Storey County NV Archives Obituaries.....Pyne, David May 20, 1888
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Kathy Grace http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002598 December 3, 2010, 6:11 pm

Reno Evening Gazette May 22, 1888
Finlen’s Victim

Death of David Pyne- The slayer in Jail

David Pyne died at St. Mary’s Hospital, Virginia City.  Sunday moprning
presumably from the effects of a blow in the neck struck by Miles Finlen May
5th.  On that date Finlen and Pyne had a dispute at the Democratic primary
election in the Third Ward and agreed to settle it by a fight.  The Gould &
Curry waste dump was selected as the battle ground, and on arriving there Finlen
is said to have held the end of a handkerchief in one hand and requested Pyne to
grasp the other end and fight to the death at close quarters.  This Pyne
declined to do, whereupon it is alleged, says the Chronicle, that Finlen drew
from his breast a huge bread-knife, used in his saloon to cut free lunch with,
and struck Pyne a blow on the neck with the knife-handle.  Pyne sunk to the
ground from the force of the blow, and in falling struck his head against a
heavy timber.  He was picked up partially insensible immediately afterward and
removed to his lodgings.  Drs. Webber and Conn were summoned and found that
Pyne’s right side was partially paralyzed.  He was subsequently transferred to
St. Mary’s Hospital, but up to the hour of his death never recovered
consciousness sufficiently to converse coherently.

Finlin was arrested and placed under $500 bonds, which were afterward raised to
$2,500 when Pyne’s injuries were discovered to be serious.  The Grand Jury
deferred action on the charge awaiting the result of the blow.  Yesterday
morning Chief Henderson re-arrested Finlen on a charge of murder on a complaint
sworn out by himself (the Chief) and took him before Justice Kehoe, who
committed Finlen to the county jail without bail.

Deceased was among the earliest arrivals on the Comstock lode, where he followed
the pursuit of a miner for over a quarter of a century.  Although a man of
powerful physique he was quiet and gentlemanly in his demeanor, and until the
unfortunate dispute which terminated fatally, is said to have never before been
involved in a difficulty with an acquaintance during his long residence on the
lode.  He was familiarly and favorably known to nearly every resident in Storey
county.  He was a bachelor and leaves a sister, a resident of California.


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