The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-07-26

ris is also interested in it, also the saloon
bar, and the threatre. I refuse to say
in what way l was partner. ! refuse
because it may crmnate me l am not inter-
ested in the theatre or in the saloon. When
I heard the firing did not pull the pistol and
cock it until the crowd was coming up stairs.
drew it because | expected should be the
next one shot. | drew it in protection Of
myself. cannot say if C. cked it, have
Harris's gun got it from Frank Sparrow a
few days after. Harris seldom came in the
gambling sal on. l can't say whether
Harris was in the gambling saloon that day.
did not See him. heard Frank Sparrow
got the gun after the shooting, and it is my
impression he did so. did not know that
Mum had pistol that night.
Re-examined by I. I. feel: He had the
gun when | came back last August. l saw
Harris and Thompson meet once at the Green
Front That was long before l had met Capt.
Hckie.
= BY Major Walton remember several
persons were present, Mr.. Hart and Tom
Dorm.
Policeman Rips: My name is Jacob Rips.
live IN San Antonio. l am a city police
man and have been SO since the 9Th of April.
know Ben Thompson. That is the man;
my beat is Main plaza, Military plaza and
Market street. remember the night Jack
Harris was killed 1t was the nth of July.
saw Ben Thompson that night about 7
o'clock on the corner of Main plaza and
Soledad street, near Sim Harris cigar store.
| know where the Vaudeville theatre is. 1t
Is the adjoining house to Sim Harris. He
was about three feet from the house. had a
conversation with Thompson. He asked me
II that was my beat l told him it was. He
then asked me 1t there was any one on duty
with me. l told him yes, but they had gone
to supper. He then told me to tell Capt.
Shardein to put more men on duty there. as
there would he some trouble. He then said,
Why don't you close w h! | told him
that | had not been instructed to do SO. He
said II you San Antonio policemen are afraid 10
close this house will close it for you. He said
| am barred out of this house, and l am going
in there. l want you to protect me. then
told him that did not think any one would
refuse him admittance. He then said l am
going in there and if you interfere with me
I'd just as soon shoot you as anybody else
With that Mr.. Rouvant came along and asked
him what he was making so much noise about.
He then told him to attend to his own bust
ness, that he was a friend Of his. Rouvant
then started for Harris's saloon, and Thomp-
son asked him to take drink with him.
then walked up as far as the door. Saw him
standing at the counter all quiet, and walked
on towards Wolfson's corner and on to the
Military plaza, got to the station house, and
started back. When near Dullnig's store
| heard two shots fired. came towards
Harris's corner and saw large crowd going
towards the house, and on inquiry Major
Walton stop there.) Some time utter l saw
Mr.. Harris carried out on cot.
Cross-examned: Thompson was laughing
and good HUNDRED when he spike to me.
He was not boisterous. If he had been it
would have been duty to have stopped him.
+. A. Hicks deposed: My name is E. A.
Hicks. | reside in San Antonio On the
nth of July was about Jack Harris. was
present when he was killed; the first saw of
the occurrence was in coming from the pamb-
ling room As came down the steps saw
Thompson step out of the door of the saloon
towards the sidewalk. AT the same time
saw Harris step in at the far door of the sa-
loon; Sims was, think, standing in the door
as Thompson stepped out, and think they
were talking as passed them. was stand
ing four or FIVE steps from them. and heard
Thompson say 10 Sims, Billie, there's going
to be HI here tonight as intend closing
up this place. | heard that remark as |
passed by them but did not hear Sims reply
nor any further. After conversing with Thomp-
son some time Sims went up stairs and
Thompson walked towards Harris store: he
walked towards me, and l proposed that we
go over to the Revolving Light; Thompson
declined this, and then walked towards Har-
ris' door; think he took his position on the
outer edge of the pavement, facing the saloon
door Ben think. had his arms folded across
his breast. then something seemed to attract
his attention all at once inside the saloon. He
placed his hand upon his pistol and said.
"What are you doing with that shot-g gun YOU
- -. do not remember whether
he drew his pistol before or after this chal-
lenge. think it was afterwards. A few Sec
onds elapsed and he fired the first shot Mr.,
Thompson fired the second shot No other
shots were fired. I asked Mr.. Thompson to
60 to the Revolving Light, because he seemed
to be excited and because hoped it would
stop any difficulty He declined to 20 to the
Revolving Light, saying he would not 90, and
said something about he did not need any ad-
visers. When Thompson challenged Harris
l did not hear the reply. was sanding too
far away. When Thompson fired the second
shot he had one foot on the edge of The side
walk, the other in the gutter did not no.
tice whether he was erect or not, that
would lower his body, but l cannot
say how much. When Mr.. Thomp-
son said he was going to close ND the
house believe it referred to Harris house.
From the time came de- n to the firing of
the shots I should think or 10 minutes
elapsed Thompson was talking to Mr..
Sims. and to myself. don't remember any
one else. Thompson twice said he was going
- Il a.