Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-22
MURDER OF BEN c. PORTER,
An lnOffensive Actor Killed by a
Ruffian---The Details.

The following special dispatches
were received last night:
Special to Cincinnati Enquirerl
LITTLE Rock, ARK, March 20.-I
Intelligence has Just reached this city !
on the Northern bound train that Mr. |
B, G. Porter, of the Diplomacy troupe, |
had been killed at Marshall, Texas, |
and that Mr.. Maurice Barrymore had
been wounded. 1t seems that the
Diplomacy Company was waiting the
Northern bound train at Marshall,
Texas, and that its members were
taking coffee in a restaurant when
man named Currie, said to be United
States detective, entered and called
for coffee. The coffee served, he
pushed it from him, making an OBJ
scene remark. Mr., Porter rebuked
him, not urgently, when the
desperate remarked, What the
hell have you got to do with it?"I
Porter answered that he had charge of
the ladies, and that he did not con
slider it gentlemanly to use such Ian
guage. Currie, without saying any
thing more, drew a revolver and
fired at Porter, the ball entering
his right eye and going through his
brain. Maurice Barrymore rushed
forward and caught the dead man in
his arms, when the demon fired at
him, the ball passing through his
right arm. Not content with the he'll
lish work already done, the fend drew
another pistol and began firing with
both hands, first at one of the ladies
and then at a little boy, neither of
when were injured. The man was
finally arrested The affair is greatly
to be deplored, and has created quite
a sensation in this city"
The details Of the shooting of Por-
ter and Barrymore at Marshall, Texas,
occurred this morning at two o'clock.
The members of the Ward Barrymore
Combination went to the depot to take
the train going north, on their way
out Of the State, after an engagement
of several weeks in the principal cities.
Maurice Barrymore, B. G. Porter and
Miss Josie Baker went into the res
taurant adjoining the waiting room to
get coffee and lunch. In the rear of
this room is a saloon, with door open
between. James Currie, Texas Pa
cific railroad detective was seated
alone in the saloon, where he could
sec the parties in the restaurant.
Shortly after the entrance of the
above named persons Currie called
out, "That's a high toned We you
have there with you?" Barrymore
replied, you are mistaken there; this
is a lady under our protection; you
must not insult her, and added, MOTTO
ing Currie's evident intoxication, "We
dom t want to have any trouble with
YOU Currie rose to his feet, and,
advancing, said "Will you take it
upW Barrimore answered: No,
we don't want to take it up; we are
both unarmed, leave us alone" Currie
walked nearer, and with the words,
|" don't like to be talked to this way,
drew six-shooter and fired, the ball
passing through Barrimore's left arm,
and through the upper part of the
chest, coming out below the shoulder
at the back, AT this Porter stepped
up, and placing his hand on Currie S
shoulder, said, Come, now, you We
had enough of this" With an oath,
| Currie threw the revolver down against
| Porter's body and fired, the ball going
through the abdomen and coming out
at the back. A bystander came in
and Currie fred at him, but missed.
Porter sank to the floor in an uneon-
scious condition, He lived fifty min
utes, Barrymores wound is painful
but not considered dangerous. After
shooting, Currie drew second re-
volver, and, with one at full cock in
each hand, defied arrest. There had
been no witnesses to the afray,
except the bar-keeper and the lady
The policeman, an old man without
arms, entered soon after. Currie put
up his arms and quietly submitted to
arrest. Excitement over the affair
grew in intensity until the lynching OF
Currie by the enraged populace seemed
probable. Even in Dallas feeling runs
high, and it is regarded as the most
damnable murder that has taken place
, in Texas for many years. 1t is thought
: it will hurt the State very much. The
combination is still at Marshall. Por-
ter's remains were placed in casket
and will be sent North. Barrymore {
condition is reported favorable, Cur
rie has lived in Texas several years
and was formerly a sergeant out West
J with Custer. He lived in Kansas
, where he killed two men. He was en-.
gagged by the Texas Pacific Railroad
Company as a detective in working vi
the cases of the Sam Bass gang Of
ain-robbers, and was lately private
, detective on the road. He is large
powerfully-bui man, regular rougE
and ready denizen of the frontier, anC
! when in liquor, quarrelsome and over
+ bearing.
Enquirer editorial comments:
M. Dn~t.. Il =. ....... 80. -. N