The New York herald., 1879-03-21
Painful Change from Emotional Com
edy TO Bloody Tragedy.
B. G. PORTER KILLED.
Defending an Actress Against the Calamny
Of q Texan Ruffian.
MAURICE BARRYMORE SERIOUSLY WOUNDED.
(DY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


DALLAS, Texas, March 20, 1879.
One Of the most brutal and cold blooded mur-
dcrs ever reported occurred Mt Marshall early
this morning. The principal victim is u
Northern actor. The members of the Ward
barrymore combination went to the depot to
take the train going North at two o'clock A. NJ,
on their way out of the State after an engage
ment Of several weeks in the principal cities.
During the evening Diplomacy" had been
rendered ut tho theatre. Maurice Barrymore,
Benjamin G. Porter and Miss Josephine Baker.
went into tho restaurant adjoining tho waiting
room to get refreshments In the rear of this
room is n saloon with door open between.
James Currie, q Texas Pacific Railroad de-
tcctive, was seated alone in this saloon, where
he could SEQ the parties in tho restaurant.
Shortly after the entrance Of the above named
persons Curric called OUT f
"Thats high-toned - you have with you"
Barrymore replied, "You are mistaken there
this is IL lady under our protection. You must
not insult her." and added, touching Currie's
any trouble with YOU"
Currie rose to his feet and, advancing, said,
'Will you take it upr
Barrymore answered, "No; we don't want to
take it at all. We are both unarmed; leave us
ilone.n i
CURRIE's CowAHDLY MURDER.
Curric walked nearer, and With tho words, II
don't like to be talked to in this way" drew
six shooter and fired, the ball passing through
Barrymore's left arm andF through the upper
part Of his chest, coming out below
the shoulder ut the back At this Porter
stepped up, ind placing his hand ON Curr:e's
shoulder said, "Comc, now, you've had enough
ofths," With an oath Currie threw the re-
volver down against o,ter's body and fred
agan, the ball in this instance going
through Porter's abdomen ana coming out
at the back. A bystander then stepped
forward, and Curric also fired at him, but
missed. Porter sank to the floor in an uncon-
scious condition. He lived only fifty minutes
afterward. Barrymore's wound il painful, but
it is not considered dangerous After the shoot
ing Currie drew second revolver, and with one
at fulfc in each hand detied arrest There
had been no witness to the affair except the bar
keeper and Miss Baker.
policeman, an old man, without arms, Gu
tered soon after, when Currie put up his re-
volvers and quietly submitted to arrest.
Excitement over the affair grew in in
tensity, until the lynching Of Crrie
by tho enragcd populace seemed probable.
Even in Dallas the feeling runs high. 1t is re-
gar,ied ~ the mos. dastardly murder that has
taken place, even in Texas, for many years, and
it is thought will hurt the State very much.
The Combination Company is still ut Marshall
Porters remains will be placed in caskct and
sent North.
CuRRIE's RowDY CAREER.
Curric has lived in Texas for several years.
He was formerly scout with General Custer.
He has lived in Kansas also, where he killed two
men. He was first engaged by the Texas Pacifc
company as detective in working up the cases
Of the Sam Bass gang of train robbers. Lately
he has acted as a private detective ON the road.
lie b large, powerfully built and regular rough
fronticrs,nau When in liquor he is quarrclsome
aud ovcrbcaring.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
A Marshall editor sends the following account
Of the tragedy :--"At about twelve o'clock last
night, after the Ward Barrymore Combination
had finished the play OF Diplomacy the com
pany repaired to the depot to await the train.
Maurice barrymore, Il. c. Porter and o
female att,.ch6 Of the Combination were
in the White House lunch room, eating u
lunch, when James Curre, u detective, who has
been working for the railroad, entered the
saloon attached to the lunch roov,. lie made
some sighting remarks about tho lady, when he
was told by ono of the men she was % Lady and
under their charge and that he must not
insult her. After few angry words
Currc drew his pistol and shot Porter in the alb
domen, killing him almost instantly, and then
turning round, shot barrymore through the left
arm, near the elbow, the ball coming out under
the left shoulder, making u very severe wound
Porter aud Barrymore were unsrmcd. Currie is
IN Jail"
THE NEWS IN NEW YORK.
The news of the Texas tragedy spread like Wild
Are from theatre theatre In this city. just at tho
time the audiences were leaving them lsst night.
The hstronic gathering which induigcs in nightly
whist after tho play at the Criterion Club
dropped its cards ana LETT the game un-