Daily globe., 1882-07-08
.'CALIEORNIA JIM's" LAST SHOT.
The Manner In Watch Texan Desperado
DEED.

| LAREDO Correspondence San; Antonio Express.
"California Jim," as he was known In
| Laredo, was a young man Of about
twenty-five or twenty-six, but
| who had been noted criminal
for years. was informed this morning
| by man who had known him for long
| time that Jim was for some years a gam
bier and rough in new Mexico and Ari-
Zona. At Santa Fe, N. NJ, he was con.
sidered one of the most dangerous and
desperate characters in the territory, and
was known as "Six Shooter Smith, In
Tombstone. Arizona, he gave his name
as James w. Smith, but was known as
"Bix- Shooter, and he also figured at
Gainesville, Texas, under the same name.
He was working in restaurant in
Laredo, and on last Saturday had a quar-
rel with his employer. He Immediately
seized his pistol and fired at the propri-
etor. Marshal johnson came up to arrest
him, when he fired at him and mortally
wounded him. He then left and started
up the track Of the International rail-
road, evidently making for San Antonio
A reward was offered for his capture and
the whole country was up in arms. He
worked his way carefully 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 desperation. He en-
tered the station house. and at
the point of his pistol forced the
keeper to give him his breakfast and
some clothing. Sheriff w. A. Tompklns
of this county, who had been notified of
the murder of Marshal Johnson, immedl-
ately started toward 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 oc-
casions. When Sheriff Tompkins reached
this place last Thursday. he found that
Jim had taken breakfast at the station
house and passed on. Several parties
started out at once to attempt his
capture.
About p. m. Thursday, Charley
Smith and Wesley Despair, two young
men frsm near this place, who had gone
out hunt horses, and also to look for
Jim, were at Cibolo station. While sit
ting at the camp of John Yeagar 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 dis
tance, Charley Smith says he intended to
engage him in conversation 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 On them. At the first
or second 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, shooting 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 a sitting position
and fired again at Charlie, who was
stcoplng with his gun drawn. This shot
struck Charlie just below the knee, rang
ing 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 off to 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 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 call right"
During the night hezspoke 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 brother living in Neasho, Mo.
He also said that there was reward Of
| 81 900 offered for his capture in Arizona,
and that he was wanted in New Mexico.
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 was sorry that he shot Char
lie Smith for he was a brave man, but
that he never intended to be caug hit, and
would have killed anybody who came on
| him.
Chicago Drawbridgss.