Evidently the painter was unhappy, and took an unkindly departing shot at his neglectful spouse. According to codes then prevalent, either the Black Hills wagon boss or the painter would have tarried permanently somewhere beside the Trail. One or the other failed to measure up to the standard required by the red-blooded men of the period. True, it was probably better thus, for none of them was the worse, and the "child is now in good hands." which is an objective worthy a tempi irary humanity.

The Pinkston Murder

James and A. J. Pinkston, father and son, located on Middle creek in 1885, and employed a man named Reynolds to help build a log house. They lived in a tent meanwhile, and cooked and ate their meals in the open,

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

having an improvised table in front of the tent.

On the night of September 16, from the story toldy over a very trifling affair, the Pinkstons were killed and Reynolds later hung.

According to Reynold's story it started at the supper table over a difference of five dollars in wages, whether the amount due was seven dollars or twelve dollars. He said the Pinkstons attacked him with clubs and he used the axe in self defense.

His first story, however, told at Trognitz barn, which then occupied the present site of tht U. S. A. Theatre at Sidney, was that a stranger came along, and killed the Pinkstons in a fight, and had compelled him to help bury them. This story not being satisfactory to the officers, he was arrested, and later confessed.