Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-24
THE MARSHALL MURDER.
Additional Particulars in Regard to the
Killing Of Mr.. B. C. Porter.


Little Rock Gazette, 22d.l
The murder of Mr.. B. C. Porter. of
the Diplomacy dramatic company, was
one of the most brutal known in the
long list of Lone Star death dealing
Of course the people of Texas, as the
people of all other civilized States,
look upon such a transaction with
horror.
Additional particulars only show
the matter up in a more murderous
light.
J. s. Sheppard and Earnest Stanley,
of Emerson's minstrels, arrived in the
city yesterday afternoon, and from
them we learn the following facts,
they being present at the time of the
shooting:
Previous to the murder Jas. Currie
met Sheppard and Stanley and seemed
very much disposed to create dis
turbance, in so much that the two
gentlemen avoided him. On the fol-
lowing morning the Diplomacy com
pany was in a restaurant at the depot.
as previously stated, when the mur-
derer Currie walked in. Making an
obscene remark, Mr.. Porter very gem
tlemanly called him aside and remon-
strated with him, telling him that he
should not speak so in the presence of
ladies'.
What the HI have you got to do
with it?" exclaimed the assassin,
drawing two revOlvers.
Mr.. Maurace Barrymore walked up
just at this time and drawing off his
coat remarked:
We are both unarmed but if you
will lay down your pistols, I'll give you
all you want.
Without saying anything more, and
without any other prOvocation, Currie
fired both pistols almost simultaneous
.y-One at Porter and the other at
Barrymore-and quick as a fash he
fired both pistols again. The first dis
charge intended for Porter struck him
in the lower part of the body, and the
next ball went through his bowls. The
first shot intended for Barrymore
missed, the next struck his right arm.
Porter fell to the floor, and died within
forty minutes. He suffered greatly,
his last words being, "Give me more
morphine"
After Porter fell Currie fired at Miss
Cummings with both pistols, and miss
ing her, advanced and placed the
muZzles of both weapons to her bosom
The affrighted woman shrauk back
and eyaded the deadly discharge. The
brute then turned and fired several
times alta boy, and then at some one else
and then, when he saw no one else he
desired to murder, to show his utter
lack of feeling walked up to a dos
lying on the floor and stamped hii
head.
Ofabout forty men who gathered
around the place, not one had nerve
enough to attempt an arrest. Currie
after doing all he could, walked back
into the restaurant, and in an insulting
manner demanded:
What do | owe here?" and ther
adding, "I'll see you again." walked
out and gave himself up.
Ourrie is brother of Mayor Currie
of Shreveport, La, and it is said thai
Porter is his fifth victim.
Porter was the only support of al
aged mother. His remains, in charg,
of Mr.. Murdoch, of the ill-fateC
troupe, passed through the city yes
terday evening.
| The murderer is now on trial, anC
it is thought that Judge Lynch viii
take his case in charge, before tn,
law, by its indirect course, will reach
a decision.
Special to Arkansas Democrat
| MARSHALL, TEX, March 9th,
examination of Currie, the murderer
closed yesterday. After the TESTIMONY
of Miss Cummings and II. Reel
Davies, Currie waived further examin
alton and was committed to jail. Bono
was denied him. His trial will com,
off in May.
Arkansas Democratl
Speedy justice should be meeted ou
to the inhuman butcher Currie, VIII,
| killed Porter, at Marshall, Texas, OF
| Thursday. 1t was a most villainous
coldblooded, dastardly deed, and i
the people of Texas value their gooC
name, they will speedily rid them
selves of such red-handed assassins.
| CINCINNATI, March 22.-Jim Cur.
| rie, who shot Benjamin Porter, O.
Ward and Barrymore's Diplomacy
Company, in Texas, is Cincinnatian
He was soldier, and after the wal
returned to his work of railroad en-
gineering, He afterward entered thu
regular army as a war scout with Gus,
ter. on the Plains. He went West tC
Texas to help break mp Bass gang O
train robbers.