The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-11-07
SHOT dem.


officer y. w. Spencer S1s~ots and Kills
Young MAN Tn rough Mistake.
Yesterday event Ag about O'Clock
Captain Morton, Deputy Marshal, was
notified by u n AN named McGee, II
th9t the notorious desper-
ado, John w esiey Hardin, was in
town, secret3d i'll II certain house on
Wood street, between Jefferson and
Market streets Captain Morton i'm
mediotely acted upon the information,
ana summoning Officers j. II. Hamill
and Spencer and Mr.. J. Il. Carter,
started for the house, taking the man
McGec with them. Messrs. Spencer
and Hamill stated that they asked
McGee particularly several different
times whether he was certain the
man was John Wesley Hardin and
that he reituated positively that he was
claiming that 10 was perfectly
familiar with his appearance and that
it was ali utter impossibili,y for him
to be mistaken. On arriving at the
house Captain Morton stationed his
men SO as to prevent an escape which
in all probability would be attempted.
When every one had taken his posi-
ton Spencer and McGee attempted to
enter the front door aud were mot. near
the threshold by the supposed Hardin
who advanced towards them with q
large navy siX-shooter IN his hand,
Spencer ordered him to halt and
throw up his hands, to which he paid
| no attention, but continued to adj
vance. Spencer again commanded
him to hold up his hands and the only
answer he received was II threat ening
motion from the hand that grasped his
pistol at this moment, Spencer, still
under the impression that the man be-
fore him was Hardin, and knowing his
desperate character, fired, the ball
crushing through the skull and brain
Of the the unfortunate man, killing
him almost Instantly. McGee fired
simultaneously with Spencer, but his
ball missed its object. On eXamina-
ton of the body, the officers were sur
prised and shocked to discover that the
person who had met with
such II terrible and untimily
fate was not Hardin. Sheriff Barkley
was notified and at once summoned a
jury of inquest, who, after deliberating
n short time concluded to wait until
to-day to render their verdict. The
name of the unfortunate man is sup
posed to be j. Monroe. Spencer says
that feeling 50 certain that the man
was Hardin and knowing that he had
the reputation 0fwearing plated vest,
be Gimed at his head, fearing that his
own life would pay the penalty II he
missed. Spencer was arrested and ta-
ken before Judge Burford who released
him. The matter will he more thor
oughly investigated and although the
affair is extremely painful and much
to be deplored, yet from the facts be-
fore Us we do not think the law
oF the community viii severely
censure the action Of the olii-
GER Spencer. This was the third
time insone afternoon that his life
had been endangered, and that he had
faced the mu2gle of II pistol, lie had
arrested an intoxicated constable from
Tnrrant county, named Hollis, who
was ilourlshing his pistol in an Elm
street restaurant, to the terror of all
who were near, and shortly after cap
tur9a another drunken man, after Il
tough struggle, at the Lady Gay sn'
loon, who was firing Off his revolver
in u dangerous and promiscuous man
ner Rarely a day passes that a police
man does not risk his life, and we can
not blame them for protecting them
selves when they believe their lives to
be In danger.