LINCOLN NV Archives Obituaries.....[THOMAS, William 3/1909] ************************************************ Copyright. All rights Reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/ http://usgwarchives.net/obits/ ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Gerry Perry missgerry@cox.net [6-20-2010] Las Vegas Age 4/3/1909 DELAMAR TRAGEDY MURDEROUS FATHER KILLED BY YOUNG SONS WHOM HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO HANG (Special Dispatch to the Las Vegas Age) Delamar, Nevada, March 28, 1909 William Thomas, a wood chopper, residing near Delamar, after beating up his wife at their tent, went out to the timber where his three boys were chopping wood Thinking the boys had not cut enough wood, he proceeded to make arrangements to hang them, compelling the boys to trim up a tree for that purpose. After the tree was ready, Thomas reached for the oldest boy, aged fourteen years, to string him up to the tree. The boy started to run and the father picked up an axe and took after him, trying to kill him. In order to save his brothers life, one of the younger boys picked up the gun which was standing near and opened fire on the father, finally killing him. The boys then proceeded to load the fathers body on a burro and packed it half a mile to their camp. They then came to town and notified the authorities. Public sentiment strongly upholds the boys in their action. Much sympathy is expressed for the family but none for the dead man.