Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1876-04-22
An Incident Of Life i'm Texas.

/ y shooting scene in Denton, Texas
and which IS characterized by local
| paper as the most remarkable rough
and-tumble gunnery ever seen in Texas,
/ has its own peculiar elements of hOr-
ror. Thomas Gerren is an cx-deputy
sheriff, who has great deal of rough
work to do in his official capacity of
thiefcatcher He boarded at Il hotel in
Denton, and in the next room 10 him
slept one Jack Patrick, alias johnson,
who WAS said TO be one of Quantrel's
men. There were two beds in Gerren's
room. One night Gerren expected a
young man to sleep with hum. He went
to bed early, and was awakened by some
one fumbling over his breast and face
IN the dark. He supposed it was his
young friend at first, but found 1t
wasn't, and became very angry at being
disturbed II was a stranger who had
been sent TO occupy the other bed in
Gerren's room Gerren cursed the
stranger all the rest of the night, and
Jack Patrick heard the curSing and was
indignant thereat. The next morning
Jack cursed Gerren in his hearing at
the breakfast table, and Gerren took
exceptions to Patrick's vernacular.
The two men clinched in the hall of.
the hotel. Jack Patrick drew a pistol
and Gerren dirk, and they went at it.
Jack fired two shots at Gerren. One
ball went up Gerren's coat sleeve and
without harming him, and the other
passed through his coat and was sup
posed to have taken his body in its |
course. Gerren put up his dirk and |
drawing pistol, he fired, the shot
taking effect in Jack Patrick's breast. I
The men were separated, and Pat
rick supposed he had given Gerren
his death wound. Patrick went
across the street, and Gerren was
held in the pOrticO of the hotel In
crossing the street Patrick slipped an
other cartridge in his pistol and fired
1t Gerren. The news flew all over the
own that Gerren was killed. He was
IN reality not hit. When Patrick reach
ID the other side of the street he got a
life and levelled it at Gerren. His
friends prevailed upon him not to shoot,
est he might hit some of the women
md children who were about the porch.
Finally Patrick mounted his horse, and,
With his rife IN hand, rode past the
lOtel for the purpose Of getting another
hot at Gerren if he were still visible.
The rumOr had by this time got atioat
hat Gerren had been killed while try 3
NJ 10 arrest Patrick in an official {
A hue and cry was raised
.gainst the murderer of Thomas Ger
en-, and the people lined the streets
Trough which Patrick had To pass, !
rmed for the occasion. One man call
d on Patrick To halt, and as Patrick
aid no attention TO the order, the man
red. This was a signal for Il general
ring rs Patrick galloped down the
treet, running the gauntlet of guns.
Patrick fired all his loads rs he rode
'wo mounted men gave chase, and half
mile from town Patrick dismOunted
nd took to timber. His pursuers dis
Mounted and continued the chase, keep
ne up the firing whenever they could
ct shot at the fugitive. Finally shot
rom one of their rifles brought Pat '
lex down, and he walked till they =
anne up. He asked them not to shoot
ny more, as he was already well pep
cred. He died in a few moments
anne as a wild beast. The inquest ,
evealed twenty-three bullet holes in his
Ody. Over one hundred shots were
red at Patrick in all. When it came
} light that Gerren had not been hurt
t all, the citizens of Denton were very
Drry for what they had done to Pat
lex. He was hunted down and killed
trough a Misrepresentation of the state
f affairs. The only consolation of the
eople Of Denton is, that Jack Patrick
-as a dangerous man, and the confed-
rate of two notorious bank robbers,
oe Horner and Reddin.