The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-22
THE MURDER AT MARSHALL,
yULL PIRTICTLIRS or THE DEATH
or u. H. TORTLR, THE ACTOR.

or ~. y. IONILR, THE ACTOR.
BrutRuy shot Down by an Arb knnsas Despe- !
rado who had Already Killed Two Men !
Barrymore, who wns Wounded by the |
same human. Considered Out of Danger
The Testimony before the Coroner's Jury.
MARSHALL, Texas, March 21.-The trag-
bdy that occurred here on Wednesday morning
was one OF the most revolving that has ever been
enacted In this section Of the State. The Wardo-
Barrymore Combination played that night to |
one OF the largest audiences that has appeared |
in the Opera Hall this season. The company |
seemed to be delighted with the people. and the |
ctlzens regarded them with more than usual |
favor. After the performance tho members OF
the troupe went to the depot to take the A. nj.
northward- bound train for Hot Springs. whore
lhoy wcro billed for Thursday night
At about ~ O'Clock. three of tho party
Miss Josephine Baker. Mr.. Maurice Barrymore
and Mr. i. +. Portcr-went into the White
House lunch room. kept by Nat Harvey. to get
refreshments. They had been seated there n
moment only when James Currie entered and
also took n lunch. He passed out from tho
lunch room into saloon in the rear. but speed
lily returned. He began at once an angry aud
unprovoked quarrel. few minutes afterward
he drew two repeating pistols and began
murderous fire upon the party. shooting
Mr.. b. T. Porter. who died in about
forty minutes. and seriously wounding
Mr.. Barrymore. Mr.. Porter got as far rs
the sidewalk before he fell. Mr. II. r. Davies.
one OF tho company. hearing the shots. hurried
20 the scene and conveyed MIR. Porter to the Pa
cnc Hotel near by Tho scene was one OF In
tense excitement. Mr.. Barrymore. being un-
armed. ondeavorcd to escape. but was pursued
by Currie. who fred five shots at him. In his
retreat he was compelled to get over high
fence In the rear Of the saloon. Miss Cum
mings's position was most trying. and her
fright can be well imagined.
A Coroncr's inquest was held about 2 o'clock.
two hours afterward. which Mr.. Barrymore
and Miss Baker could not attend. The
principal witness was Nat. Harvey. The fol-
lowing IL his testimony:
N. A. Harvey. being duly sworn. deposes and
says. after looking at the dead man: l have
seen that face. l saw this man in life at about
IL O'Clock Of the night OF the 10Th Of March 1879.
This man and another one who is now over in
my house wounded. and lady came into
my lunch rooil. The man who is now
in my house wounded called for beer
and lunch. This man said. Il
won't take beer. Give me cup OF coffee.
don't drink" gave them the lunch-beer and
coffee-that they had ordered. While they were
eating and drinking. Jim Currie came In and
called for a lunch also. i got II. and when
went TO give him (Curriel his change
be said: Keep that; don't you want to
buy a doR2" He then walked into the
back room. where my bar is. and called for a
drink OF ice water. which gave him. Then he
said: Il guess l had better take little bulge
with IT," told him he had better go slow that
he had enough. He said: MOI must have
some; 1t is too good thing around
here" gave him the drink. After
taking the drink he said. pointing down into the
lunch room. There Is a first-class -" or
there is a high toned -" do not remem-
Der whether he used the expression first
class" or heightened" but ! think 1t was
hrst-class." l said to him. Jim. don't
know whether she is n lady or not She has be-
hayed herself. and would rather you wouldn't
make any such remarks. Then he said, that's
oil right. partner" and walked down out Of the
barroom md as he walked 10 the front door Of
my house (the lunch rOoml, he turned round
and said 70 the deceased; " Hero. you throw
up beside lie head {" when / passed You
awhile ago. You, can't give me. any. gun q
you have alluded TO me hadn thought ot you.
was talking 10 this lady here.' Then Currie
DECEASED said sR ~ fm I'm in COMPANY Ga with lady
and would prefer that you wouldn't make
remarks Of that kind ',i in her presence and
anywhere you like outside the house. or some
Ssnf fe f9S sss cqTrio then s,d sSid sba,
was getting up on the counter ana about hall
way over IT, About that time the man
turned roanG nGT and nd @ said "o@fY viii Y"TGSn pTo
te& a lady anywhere" and began 70
Just before THIS the man who lies wounded in
my house said TO Cprrie: Go away. there Is
be b You %'se want to taSe E II up puir dG "'
Just then Currie pul"dout pistol and began
shooting He fired on this man. who is in my
on the stool to catch hold Of Currle. just then
j ia VhOlp a a InppngRN
a5f" sn1 es1 s Men RSn9 o "0ss or s s eat aa
don't know whether he recovered his feet be-
fore he got out or not. The man who is in my
broke open the door. and ran out through the
Kitchen into the yard. When the difficulty
eommenced was bed ind the counter. About
Ihe tine me shooting began jpmbed over INC
counter md the lady caught hold Of me.
al. He dred first at the wonnied man and
then imme diatey turned aud fired at the de-
@s1 ep@sed d dbu, Sh9s s sSfRd % to sEe tba s6m 6m
ach Currie was very close TO tho de-
ceased. As tho wounded mnn ran through
him again. Before Currie pulled cut his pistol
when he put his hand behind him a. though
said: EY6a neain't sR6o n.y. i,' Tn an 'i'ir', un
armed man, and don't wnnt any trouble" Tho
wounded man in my house was pulling on his
but u protect lady anyhow" There was no
ono IN the house ~ the time oi the occurrence
except tho parties hay" mentioned.
Mr. BARRYMORE is b-tter to-day. His wound.
though painful is not dangerous. He WAS shot
through the shoulders. The community has
expressed and manifested the most tender
sohcitude for tho company. A subscription
was started NJ tho office Of the railroad com,
Uany, and 81 90 was raised to pay the funeral
expenses oi the dead actor. Through tickets
were also furnished for the romans and an
hlt"ndnnt: Tho casket left here this morning
for New York.
From Mr. Barrymore and Miss Baker
some further particulars OF the outrageous
murder have been obtained Tho WRrde- Bar
rymOre combination had been playing Diplo-
macy" through the States, After the perfor-
nance here the members Of the company met
IN the depot. II was just before the arrival OF
tho train going north TINT three mem
brrs Of the company, Maurice Barry
more. Porter. and Miss Josephine Baker,
went into a lunch room adjoining the
depot. Adjoining the restaurant was n saloon.
and seated Ia this saloon was James Currie. n
Texas Pacific Railroad detective, well known in
tho State as an eX-army scout under Curtis a
desporado who had k He'd two men. He Ia q
large powerful and thoroughly rough from
uersman. Currie was drunk. and as was
usual with him under such crcpms,ances.
quarrelsome and brutal In loud tone
he uttered brutal insult directed at Miss