The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-07-27

running q big game. Old Reese went
down to see him. Well, sir, its only
about week ago that he recovered from
that interview and was able to be about. "
Old Reese walked into the saloon,
called for aspen and paper and made out
the following bill:
= go LAREDA, TEXAS, Aug. 4, 1874.
SAM sTuRe1s,
- To FaR wiDOdoiw1iwnlrE's KID, DR..
To h.rding pony, Is weeks, at 81 per
week..... ......... .................$3 200
To kicking said Kid when he asked for his
money!. ..."..........."..5O.0 0
To cost of co.lecion............... ....."..50 90
$4,000
II CT payment.
He walked up to the table where Stur-
gis was dealing monte and laid this bill
before him.
"stargis," he said, 'pay this little bill
and I'll receipt it."
The gambler glanced at the paper,
jumped to his feet, jF sSked out his 81 SIN <,
II think you will," cried Reese, and
he Knocked the fellow down:
Before he could regain his feet old
Reese was upon him. He jerked the
beat him over the head with it until
he cried for mercy.
evil you pay the bill?" asked Reese,
raising the six-shooter to hit him again.
eyes" And he paid it,
But Reese was not through with him
yet There was justice Of the peace
in Laredo at the time, a recent insti-
tuition. Old Reese knew that the gam.
bier would have him arrested for the
assault and compel him to pay fine.
He told two men to come forward as
witnesses and in their presence made
Sturgis swear that he (Reese) had new
er struck him.
II was in the 'squires Office that
morning." continued my informant,
"and knew nothing about the matter
until Reese walked in. The Squire
didn't know him and I introduced
them"
Squire" said Reese, after the formal
tiles were gone through with, "how
much do you fine man for sssaulting
another?"
"Well, that depends" said the JUS
tice.
"Suppose you beat mans head into
jelly with your six shooter, for in
"Well, that's q serious case, and I
should be compelled to impose heavy
fine"
"But, continued Reese, Suppose can
call two witnesses to prove that the dirty
coward swore in their presence that 1
never struck him, what then?"
The Squire laughed and Reese told
the story. Of course there was nothing
done about it, for public opinion which
on the frontier has great influence on
the decisions of justice, was overwhelm-
ingly with Reese.
Old Reese is very polite man and es-
pecially courteous to ladies'. So was
John Wesley Hardin. A friend of mine,
now living at the capital of the
state, is sometimes spoken of. as the boss
bad man of Texas. He is one of the
most cordial and entertaining fellows 1
ever met and has thousands Of devoted
friends. He has been in several unfor-
tunate difficulties, but they were none
OF them of his seeking: lie has killed
several men, but always i'll self defense
had fred the 6rst shot shot.
Recently he killed a notorious char
acter at San Antonio. The man was
bully and had threatened my friends
life repeatedly. He was the proprietor
Off low vaudeville and was shot down
in the doorway of lis dive. A jury of
twelve leading citizens pronounced the
killing justiiable. Then the late pris-
oner returned to Austin he was met at
the depot by large concourse of cit
liens, headed by brass band. They
took the horses out of the carriage in
waiting for him and dragged it through
the streets as testimony of their ad-
mlration for the occupant. have been
in company with this man many times
and l never knew him to offer insult or
atfront, and many times he has allowed
insults to himself to pass by unnoticed
rather than provoke quarrel. Not all
of the bad men are OF this character.
Some are great boosters and continually
parade their bloody deeds. I met fell
low once who had killed twenty-seven
men. was in his company less than
one hour. During that time he boosted
of the number Of his victims no less
than twenty times. Yet he was
brave man, and on more
than one occasion had taken desperate
risks. He was shortly afterwards hung
by vigilance committee. When the
rope was placed about his neck all his
valor seemed to leave him. He begged
piteously for mercy and continued cry
ing for mis- life until the Tightening Of the
rope shut off his wind. once witnessed
the legal execution of "a most brutal and
cowardly monster. He assembled the
gallows with q firm step, bowed
monchalantly to the crowd in front of
the platform, called several acquaint-
ances by name, babe everybody good
bye in firm voice and gave the signal
for the trap to fall.
Several years agoI met one of the
most desperate men the west ever pro-
duced. 1t was in a post traders saloon.
The bad man 8 sometimes rival, now
his friend and henchman, Was of the
party. admired magnificent breast
pin which the bad man wore. The de-
sign was spar, and it was heavily set
with diamonds of the finest water.
Yes" said the bad man, ''it's fine
pin. JIM" meaning the lesser bad man,
gave it to me-. Do you know what
ior?"
replied in the negative.
''Well," said he, ''Jim's bad man
one of the worst you ever saw-and he
gave me this pin because am q worse
man than he is."
The first time saw colorado Char
lie" wild Bills" old partner was in
casino at Ell Paso. A drunken admirer
of his called my attention to him. He
and his curly, yellow hair fell far down
on his shoulders.
"D'ye see that feller?" said the
drunken man, pointing toward Charlie,
who was at the bar drinking with q
friend.
ooh, YER" said, ri see him."
Notice his long ha'r?" ~.
eyes," ..
can that big hat?" ....... Il
eyes" .y-, .
know what they mean?'
Cant say that do"
"Wall! That big hat means Cheat