The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-12-28

DEATH BY THE BULLET. the
STATESMAN is called upon to chronicle
another killing in this community, and
the dangerous wounding of another, the
circumstances of which are about as
follows: Quite large audience was
present at the Capital Theater Christ
mas night, and from what we can learn
portion of that audience was any
thing but orderly. Finally some fire
crackers were thrown popping upon
the floor, when Mark Wilson, one of
the proprietors of the theater and the
saloon, stepped into the crowd and &C
cused Jim Burditt of throwing the fire.
crackers and called Policeman Allen,
who was present, to arrest Burditt and
take him out of the room. Hot words
ensued and serious trouble seemed i'm
minent. Just as Allen was in the act of
arresting BurditU, Ben Thompson came
up and said that he would stand good
for Burditt. Some lampblack was
then thrown in Wilson's face, and
some one cut at him with knife and
gave him clean, deep wound on the
left side of his neck. Wilson then
started for the bar in one corner at the
front of the room apd picked up a
shot gun and wheeled and fired, but
Policeman Allen hit the gun, and he
shot grazed Thompson's clothes, enter
ing the wall. Thompson then fired
s2veral pistol shots at Wilson, one tax
ing effect in his breast, another In the
bowels and third in his arm, and
Wilson expired instantly. Charles
Matthews, bartender, then commenc-
ed firing from behind the counter,
when Thompson fired upon him, ball
entering one corner of his mouth and
ranging down into his neck. A
scene of perfect uproar, confusion
and screams ensued; the room was
filled with smoke and the floor was
covered with blood and lampblack,
and while one man lay dead and an
other perhaps mortally Wounded, the
audience was making hasty exit out
the front and rear of the room. Some
burst through a front window and
others rushed upon the stage at the
other end of tie building and went
bounding through the scenery. The
whole scene beggars description, and
is not calculated to give pleasant reflec-
tions for Christmas times, or to impress
one with the glories of living in civ
ilized community with a national,
State, county, and corporate govern
ment pledging them protection for life
and property. Thompson gave him.
self up to the authorities, and, claim
ing that he acted in self-defense,
seemed to court an immediate investi-
cation. The case is one that
cannot be passed over lightly or indif-
erently. Policeman Allen, in giving
in his testimony Tuesday before the
coroner's jury, testified about as above
land said that Thompson struck at
Wilson across his (Allen's) shoulder
lust before Wilson started to get his
gun. The coroner's jury brought in a
erdict that Wilson came to his death
being shot by pistol in the hands
Ben Thompson. Thompson was
handed back to Jail. 1t is quite
In ely an examination of the case will
tai place to-day, and as the nds
OF deceased claim that the affair was
premeditated on the part of a number
of gamblers, several arrests may be
looked for. If what they say be true,
certainly Thompson should not be held
responsible for the acts of all.
There was very deep feeling mani
Tested over the affair yesterday and
last night, and there were whispers of
the forming of vigilance committee.
We trust, however, that reason and
prudeI will prevail and that those
most Interested viii be content TO let
the law take its course.
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