The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-11-02
srABBEB AND KILLED.
ABrakeman ON the Texas d Pacific
Road stabs and Kills the Rail.
road Agent at Mesquite.

Sunday morning brakeman on the Texas
u Pacific roa fatally stabbed the agent at
Mesquite station, who died about O'Clock
yesterday morning. The name of the brake
man, who was running on local No. I, is
Frank Stevens, and he had some words with
the deceased, whose name is George Whip
pie, acting both as agent and telegraph oper-
ator, in regard to the handling of freight
when the agent cursed the brakeman, calling
him all sorts of u siy names, which brought
on q fight, in which the brakeman stabbed
him with a three-inch blade poke knife,
nine times; four timc9 in the back, cnce in
the right wrist, slvering the artery, and three
fatal stabs in the region of the right nipple.
Stevens came in and gave himself up to
Special Officer Clemens, who turned him
over to the sheriff, when he WIS placed under
guard in the Jail office. Yesterday morning
MIR. j. M. Knox, a citizen of Mesquite, came
into the city and swore out a warrant for the
srrest and commitment of Stevens, charging
him with numbering Whipple. In a con-
versslion with HERALD reporter Mr.
hnox stated that he was citizen of MESQUITE.
and that while he did not have any feeling
in the matter, yet he thought that some one
ought to make the etiidavit, ard that for
this reason he had swo out the writ. He
was an eye witness to q pa of the fracas,
and the following is Ia substance what HI,
stated: Stevens and Whipple had some
words in regard TO tho loading of some
freight when Whippe roundy abused
Stevens, cslling him hard names.
Whipple then demanded of Conductor
- H..
that he would report him and have him dis
charged, but the conductor declined to give
It to him. Stevens stepping from the plat
form remarked to Whipple that if he wanted
satisfaction, to come off the platform and he
would give it to him. Whipple accepted
the invitation, and as he stepped down threw
something at Stevens, who rushed upon him
with drawn knife, when Whipple turned
ana ran, following his antagonist, who stab
bed him several times in the back, breast and
arm, as already stated. Soon after reachinc
the platform Whipple fell, calling out stake
him off, he is killing me-" After he was
down Stevens kicked him several times. when
Knox drew pistol on him Command
ing him to desist, which he did
DIR. Bradfeld, OF that vicinity was sum
monded to attend him, and special was sent
rived before he died. but medical skill was of
no avail, one or two of the stabs penetr ting
the right lung, producing the fat wounds
just before the difficulty occurred. Mr.
Knox says, that at Whipple's request he ac
companied him to the cut on the road,
short distance from the depot, where lot of
cotton was side-tracked, to guard it, it hav
ing been repo ID that it was being stolen.
On arriving they found thrco or four bales
on fire, which they extnguished How i,
came to be atire he does not know. He says
that at the time of the killing Whipple did
not have pistol about him.
STEVENS STATEMENT.
The reporter visited Frank Stevens, the
party who did the killing, at the county
jail. He stated that when the train pulled
in at the depot they saw light signaling
them to stop; one of the train men remarked
that the next time they stopped there for
freight he was in hopes there wouldn't be
any; Yes" replied Whjpple, "you are vi
ways kicking" and he gave them round of
abuse. "That's pretty rough name 10 call
man to his teeth" said Stevens. Whipple
then passed some words with him, and
rushed into the office and came out with
sx-shooter in his hand, saying that
he would make him load the
freight, which he finally began doing. Wnip-
pie, before this, mistsking Powell for him,
(Stevens) had struck him, but on discovering
his mistake apologized. While he was en-
gagged in putting the freight aboard Whipplc
struck a! him with pair of brass knucks
but he lodged the blow, when Whppe
threw his hand behind him as though to
draw pistol, and, believing his life to be in
DANCE, he had attacked him in self defense
with mis- pocketknife, with the result as al
ready given. He then came in ard gave him
self up to the officers Of the law. The
prisoner has employed Mossrs. Watts 81
Cowart as attorneys, and will apply for
writ OF habeas corpus. He is a son Of Colo
mel James Stevens, respected citizen of this
city, and has heretofore been regarded rs
peaceable young man.