The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-20
THE VERDICT.
Ben Thompson.

I
by whom the fatal shots were fired Il
not known. However much the VIC
| lent taking of mans life by fellow
man is to be deplored, there are those
who will shed but few tears over the
| dead bodies of the men who now liz
dead in their coffins at the city
iail. From all the facts and cir
cumstances, it does look as though
Ben Thomson came here to make
trouble. and he succeeded, but it ter
minated in a way he did net expect
He, with Fisher and others, boarded
the four O'clock train at Austin yes
terday afternoon, and reached San
Antonio at eight o'clock. They had
both been on TT Nv terms for
some time, but hau na friends, and
were coming over Nntonlo to
take in the city. Lo.n re repre-
scented as being intoxicated when they
boarded the train, and are reported
here to have been terror to the pas
sengers on the way. The first act
they did on the train was to take
bottle of whisky from a German. They
next ordered a porter TODD something,
and he, not obeying speedily enough
to please them, Ben Thompson
struck him over the head with
the bottle CT something which
caused blood to flow freely from the
porter's head. The blood from the
wound stained a fine plug hat which
completed Ben's toilet at the time, in
consequence of which he cut the
crown out, and wore it into town in
that manner. AT Gallagher's saloon,
on their way down, they stopped to
to drink, and Thompson related the
scene with the porter on the train,
and explained how he came to cut the
crown out of his hat. Soon after
going into the city they went around
to Turner's hall. Fisher went in first
and was given seat in front on
the left side of the hall. His
pistol was displayed very conspicuosly,
and he attracted considerable atten-
ton. Directly after Fisher took his
seat, Thompson passed himself into
the hall after paying, and took a
seat by Fisher at about IL o'clock, p.
m, and just before the last scene IN
the play they left the hall and went
around to the Vaudeville theatre. AS
soon as they went in, Thompson is
said to have made some threatening
remark about Joe Foster, against
whom he had an old grudge, because,
Gas alleged), Foster won all his money
and jewelry on one occasion when
gambling. Policeman Jake Coy re
quested Mr.. Thompson to keep quiet.
At this time Foster and Simms came
into the gallery, and Ben Thompson
invited them to drink with him and
Fisher. The drinks were ordered, and
during conversation which ensued
Ben Thompson made more threaten
ing remarks to Foster, and called him
thief. Foster told him to keep quiet.
and said he did not want fuss with
him. Thompson thereupon turned
and said: "Foster, come down stairs"
Foster replied: "There is no need; l
don't wish to have any difficulty with
YOU" In the meantime all parties
had arisen from their seats, and Fos-
ter, Simms and Coy were
standing near the door and Ben
Thompson and Fisher to their
right about four feet apart. Officer
Coy interfered and told them to quiet
down, Then Thompson addressed
Foster, and, applying an opprobrious
epithet, denounced him as thief. AT
the same time that he addressed these
remarks to Foster he struck at him
and made an effort to draw his pistol,
but Coy knocked it down, after which
the firing began. 1t is impossible to
say who fired the fatal bullets. When
the firing commenced no one cared to
stay to see the issue. There was a
rush, and several jumped out
at the windows. 1t is eY-
ident that Fisher was killed
by the first shot, as his pistol was
found with all chambers loaded.
Thompson died shooting. Both he
and Fisher died side by side, and the
floor was flooded with their gore.
Foster was shot through the right leg,
just below the knee, and bled pro-
fusely.
AS soon as the news of the tragedy
was known on the street, there was a
rush for the scene, but the doors were
closed, and the crowd surged in vain,
for none but officers and reporters
could gain admission.
Justice Adams was notified at once,
and, summoning a jury, proceeded to
where the dead men lay to take a view
of the bodies.
Mr.. Emerson, foreman of the jury,
made close search of the bodies for
the wounds, and found that Ben
Thompson was shot once over the left
eve, once in the left temple (Which
must have been done while he was
falling, as the ball took downward
course, and came out under the chin.
He was also shot through the abdo-
men, the ball passing entirely
through, and coming out at the left
hip. There was also another wound
over his left eye, which must have
been made by a spent ball, or by
striking against something, as it Was
only a slight flesh wound.
King Fisher was shot once through
the heart, once through the head just
over his left eye, and through the
right leg few inches above the
knee.
Officer Coy received only a slight
wound in the calf of his right leg.
Carter and Mullaly washed and
dressed the bodies of the dead men,
and carried them over to the Bat
Cave. ALI the morning crowd was
moving TO the police station to get a
view of the bodies of the two men
who lay in their collins, but the door
was closed, and admission was refused.
This ends the lives of two men who
were the boldest and most widely
known characters in the state.
Ben Thompson was born in Not
tingly, England, but came TO Texas
many years ago, and during his career
has had many fatal encounters. He
was about forty years old.
King Fisher was for long time the
terror of western Texas. He was the
open and notorious leader of the
Fisher gang of outlaws, and at the
time of his death was deputy sheriff
of Uvalie county. He was about 80
years of age.
During the war Ben Thompson,
then very young man, distinguished
himself in the confederate cause. He
also served with honor in the army of
the Inflated Macmillan, and through
out his whole life, excepting merely
the time when drink overcome and
blinded his reason, he was noted for
MANY of the noblest impulses and
some of the finest traits of character
He was generous to fault, and there
is scarcely q city in all the state where
some unfortunate wight has not ex'
perienced the timely friendship and lib
erslity of Ben Thompson. He wa:
as brave as a lion, and has never
been known to take an unfair advan,
tage even of an adversary. Through.
out his every act of lawlessness there
was tinge of gallantry, and In all his
! dealings with his associates he was
the very soul of honor. Although hi
was sometimes unrelenting in his ami
mostly, as in the case of known enc
- Il ,,nt l,o olrnnS-rladned To thu