The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-09-21
:BEN'S SIDE.
A STATEMENT PROM MARSHAL
THOMPSON,
In which He venriates His side
ofthe Tragedy.
A Truthful Sounding Relation Of
FRct..

l had not intended to say anything
whatever in relation to the facts sur
the shooting of Jack Harris,
believing that the evidence on the trial
would fully indicate me in taking his
life in order to save my own from foul
and well-formed conspiracy, but such
efforts have been made on
the part of the immediate friends of Mr..
Harris. and particularly by some of the
counsel who had volunteered to prose
cute, and, If within their ability, to hound
me &c death. to prejudice the entire pub
lie from which the jury to try me is to
be drawn, deem It but just to give the
true facts attending the shooting, to the
end that the people of Bexar county shall
and fully, the reasons actu-
ating me to do what was done. The
most outrageously false and malicious
have been put in circulation
to my serious prejudice, and by men
who, had they sought for truth with any
degree Of honest diligence, could have
learred, and would have learned, the alb
solute falsity of the greater part of what
they have uttered for truth. have
never desired, nor do now desire, any
trial but fair one by an impartial Jury
and an honest law-enforcing and oath
observing court. If my life under the
law is forfeited, or my liberty no longer
rightfully mine, on all the facts, then it
is Just that one or the other, as the case
may be, shall no longer be guarded nor
controlled by me; but If, on the other
hand, the law recognizing self-defense
and protection of my own life in what l
did, then il is but simple justice that the
~ - tha LOW mn
the malignant efforts made, and being
made, to sacrifice me, no matter whether
my action has been, morally or legally,
right or wrong. / have been led to the
foregoing remarks from information that
has come to me from sources that are un
doubted and truthful feel that l am
singled out for sacrifice by those who
were the instruments of MIR. Harris to
accomplish evil tasks, OF who were para
sites of his, living on his bounty, with
the expectation of greater gains in the
future. So far as the sentiments of the
better class of people are concerned, l
fear nothing, because their upright, hon
est and manly minds cannot be, and will
not be, Influenced or biased by the crowd
who are to-day yelping at my heels, by
what they have done or are able to do.
There is no doubt nor question but that
the Vaudeville theatre, its rum, gin and
gambling hells have been the ruin of
more young men and the debauching of
a greater number of innocent females
than all other causes combined that ever
operated on the people Of Bexar county
War, pestilence and famine acting to
gether could not, and would not. leave
behind such an internal stencil as for
years has reeked from the fostering sinks
of those dens. But no matter what may
have been or may be, the influence and
effects radisting from the Vaudeville,
from its executive staff, legal gambling
or bands, could not, and, of course, do
not, justify me in taking the life of the
proprietor. / am no moral refOrmer.
My justification must and does stand
upon other grounds than the wide known
villainiesIof the locality where the killing
took place. / was fully informed of the
fact, and 1t is undeniably sustained by
the oath of at least twenty good men,
that Harris had, at different times and at
different places, under various cir
cumstances, threatened to kill me
if came in or about his place of bust
ness, and, further, that he would kill
me if came to San Antonio. So far as
/ know had done nothing to Justify,
warrant, or even remotely excuse such
violent and causeless language. We had
been friends during the war, served in
the same regiment, slept around the same
camp fire, and ate at the same mess. Be.
tween us, to my recollection, never a
harsh word passed nor an ill-feeling ex.
listed, until my eyes were opened to en-.
hxr haa ~ 10 ~
threats against my life. After hearing
the threats, and after hearing that he had
actually been on the streets of San An.
tonic armed with shotgun searching or
looking for me In order to kill me, &C.
costed him, desiring to know from his
own mouth the cause of the grudge he
had against me. He treated me roughly,
nsultingly, but gave me no satisfaction.
The threats after that continued-ground.
less as before. On more than one occa.
sion he prepared himself to shoot me
when l had not spoken to him nor seen
him nor been in or about his place OF
business.
My visit to San Antonio on that even.
ing of July 10 was legitimate and had a
two-fold object first, to take my chill.
dren and nephew to friends to spend
few days, which visit had long been
promised them and, second, to arrest q
felon who was at large and for whom a
reward was offered, and who / had
reason to believe, and did believe, was
lurking and hiding around Harris place.
/ was an officer and belonged to de-
tective agency whose main object was
the arrest of criminals who had fled from
Justice. was armed as a matter OF
course. After placing my children at
the house of friend I went to execute
the other part of my mission to the city.
l did not proclaim on the streets my OBJ
ject and purposes l went to the gamb.
ling rooms, and on entering there, there
followed an undisguised surprise at my
being there and apprehension for my
safety or life. 1t alarmed me for the
moment, and guarded myself as well
as could by covering my back with the
wall and facing the direction from which
danger might assail me. Quiet fol
lowed. This was about three o'clock in
the afternoon. / sought an explanation
from more than one as to what the evil
dent excitement portended but received
none.
Thus matters stood until night was
about closing in. Meeting some friends,
we went into the Vaudeville saloon for
drinks and cigars. While in there, some
words were spoken, not angrily or insult
ingly, but inquiringly. We left after a
period of some twenty minutes. Mr..
Rouvant courteously invited me to take
a drink with him. Invent. We were in
the saloon few minutes. Again some
CO lversation occurred, but nothing out
of the way. II Harris was about the
premises, he did not make himself known,
and surely had he done so he would have
been in no more danger from me than
was any other citizen of San Antonio.
After parting with Mr.. Rouvant, /
went out on the pavement, walked up
and down toward the east, waiting for a
hackman whom had requested TO call
for me on the northeast corner of the
Plaza, to drive me out to San Pedro
springs, where / had agreed to meet
some friends. While waiting, had nv
arms folded across my breast, as is my
usual habit, as free from apprehension
of violence as If ! had been in another
part of the city. At this time Simms &C
costed me, and few words passed be-
create no disturbance. promised not to
do so, nor did / do anything of the
kind. There was some movement
of men leaving the saloon, which caught
my attention, and casting my eye into
the place, / saw Harris with his gun half
hidden behind set-of in the wall. /
called to him to know what he was doing
with the gun, which he was then holding
in about horizontal position, the muz-
zle toward me. He replied insultingly,
at the same time making change in his
position and raising his gun to a shooting
position. Believing, as had right to,
that 1t was then the immediate intention