The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-07-18
JIM'S" LAST
SHOT.
The Manner in Which q Texan
Desperate Died.

| S8ll1Or0l0 Jlm, as ne WIS KnOWD
in Laredo, was young man of about
% or 26, but who had been a noted
criminal for years. / was informed
this morning by q man who had known
him for a long time that Jim was for
some time a gambler and rough in
New Mexico and Arizona. At Santa
Fe, New Mexico. be was considered
one of the most dangerous and desper-
ate characters in the territory, and
was know as "Six-shooter Smith"
In Tombstone. Arizona, he gave his
name as James w. Smith, but was
known as Stakeholder and he also
figured in Grainesville, Texas, under
the same name.
He was working at restaurant at
Laredo, and on last Saturday had q
quarrel with his employer. He i'm.
mediately sliced his pistol and fired at
the proprietor. Marshal johnson
came up to arrest him, when he fired
at him, and MORALLY wounded him.
He then left, and started up the track
of the International railroad, evident
" making for San Antonio. A re-
ward was offered for his capture, and
the whole country was up in arms.
He worked his way slowly along
the line of the railroad, carefully
avoiding ranches and persons until he
reached the statiOn-house at Cactus,
for hunger had driven him to desper-
alton. He entered the station-hO
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 Mar
shall johnson, Immediately started to-
ward Laredo, hoping to intercept him.
This side of Webb station he found
traces of the criminal, and for three
days he trailed him through the brush
like an Indian. coming so close to him
that Jim SAYS he saw him on four &C.
casions. When Sheriff Tompkins
reached this place last Thursday he
found that Jim had taken breakfast at
the station-house and passed on. Sew
eral parties started out at once to at
tempt his capture.
About 6 p. m. Thursday, Charley
Smith ard Wesley Despair, 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
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 Charley Smith says
he intended to engage him in CONVEX
sation until he was satisfied that he
was the right man. But California
Jim" was too desperate to take any
chances. and when Smith and Despair
were within thirty yards of him he
drew his revolver, turned and began
firing upon them. At the first or Sec
ond fire Despair was struck in the
side, the ball passing out near the
spine, and his horse threw him.
Charlie Smith dismounted and drew
his gun and returned the fire. shoot
ing three times. One shot struck Jim
at the joint of the hip. crushing the
bone, passing on through his bowels,
ranging up, and lodged against the
skin On the other side. Jim fell. but
rose to . sitting position aud fired
again at Charlie, who was STOPPING
with his gun drawn. This shot struck
Charlie just below the knee, ranging
up through the feshv part of the leg
and entering his breast. By this time
Jim had stopped firing. and was down
Charlie then started off to the station
house. On his wav he met the Next
can hands, who bel ped him to reach
the house.
California Jim" fingered in great
agony until 8 o'clock in the morning.
and was game to the last. No pain
seemed to move him, and, when told
that he was dying, he said that it was
"all right" During the night he often
spoke tenderly of "Molly," and the
last words 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 a brother living in
Neosho, Missouri. He also said that
there was a reward of 900 offered
for his capture in Arizona, and that
he was wanted in New Mexico. Two
or three times he attempted to make
a full confession to Sheriff Tompkins,
but he was 50 weak that he could not
talk. He ssid that he was sorry that
he shot Charlie Smith, for he was
q brave man, but that he never intend
ed to be caught, and would have kill.