The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-04-01
HE UGHT WITH HAYES,
Jim Currie, the Murderer, as O "Brava
Union Soldier" of The Texas
Tragedy,

"
the Diplomacy dramatic company,
was one Of the most brutal known
in the long list of "IIonc Star" death
dealing. Of course the people of
Texas, as tho people of all other
civilized States, look upon such
transaction with horror. Addition
al particulars only show tho mat
ter up in O. moro murderous
light. j. S. Shepard and Earnest
Stanley, of Emerson AIinstrels,
arrived in tho city recently, and
from them wo learn tho following
facts, they being present at the timo
Of the shooting
-. Previous to tho murder, James
Currie mot Shepard and Stanley,
and seemed very much disposed to
create O disturbance, insomuch that
that TIE two gentlemen avoided him.
On the following morning the Dip-
lomGcy company was liz q restaurant
at the depot, as previously stated.
when the murderer, Currio, walked
in. Making an obscene remark, MI.
Porter very gentlemanly called him
aside and reconstructed with him,
telling hlm That he should not speak
SO in tho presence of ladies.
"What the h--ll have you got to
do with it 2" exclaimed the assassin,
drawing two revolvers.
Mr.. Maurice Barrymore walked
up ut this time, and, drawing of his
coat, remarked:
"Ve nro both unarmed but if
you will lay down your pistols, III
give you al you want"
Without saying anything more,
and without any other provocation,
Currio fired both pistols almost si,
multaneously--one at Porter and
tGe other at Berrymore---and quick
as flash he fred both pistols again,
The first discharge intended for
Porter struck him in the lower part
of the body, and the next oall went
through his bowels. The first shot
intended for Barrymore missed, and
the next struck his right arm. Por-
ter fell to The floor and died within
forty minutes. He suffered greatly,
his last words being, "Give mo moro
morphine" .. .....
After Porter fell, Currio fred at
Miss Cumming with both pistols,
and missing her, advanced and
placed the the muzzles of both
weapons to her bosom. Tie affright-
ed woman shrank back, and evaded
the deadly discharge. Tho brute
then turned and fired several times
at boy, and then at some ono else;
and then, when he saw DO one elso
whom he desired to murder, to show
his utter lack of feeling, walked up
to a dog lying on tho floor and
stamped his head.
OF about forty mon who gathered
around the place, not one had nerve
enough TO attempt an arrest. Cur
rie, after doing all he could, walked
back into tho restaurant, and in an
insulting manner demanded 4:
"What do I owe here 2" and then
adding, "Ill see you again." walked
out and gave himself up.
Ddi2ds (1erd8) Herald.
james Currie was born of highly
respectable parents in New York.
At the commencement of tho wal he
enlisted in the Federal crmy and
served as non-commissioned off,
Ger in President Hayes regiment
until.it closed. He then went to
Kansas and was employed as en-
gineer on the Kansas and Pacific
road until 1867, when no joined
General Forsyth in his Indian expo
dition, as q scout. Ho was in tho
fight on the Republican Fork, when
sixty Federal troops were attacked
by tho Indians and all fiiassaered
| except ten, Currie being ono who
escaped. He again returned and
took position on the Kansas Pacific
railroad. When in Kansas, it is said
he killed cigar-maker for intimacy
with his mistress. He is said to he
feared by even the greatest despert
ADDE'S. Bill Hickock, known as
"Wild Bill" the most desperate man
in the Black Hills, and who was
there killed, used to state that he
was afraid Of but one man, and that
man was jim Currie. His health
failing him in Kansas, he journeyed
south, md was employed as an
engineer on rhe Ncw Orleans. st.
Louis and Chicago raiload. About
six years ago he camo to Texas and
was given employment on tho Texas
and Pacific road as engineer. This
position he held until about two