Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-16
Ono Gambler shoots Another Dead
in the street.-The Notorious Jfm
DObs0n Dies with His Boots On.
From tho San francisco Californian.l


About four o'clock yesterday after
noon James Dobson, a well known gam.
bier and turbulent spirit, was shot and
almost instantly killed on Montgomery
street, near Pine, by gambler named
John Tyler.
On Monday night last Dobson entered
gambling house where game Of faro
was being dealt, and purchasing a few
dollars worth of chips, began bet
ting. After. playing a short time he
struck current of luck and won one
hundred and seventy dollars, and drew
the money from the bank. Tyler at this
moment stepped up and asked for the
loan of twenty dollars Dobson replied
that he had a number of small debts to
pay, and that it would require all the
money he had, and therefore he would
not loan the desired amount. He then
took his departure, leaving Tyler in the
gambling room.
On Friday night Dobson and Tyler at
tended masquerade ball given at one
of the small halls, and during the even
ing they met on the stairs. Tyler was
descending and Dobson ascending The
latter seeing the former smoking, asked
him for a light and was refused with
some offensive remark, which led to
quarrel, during which both men drew
pistols, but personal friends interfered
and prevented them from fighting at that
time. They, however, agreed to fight
when they next met, and the affair ter
minated for time.
About o'clock yesterday afternoon
Dobson came down town and met Tyler
on Montgomery street, where he drew his
pistol and asked him if he was prepared
to fight. Tyler declared that he was un-
armed, and not in condition to meet
his antagonist on an equal footing.
Dobson then asked him to go and arm
himself, and go with him in a carriage to
the Turf House, or anywhere out of town
where they could fight it out. Tyler re-
fused to go with him, and displayed no
disposition to engage in fight. Dobson
was very abusive, calling him names,
etc. After q few moments an officer ar
rived and induced Dobson to 20 away.
About an hour afterward some of Dob
sons friends informed him that he had
better keep sharp watch upon Tyler,
who had armed himself, and threatened
to kill him on sight. He won't do any
thing of the kind, said Dobson. 1--WE
were to have fought on sight this morn
ing, and when | met him | was ready for
him, and asked him to have it out, but
he declined, so the matter ended. |
shall never speak to him again about the
matter. / consider it ended, and don't
think Tyler has enough courage to
fight.
THE ASSASSINATION.
A few minutes after four o clock in the
afternoon, Dobson was walking leisurely
along Montgomery street, and when al
most directly in front of the kremlin
saloon, Tyler stepped out of the door,
with a revolver in his hand, and saying,
DIN you, draw and defend yourselfP'
raised the pistol and fired The assas-
sin was not more than three feet from
his victim when he fred the first shot,
and the ball entered the breast, just be-
low the nipple. Dobson staggered and
reeled around, when Tyler fired a second
time, the ball penetrating within an inch
and half of where the first entered
The wounded man was picked up and
carried into drug store and physician
summoned He spoke to several ac-
quaintances, informing one that after the
affair in the morning he deemed the mat
ter over, and had no idea it would be re-
sumed His last words were, :" didn't |
think Johnny would murder me. He |
died in about an hour and half after
receiving the wounds.
There was nothing in Dobson's char
acter to endear him to anybody. He
was quarresome, drawing his pistol upon
the slightest occasion, and has been be-
fore the police and criminal courts many
times for deeds of violence. He was "a
gambler by profession, and had very few
friends among the fraternity to which he
belonged Few will regret his death.
JOHN TYLER,
the slayer of Dobson, was formerly, it is
said, an attorney at law, but, not meet
ing with success, abandoned his pro-
fesson and took to gambling. He is
represented as being quiet peaceable
man, not prone to quarreling, and, in
fact, very difficult to anger. After he
had killed Dobson he surrendered him
self into custody, and was lodged in the
calaboose, where one of our reporters
visited him. In answer to q question
how the matter was brought about, he
said: 81 do not want to make any state
nent about the matter 1t was forced
upon me, and am sorry for its result. "