Tombstone weekly epitaph., 1882-08-19
CALIFORNIA JIM,
A Texas Desperado's Nerve i'm the
 Face of Death.
San ADtCnio EXprel

San ADtGnio Express.
 "Calfornia Jim" as he was kuown in Laredo, was young man of about 25 or 26, but who had been noted criminal for years. was informed recently by man who had known him for long time, that Jim was for some time gambler ard rough in New Mexico and Arizona. At Santa Fe, N. M., he was considered one of the most dangerous and desperate characters in the Territory, and was known as shooter Smith" In Tombstone he gave his name as Jas. w. Smith, but he was known as "Six. shooter" and he also figured in Gainesville, Tex, under the same name.
 He was working in a restaurant in Laredo and recently had quarrel with his employer. He immediately seized his pistol and fired at the pro- prietor Marshal Johnson came up to arrest him, when he fired at him and mortall y wounded him. lie then left and started up the track of the International Railroad, evidently making for San Antonio. A reward was offered for his capture and the the whole county was up in arms. He worked his way carefully along the line of the reilroad, carefully avoiding ranches and persons, until he reached the station house at Cac- tus, for hunger had driven him to desperation. He entered the station house, and at the point of his pistol forced the keeper to give him his breakfast and some clothing. Sheriff w. A. Tompkins of this county, who had been notified of the murder of Marshal Johnson, immediately start ed toward Laredo, hoping to inter- cept him. This side of W Webb station be found traces of the criminal, and for throe days he trailed him through the brush like an Indian, coming so close to him that Jim says he saw him on four occasions. When Sheriff Tompklns reached this place last Thursday he found that Jim had talk en breakfast at the station house and passed on. Several parties started out at once to effec t his capture.
 About 2p. m. Thursday, Charley Smith and Wesley de Spain, two young men from near this place, who had gone out to hunt horses and also to look for Jim, were at the Cibolo station. While sitting at the camp of John Yeager resting, they saw a man passing along the top of the brushy ridge near the depot. They at once mounted and started toward him. When they came up within speaking distance, Charlie Smith says he intended to engage him in conversation until he was satisfied t hat he was the right man. But "California Jim" was too desperate to take any chances, and when Smith and de Spain were within thirty rods i. of him he drew his revolver, turned and began firing on them. At the first or second fire de Spain was struck in the side, the ball passing out near the spine, and his horse threw him. Charlie Smith dismount- ed and drew his gun, and returned the fire, shooting three times. One shot struck Jim at the point of the hip, crushing the bone, passing on through his bowels, ranging I'D, and lodging against the skin on the other side, Jim fell, but rose to a sitting position and fired again at Charlie, who Wa. shooting with his gun drawn. This shot struck Charlie just below the knee, ranging up through the feshy part of the leg and entering his breast. By this time Jim had stopped firing and was down. Charlie then started for the station house, on his way he met the Mexican hands, who helped him to reach the house. "California Jim" fingered in great agony until 3 o'clock Tn the morning, and was game to the last. No pain seemed to move him, and when told he was dying, he said that it was "all right" During the night he spoke tenderly of "Molly," and the last words l heard him say were: "Well Molly, it's all over now"
 Jim stated before he died that his real name was John Henry Hankins, and that he had brother living in Neosho, Mo. He also said that there was reward of $1,000 offered for his capture in Arizona, and that he was wanted in New Mexlco. Two or three times he attempted to make full confession to Sheriff Tompkins, but he was so weak that he could not talk. He said that he wa. sorry he shot Charlie Smith, for he was a brave man, but that he never intended to be caught, and would have killed anybody who came on him.
 "California" was we'll known in this vicinity, and Judge Peel has long maintained the idea that he was engaged in the murder of his son at Charleston. In any event the coun- try is not likely to suffer much