Peter French Dec. 28, 1897; Oregonian, p 3 "Peter French Dead" Baker City, Or., Dec. 27 A telephone message to the Democrat from Canyon City says Peter French, a prominent cattleman and landowner of Harney county, was killed by a man named Oliver. It is reported that the deed was a cold-blooded murder. The victim was shot in the back of the head, the bullet coming out between the eyes. A land dispute is said to have been the cause of the trouble. Dec. 29, 1897; Oregonian, p 1 Winnemucca, Nev., Dec. 28 Additional particulars were brought here by messenger of the murder of Peter French, the largest landowner and cattle-owner in Eastern Oregon, who was shot on his ranch in Harney county, 225 miles north of here, last Saturday. David Crow is the messenger who arrived here this afternoon with the news, having been in the saddle 48 hours, with nine changes of horses. Crow left the scene immediately after the homicide. He says French and a party of vaqueros had rounded up a band of cattle and were about to drive them into a field on his ranch. French went ahead on horseback to open the gate, and, having done so, started back to the cattle. A man on horseback intercepted him, and they engaged in a dispute lasting several minutes. French started to ride away, but got only a few feet when the other drew a pistol and shot him. French fell to the ground with a bullet in his brain. The murderer rode away, and French's men, being unarmed, made no attempt to capture him. Notice was at once sent to the officers at Burns, 46 miles from the scene of the tragedy. French's men were too far away at the time of the killing to recognize the murderer, but it is thought he is one of a band of squatters who have been annoying French, and against whom he had a number of lawsuits pending. French had many enemies in the section where he lived, and had often expressed the belief that he would be murdered some day. He was in the habit of going armed, but was without a weapon when shot down. Heppner, Or., Dec. 28 The only particulars of the killing of Peter French obtainable here, is the report given to Rudio, of Long Creek, by the mail carrier, as the telephone wire is down between Long Creek and Canyon City. The report given by the mail carrier was that John Oliver shot Peter French through the head, killing him instantly, the ball coming out over the right eye. The trouble arose over some land. The killing took place at what is called the Sod house, in Harney county. Baker City, Or., Dec. 28 News has been received from Harney county, saying that Oliver, the slayer of Peter French, is in the hands of an officer, and on his way to Burns, the county seat. French's body will be shipped to Red Bluff, Cal., for burial, at the home of the mother of the deceased, a brother, Bert French, accompanying it. "Career of Activity" Peter French was born and raised near Red Bluff, Tehama county, Cal. His father was a farmer in good circumstances, who expected his son to follow the same vocation, but the quiet life of a farmer was not at all to the liking of the son. Peter French ran away from home to start out in life on his own hook, and through his energy and ability, succeeded in making a name for himself. In 1873 Dr. Hugh Glenn, of Jacinto, Cal., employed young French as his agent in the management of his extensive stock ranch located in what was then Grant, but is now Harney county, Or. Dr. Glenn purchased the ranch from Senator Heart, of California, and, having large landed interests in Colusa county, he picked out Peter French as his representative to manage his property in Oregon. Within a few years French had become a partner of Dr. Glenn, and after the death of the latter, who was shot by one of his employes, who went to the penitentiary for manslaughter, French organized the corporation known as the French-Glenn Livestock Company, controlling between 80,000 and 100,000 acres of land, and 30,000 head of cattle and 3000 horses and mules that have advanced greatly in value by the rise of prices during the past few months. The land is so situated as to control the waterways and points of vantage of that whole country, and placing the practical ownership of many square miles in the hands of the company, for range is worthless unless stock may have access to water from it. There are 500 miles of wire fence on the ranges of the French-Glenn company. The company's range extends from Blitzen river to Harney lake. French held three-fifths of the capital stock of the corporation, which made him the largest livestock owner in Oregon. His estate is estimated to be worth $3,000,000. French was interested in banking and general ranching as well as stock-raising. During the Bannock Indian war of 1878, the buildings on the ranches were burned by marauding savages, and the men living on what are known as the Diamond and P ranches were driven to the mountains, and finally sought safety at old Camp Harney until the war was over. In one of the encounters with Indians a horse was shot under French, and some of his companions were killed. Peter French was of a genial, generous nature, but a man extremely tenacious of his own rights. He was about 48 years of age, was small of stature, but of tremendous energy, and, though a millionaire, he persisted in doing common labor about his place. He married a daughter of his partner, Dr. Glenn, but was divorce from her some years ago, and she is now living in Oakland, Cal. They have one son, a boy of about 17, who is now in California, also, and who will inherit the estate. The reason that French had so many enemies is said to be found in his dictatorial manner, and in the frequent and bitter disputes with settlers over land claims. Some years ago the government surveyors ran a meander line along the south shore of Malheur lake. Later, the lake receded, or from other causes, it became necessary to run a second line nearer the water. French had secured possession of the water front according to the first survey, and claimed riparian rights, but settlers took possession of some of the strip between the two line sand the matter was fought out in the courts. Much bad blood was engendered, and several times French was the target for some opponent's rifle ball. commissioner Sparks, of the general and office, during the first Cleveland administration, permitted settlers to file and enter upon the disputed swamp lands and occupy the same until the right of ownership was definitely settled. Such settlement was delayed for years. Meantime, the settlers, thinking they would ultimately gain the land, made many permanent improvements. When the order was finally promulgated, declaring the disputed territory to be swamp land, the settlers were indignant, and naturally displayed ill-feeling toward the man who had been declared the rightful owner of the property. Oliver, the man who is reported to have killed French, owns a place in the center of one of the latter's fields, and there has been an acrimonious dispute over the question of a right of way. There are now 15 law cases on the court docket of Harney county, in which the French-Glenn company are defendants. These cases have grown out of land disputes. Friends of Peter French, in Portland, are united in saying he was as brave as a lion, a man who was absolutely fearless, and his killing must have been a cold-blooded murder. Jan. 2, 1898; Oregonian, p 11 "It Was Deliberate" The body of Peter French, manager of the French-Glenn Livestock Company, murdered on December 26, by Edward Oliver, arrived in Portland yesterday morning, en route to Red Bluff, Cal, for burial. Burt French, a brother of the murdered man, is in charge of the body, and passed yesterday at the Perkins. He, with several others, was a witness to the killing of his bother, and his story fully confirms the first report that Peter French was the victim of a cowardly murder. "It was not a matter of a land dispute, as stated in the papers," said Burt French, "Oliver lives on a ranch below what is known as the 'Sodhouse' ranch, and he had been repeatedly warned to keep off the company land. My brother had just returned to Chicago, after delivering 32 carloads of beef cattle, and he, with myself and several others, were on the way from the Diamond to the 'P' or home ranch, when the shooting occurred. While on our way on horseback, we met Oliver, also mounted, and Peter said to him, "I have cautioned you to keep off my land," My brother then stepped toward me, remarking to Oliver, "I'll drive you off." "Oliver immediately went for his gun and pulled it out. He pulled the trigger, but it was a misfire, and the sound of the hammer striking the cartridge caused Peter to turn around in his saddle. As he did so Oliver fired, and the bullet from his gun struck my brother in the left temple and came out at the back of his head. Not one of us was armed. Peter had only been back a couple of days, and was on his way to the home ranch to arrange for the foreman to take a lay-off . When Oliver saw the effect of his shot he rode rapidly away. Those who witnessed the murder were entirely helpless, and when my brother fell our first attention was to him. "He was shot down in cold blood. Oliver had no reason to be on land he was. He could have taken the road, but it seems he was there for a purpose. After the sheriff had taken him in custody he said: "I would do the same thing over again, if I had a chance." I don not know what the result will be. I am in hopes that Oliver will be tried outside of Harney county, in Baker or Grant, as in such case there is a better chance for the law to take its just course. There is no question as to the murder. My brother was shot down in the presence of myself, James Otage, Dan Clark and others. The body will be taken to Red Bluff, Cal., and buried alongside of his father and mother. We have a sister living there, and she and I are all that are left of the family." The death of Peter French will in no wise interfere with the business of the corporation of which he was the president and manager. Some time ago he transferred all his personal interests in the same to the company. The company is now in a flourishing condition, having about 8000 head of cattle on hand. The property is covered by a mortgage of $120,000, but with the landed possessions and personal property on hand, this will in no wise interfere with the regular conduct of its business, that never has been more prospectively prosperous than now. The body of Peter French, on its arrival in Baker City, was embalmed, and many of the friends of the dead cattle king took the opportunity to look upon his face for the last time.