The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-20
LIFE ~ 4 TEXAS TOWN.
One Hundred shots Fired, aud Twenty-three
Bullets In One Mans Body.


Thomas Gerren of Denton, Texas, is an
OK deputy sheriff. who had a great deal OF rough
work to do In his official capacity of thief
catcher lie boarded at a hotel In Denton. and
In the next room to his slept one Jack Patrick
alias johnson. who was said to be one of Guam
trels men. There were too beds In Gerrcn's
room.
one night Gerren expected a young man to
sleep with him. He went to bed early, and was
awakened by some one fumblinR over his breast
and face in the dark. He supposed IL his
young friend at nrst. 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 stran
ger the rest OF the night. and Jack Patrick heard
the cursing and was indignant theIeat. TIE next
morning Jack cursed Gerren In his hearing at
the breakfast table, and Gerren took exceptions
to Jacks vernacuar. The two men clinched In
the hall OF the hotel.
Jack Patrick drew O pistol and Gerren dirk,
Gerrep. one ball went up Gerren's coat sleeve
and out without harming him, and another
passed through his coat and supposed to
have taken his body IN Its course. Gerren out
up his dirk and drew pistol. when he fired, the
shot taking effect In Jack Patrick's breast.
The men were separated. aud Patrick sup
posed he had given Gerren hts death wound.
Patrick went across the street, and Gerren was
held in the portico OF the hotel. In crossing the
street. Patrick slipped another cartridge In his
pistol and fred back at Gerren. The news flew
ali over town that Gerren was Killed. He was
in reality not hit. When Patrick reached the
other side OF the street he got rifle and lev
slled II at Gerren. Ills friends prevailed upon
him not to shoot, lest he might hit some Of the
women and children who were about Gerren on
the porch.
Finally Patrick mounted his horse, and with
his ride In hand. rode the hotel for the pur
pose OF getting another shot at Gerren III he
were still visible. 1he rumor hal 10y this time
got anoat that Gerren had teen killed while trv-
Ing to arrest Patrick. In al occIal capacity. A
hue and cry was raised against The murderer OF
Thomas Gerren. and the peop pie lined the streets
through which Patrick had to pass. armed for
the occasion. one man called on Patrick to halt,
and as Patrick paid TO attention to the order,
the man fred This was a signal for general
firing as Patrick Rdllopped down tue street, rum
ming the gauntlet Of guns. Patrick hrsL all his
loads ns he rode.
Two mounted men gave chase, md half mile
from town Patrick dismounted and took TO TIM
her Hts pursuers dismounted and continued
the ch see, keeping up the fring Whenever they
could get a shot at the fugitive. Finally a shot
from one Of their rifles brought Patrick down.
aud he waited TIL they carle mp. He skcd them
not to shoot any more a. he was already well
peppered. lie died in few monents-galne a.
a Wild bcast. The inquest revtuled = bullet
holes In his BODY. over one hundred shots were
lred At Patrick m all.
When II came to light that Green had not been
hurt at ALL the citizens Of Denton were very sor-
~ for what they had done to Patrick lie was
hunted down and killed through rnisapOrehen-
sion OF the state Of affairs. Tue only consol iiou
Of the people II Denton j., that Jack Patrick was
a dangerous man, and the confederate ~ two
notorious bank robbers. Joe Homer and Heddin.