the enraged citizens present, and his shooting himself was the very best thing he could have done for himself and everybody else.

THOMPKIN & WEST

NEVADA HISTORY 1881

July 18, 1868: Peter Hill, alias “Russian Pete” while resisting arrest for robbery at Silver City, Storey County, took refuge in the North Potosi Tunnel. While the officers and posse were attempting to drown him out, he killed one of the posse, and then putting the pistol into his own mouth blew his brains out.

Walter Williams was killed by Peter Hill… while assisting the officers to arrest the latter.

Plaque Location & Image

Center Wall Column 2 Row F     View The Plaque