March 1866 George Rogers was killed by an Indian, near Panaca. It was believed the act was instigated by white men who were unfriendly to the murdered man. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

May 1867 R. W. Knox was killed by L. B. Vail, in Pahranagat Valley, twenty miles below Hiko. Vail was hung by the citizens the following eleventh of July. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

DEATH OF R. W. KNOX

L. B. Vail killed Robert W. Knox, in Lincoln County, the spring of 1867. The Austin Reville and Belmont Reporter tell the story-this from the former Some time near the latter part of March, or about the first of April Robert W. Knox left this place with a man named L. B. Vail for the southern portion of the State, since which time nothing has been heard of him until quite recently, when his dead body was found near Hiko, under circumstances which indicate that he had been murdered by Vail.  James E. Matthews, Sheriff of Lincoln County, immediately instituted search for Vail, and in the pursuit came to this place with Sheriff Ranney of Nye County, and enlisting the services of City Marshal Hank Knerr, the trio captured Vail at the White House, on Reese River, about ten miles from Austin.

Vail and Knox, having a small drove of horses, passed through Pahranagat Valley, in the early part of April, and entered a canyon about twenty miles south of Hiko. Vail was often seen in the valley, but Knox was never seen alive after going into the canyon. Knox was said to have had about $500 in coin and a check for $3000, and is a relative of H. C. Lillie of Virginia. Upon inquiries being made of Vail as to the whereabouts of Knox, he made different replies-at one time stating that he was hunting stock; at others that he had gone to the Mormon settlements, to Arizona, to the States, etc. Finally Vail came from the camp in the canyon and proceeded westward alone, with the drove of stock. It was then noticed that he also wore some of Knox's clothes. Shortly after this, men came from southern Utah in search of stolen horses, and followed Vail to Austin, who was then accompanied by Wood Harrington. The Mormons, securing the aid of Hank Knerr and B. F. Marshall, pursued the two men came up with them, shot and subsequently captured Harrington, and recovered the stolen horses, but Vail escaped, owing to the fleetness of his horse.

CAPTURE OF L. B. VAIL -----He was not then suspected of murder, but the arrival of Matthews and Ranney with a warrant for his arrest on that charge induced further search, which resulted in his capture at the White House, as above related. That Knox had been murdered was positively ascertained. Indians passing the former camping-ground of Vail in the canyon, near Hiko, discovered a saddle, that had been buried, partly exhumed by coyotes. Pulling it out, they carried it to the settlements, and related the circumstance.  The people having before this suspected foul play, went to the spot where the saddle was found, guided by the Indians, for the purpose of making further examinations. Upon digging, they soon found the body of Knox, who had been killed by a blow on the head, apparently with an axe, and, doubtless, while asleep. Vail had buried the body, and then made his bed over the spot, BO as to hide it. This position he had occupied for more than a month-sleeping upon the grave of his victim!

After his arrest. Vail was taken to Belmont, and held in jail there, by order of Judge Curler, for some weeks, fearing that, as there was no Judge to try the case in Lincoln County, and no jail there, he might escape, or be hung without trial.  Some time in July, however. Sheriff Matthews, of Lincoln County took his prisoner and left Belmont for Logan, then the principal mining camp of the county. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

VAIL TRIED AND HUNG ----A correspondent of the Belmont Reporter, writing from Hiko, thus gives the sequel On the tenth instant, the Sheriff and an escort of six men arrived here with L. B. Vail, and took him before a Justice of the Peace for examination.  As soon as it became known that Vail had arrived the citizens of Pahranagat Valley arose en masse.  and upon the eleventh proceeded to Logan, took the prisoner from the authorities, and brought him to this place, where they organized a court, impaneled a jury, and proceeded to try him for the murder of Knox. Sheriff Matthews, Justice Gorin, and County Commissioner Wilson, in the name of the county demanded that the prisoner be given up to the first-named officer, but they were thrust out of the room, and not allowed to return.

The prisoner was given a fair and impartial trial, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to be hung the same night at 10 o'clock-the sentence having been pronounced at fifteen minutes before 9 allowing Vail only one hour and a quarter in which to prepare for death. He said "all right," and never faltered or acknowledged his guilt. He went unresistingly to the scaffold at the expiration of the allotted time, and when asked if he had anything to say, sullenly answered, " No." Whereupon the trap fell, and the life of L. B. Vail went out in atonement for many dark and terrible deeds. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

HIS OTHER PROBABLE MURDERS -----That he was a great villain and merited his fate, but few who knew him doubted. Several years before, a man who had been in his company at Washington, Nye County, disappeared suddenly, and was never after heard of. Vail at one time, in a half serious, half joking manner, pointed out a spot upon the Ruby range of mountains to Mr. Leopold Bertschi, who lived in Reese River Valley, but who then happened to be in his company, and remarked that there was where he had buried three men whom he had killed, and said that for seven weeks he had slept upon the ground between their graves. This, in the light of what had been proven upon the trial for the murder of Knox, it was thought might have been true; but .Mr. Bertschi's demise, resulting from an accident, on the thirteenth of July, two days after Vail was hung, left no living witness to lead a party of discovery to the place which Vail had pointed out. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

May 1870 Ad. Rogers was shot and killed in the hills about six miles east of Pioche, Lincoln County.  He had gone out to examine some mining claims, in company with Moses Black. The latter reported that Rogers had been accidentally shot with his own pistol, which had fallen from its scabbard, the hammer striking a stone and exploding it. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

June 29, 1870 Richard H. Dodd was killed by William Dodds, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Hard feeling between the parties, the cause. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

September 4, 1870 Andrew Whitlock was killed by Jas. Maxwell, at Meadow Valley Mill, Lincoln County.  The former was an important witness in a lawsuit over the title to a ranch, and Maxwell took this way to keep him from testifying, and then escaped over the line into Utah. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

September 20, 1870 Harry Gorman was killed by George Hirsch, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Grand Jury ignored the bill against Hirsch. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

October 30, 1870 R. H. Carson, alias "Kit," was killed at Pioche by parties unknown. Antonio Cardenas was indicted for the killing, but was not convicted. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

February 15, 1871 John Clappy, with several aliases, was killed by Jas. D. Kennedy, in Pioche. Kennedy was convicted of murder in the second degree, and obtained a new trial. The case was finally nolle prossed. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

February 18, 1871 McDonald was killed by McCoy, at Highland, Lincoln County. McCoy then shot and killed himself, supposed to be insane.  Was a stranger in the vicinity. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

February 22, 1871 Thos. Coleman was killed at Pioche, Lincoln County. Morgan Courtney and Barney Flood were arrested, but were discharged from custody, there being no direct evidence against them. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

March 12, 1871 Thomas Corson was killed by Mike Casey, at Pioche, Lincoln County. A business settlement the cause. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

April 12, 1871 William McMurray was killed by F. D.  Chase and Alex Frazer at Tem Piute, Lincoln County. Dispute over a mining claim. Acquitted. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

May 3, 1871 W. R. Warnock was killed, at Pioche, Lincoln County, while passing some forts on mines; a number of parties were arrested, but no convictions. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

May 30, 1871 J. J. Monahan was killed by Dennis Maloney and ---- Fox, at Pioche, Lincoln County.  They both got clear. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

May 30, 1871 Mike Casey was killed by James Levy, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Acquitted. Mike Casey is the man who killed Thomas Corson, March 12th. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

July 7, 1871 Samuel Cooklin was killed by a Sheriff's posse, at Pioche, Lincoln County. He resisted the officers, firing at them; they had to shoot him. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

August 5, 1871 George M. Harris was shot and killed by D. A. Myendorff, at Pioche, Lincoln County.  Harris slapped Myendorff across the face, thereupon the latter killed him. Myendorff acquitted. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

November 26, 1871 James Butler was killed by Special Officer Shea, at Pioche, Lincoln County. Insulting and threatening language was the cause.  Acquitted. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

November 26, 1871 John G. Wood was killed by Pres.  Standifer, at Pioche, Lincoln County. The citizens held that the killing was justifiable. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881

December 18, 1871 John Duland was found murdered at Panaca, Lincoln County. No clue to the perpetrator, and no known cause. History of Nevada Thompson & West - 1881