The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-13

Uue COWdLu ia LIB Iuhh0-up, huu he gen.
orally gives his opponent the first shot,
it. Ben is one OF the handsomest and
hest-dressed in Austin, with foot and
hand as small as lady's, and geniali-
ty and courtesy OF manner which would
lead any one to set him down as the
most inoffensive Of men. He is an En-
glishman by birth and is scarcely thirty
five years of age. His brother Bill, who
shot Sheriff Courtney, Of Ellsworth,
Kan, is two years younger. The family
came tosthis country in 1851, and had
scarcely arrived here when his uncle
and aunt were killed by run
away negro, who was lynched. In
Saith, a bully who attempted to lord it
over the lad. In 1861 he was soldier
at Fort Clark, where he was goaded into
shooting Lieut.. Aiken. He was chained
to the floor, and kept until he became
delirious, when he set fire to the guard
house. and with the assistance Of a
friend he escaped. While playing cards
in a gambling saloon in Laredo, on the
Rio Grande, two men attempted to rob
him Of his winnings, and ball grazed
his breast. He shot his opponent, the
lights were put out, and bullets flew in
every direction. but Ben and his brother
ROI Out uU5eou, sWdLn oAo LlsoA t1uu %
capped. Ben returned to Austin and
opened gambling saloon. One night
Capt. Rabb appeared at his house,
wounded In both hands, and appealed
for assistance against over dozen men
led by Lieut.. Coombs. Ben's mother
and wife begged him to remain at home,
but armed with his revolver he came
down into the main street Of Austin,
and was Immediately fired upon by
Coombs. Thompson. who is one OF the
quickest and most unerring OF pistol
shots, killed Coombs and a horse, and
the whole party galloped out Of town.
This was in 1864, and the year following
Ben went to Matamoros, where he
Maximilian's army. During that time
he became involved in innumerable
ARRAYS, which resulted In the death of
at least half dozen Mexicans. He
finally settled in Austin, where he has
been the proprietor of a gambling saloon
for number Of years. He is we'll
known all through Texas, and has
saved the lives Of many persons, en-
tirely unknown to him, when they foand
themselves in desperate straits. The
last ARRAY in which he was engaged
was in Austin, on the night preceding
Christmas of last year. Late in the
evening he visited the Capitol Theatre,
kept by Mark Wilson. Shortly after he
entered disturbance occurred. and
the proprietor attempted to eject one of
the visitors. Ben objected, and in the
quarrel that ensued slapped the face Of
the proprietor. The latter ran behind
his bar, caught up his gun and aimed
at Thompson, who stood as motionless
as statue until the gun was discharg-
ed, no more than twenty feet distant.
It tore his coat. Thompson then raised
his pistol and fired three times, killing
Wilson instantly. Meanwhile Charles
Matthews, the bartender, standing near
Wilson, was also firing at Thompson,
who as quick as lightning turned upon
him. Matthews dcdged under the bar,
and Thompson fired through the front,
wound OF which he died some months
later in Brooklyn. Thompson sur
rendered himself, was tried and &C.
quilted.
In the Austin jail we saw and convers-
ed with J. Wesley Hardin, another mild
hammered desperate, who is now lying
under twenty-five years sentence,
with the proverbial appeal in the back
ground. Hardin said he was only twen-
ty-six years Of age, but he is probably
several years older. His wife is the
daughter OF a magistrate Of Gonzales
county, named Bonner. His father was
a preacher in Southwestern Texas, and
bis son was remarkably quiet and peace
full until about sixteen years Of age,
when he overheard some impudence to
his father on the part Of a negro. The
lad killed him with billet Of wood, the
blow being delivered from behind.
Texas at that time was under military
rule. and Hardin was arrested bya guard
Of three, who started to Huntsville Jail
with him. On account of his youth these
men did not deem it necessary to
keep strict watch over him. At night |
young Hardin killed them all. This |
outlawed him, and he at once launched |
out upon his career as desperate Of |
the worst sort. His father and brother
were lynched for murder, so that the |
phenomenal spirit of deviltry seemed to
be Inherent in the family. The best
hing Hardin did was to shoot Jacob
hat ever lived. In the troubles between
he cattlemen, Sutton and Taylor, at
Juero. Hardin took the side of the lay
or boys, and 1t was for similar cham
oionsion on the part Of Hardin's father
md brother that the two were lynched
n Western Kansas. Wesley operated
n that State as we'll as Missouri, and
'eturning to Texas he kept the border
n state Of terror. The rewards offered
or his capture aggregate fully
$40, 900: His last exploit was the kill
ng OF Deputy Sheriff Webb, of Brown
county, at Comanche, in which Dicken-
on and Taylor were also concerned.
.hese two were lynched, and the gang
It Cuero was broken up by Capt. Halls
Anglers. Hardin disappeared, and for
long time no trace Of him could be ,,
lscovered. though fully twenty detect
yes were hunting for him. At last one {
I Halls officers learned that he was
laying farmer in Florida, and after .
lonths Of careful preparation Hardin {
'as bounced upon by four men "a fifth :
landing outside with cooked rife) in :
abroad train just as it halted at a sta
on, disarmed and secured before he
ould draw upon his captors. He feels
ute sorrowful over his sentence and
beds tears copiously, hoping his ap.
cal will let him loose upon his victims q
gain. +