Chillicothe Constitution  Chillicothe, MO  Aug 18, 1926

2 STUDENTS SLAIN BY PROSECUTOR. (I think it was
meant to be Prospector, sm)

California U. Men and Miner Fall Victims of Partner's Ride

Merced,  CAL.,  Aug 18,----Fire from the rifle of Paul Baran,
50 year old prospector, took three lives today in a modern
revival of the fuedal days of western gold camp history.

Self defense and the right to protect his mining claim
were given as Baran's reason for the shooting in the wilds
of Mariposa county.  His victims were Theodore Shastner
and Victor Shimonoieff, both of Oakland, CAL., and Harry
Clark of Dabney, N. C.

After the shooting, the prospector took a train to Merced
and surrendered to the Sheriff.  He said the three men
were planning to drive him off his property.

Shastner and Shimonoieff, mining students of the University
of  California, lived in the cabin of Clark and his wife about
a mile from Baran's claim and cabin.  They were working
on shares of Baran's gold mine, which he (t)old officers
here was worth $80,000.

submitted by Steve Miller

RETURN TO MARIPOSA COUNTY DISASTERS...........