The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-03-27

At Reynosa came up with him. hu
he was under the protection Of Pan
cha Mejia and his gang Of Corlin
banditti. l told Mejia that I was at
ter Gra'ly-tbat was the fellow
name and was determined to ge
him. Mejia said that he considere,
my proposition the coolest he ha,
ever heard, and told Grady what
wanted. That party was nervou.
over the condition of things ant
agreed to fight me with six shooters
and you know, gentlemen, I am n,
siouch with a six -shoote'. The at
fair was arranged, and a few morn
lngs after the meeting we fought a
the rancho of Cortina, thirty mile.
back of Rernosa, and if YOU evel
pass along that way just look at the
"mott" Of live oaks on the left-hanG
side of the road leading to Monterey
ana you will see Grady's grave. We
fought at ten PAGES, advance and fire
and my pistol went off first. Grady
was shot Immediately over the left
eye, in the very spot he shot my
best friend, at Banquette, one year
before. Mejia seemed grati6ed over
the result, and saluted me as
THE BEST SHOT IN MEXICO.
He seemed determined to have me
join his band, and az a matter OF
safety l did so, expecting to leave it
whenever convenient While with
these fellows l had a good time gen
orally, and was always we'll stocked
with Mexican dollars, which l spent
freely at fandaneoes. A few nights
before / left the band Cortina came
to our camp and had long talk
with Pancha Mejia, and the next
morning l was informed by that
party that grand raid into Texas
was in order, and that if everything
went smoothly we would capture
Corpus Christi, two hundred men
making up the raiding party. This
was too much for me. I was willing
to tackle a Mexican town, but loved
my native Texas too we'll to do he,
any harm, and therefore left my
Mexican friends with good horse
rig, and plenty of money in my pos
session. Of courset be raid did no
come off,"
| At this interesting period of tbt
desperado's tale of Mexican adven
lures, q prisoner in the next eel
made a great disturbance Longley
knocked with his manacles on tn,
partition separating tue two cells
saying:
Keep quiet in there"
"Go to HI, you numbering theft
was the reply.
Longley smiled in his usual genia
manner, and said sarcastically:
"That's Smith. He's in for rob
hing poor prostitute of her sleeve
buttons. Gentlemen, I'm not goins
to utter boast, but if all the inhab
itants of Galveston were out of tn,
city, and the place repeopled will
fifteen thousand men like Smith, ant
these Jail doors were unfastened,
would take the contract to run then
into the bay in Que hour. That il
what Bill Longley thinks of the ras
cal in the next cell to him. Do 20,
listen to my remarks, Smith,"
These few opinions seemed tt
have gratifying influence on Smith
and the interview proceeded withou
further molestation from tina
quarter.
"Longley, it is now believed tina
reports published in papers to tn
effect that you committed thirty-tw
murders are not true-that they hav
been exaggerated"
Il am glad to hear you say tina
:, the people of Texas are taking tn
right view of my case, for I've bee
greatly misrepresented in this Stat
by newspaper reporters, who were i
search of sensations, and in crafty
ing their vanity as writer's they sa'
rifced me, and l am now threatene
with the scaffold. Much of thi
grew out of reports scattered in tn
papers of Texas by fellows preparin
sketches of my life for publication
In hook shape, so as to advertis
their works we'll before issuing the
from the press. All these fellow
;, are ente,prising editors. One {
these money-grabbers got out hi
book ahead of all the others, calm
u :. 49, ~ ;f. ae Dill Innnia, :, y