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

killed, and the account they give of
the matter is so at variance with the
story told by the crowd at the dive
itself, that it will be found to be most
interesting reading. Both gentlemen
are from the north. and are travelling
men, one representing a wholesale IL
quor house in Kentucky and the other
a wholesale tobacco house in Chicago.
They appear like very candid truthful
men, and the story they give cores
ponds so closely with the post mortem
examination that there can be no
doubt but it is a correct statement OF
the tragedy. They gave tt cir names
as Alex. L. Raymond and John r.
Sublett.
THESE GENTLEMEN SAY
they happened to be in San Antonio |
the night of the tragedy. They stayed |
with an old acquaintance and he in |
sisted on showing them some OF the |
sights of the Alamo city. They
went to hear Ada Gray and then Their |
friend proposed they take in the yarl-
ETY. theatre and in this manner they
happened to be at the den of infamy.
1t was between eleven and twelve
o'clock when they reached this den of
sin. They were in the bar room when
Thompson and Fisher came in and
their friend informed them that the
gentlemen who just entered was the
NOTORIOUS BEN THOMPSON.
1t was the first time they had ever
seen him and of course their curiosity
was aroused. Their friend then in
formed them that he had killed a man
in this very theatre, Jack Harris,
and that the present manager had been
the partner of the man killed
by Thompson, and their friend re-
marked it was strange Thompson
should come to the place. Neither
Thompson nor Fisher were drunk.
They talked in an ordinary conversa-
tional tone of voice, and both ap-
peared to be in the most pleasant hui
NOR. Soon a man came into the bar
room, whom their friend told them
was Simms, and he walked up to
Thompson and said, Hello, Ben !;
glad to see YOU" Ben then intro
duced him to Mr.. Fisher, and Fisher
and Simms shook hands. just then
the officer, Coy, came into the bar
room, and he shook hands with both
the murdered men. Simms then said
to Thompson: ben. L am awful
glad to see you here. Let US forget
the past, and be friends in the future"
Thompson replied: 81 desire to be
friends, and 1 have come here with my
friend Fisher to tIlk the matter over,
and have a perfect understanding. l
have perfect right to do that, have l
notw
SIMMS SAID:
eyes, Ben, that is right, and 1 know
we can all be friends" Ben then said:
=" have nothing against you or Foster.
L am not afraid of you. [ am here
surrouned by my friends, but l want
to be friends with you, and l have
come here to talk this over" Simms
replied: "That is all right; come up
stairs and see FOSTER and after taking
drink Thompson and Fisher went up
stairs to the theatre-neither the po-
Iiceman nor Simms went up with
them. Raymond and Sublett, with their
friend, followed them and took d seat
short distance from them. In a
short time they were joined by Simms
and Coy, who sat by the side OF
Thompson and Fisher, and some
pleasant conversation passed. Soon
! a girl came along and Thompson Or
dered drinks. After they had drunk
he leased the girl about paying for
them, but finally pulled out very
large Toll VI DlllS, Sdy luS L udfO 1OOo
of money. have $4,000
IN THAT ROLL"
and he paid che girl for the drinks.
After this he turned to Simms,
SAYING, 81 thought you brought me up
here to see Foster, Billy, don't you
play any games on me. 1 did not
come here for any fuss and 1 don't
want any, but you must treat me
fair" Simms replied: 81 am, Ben; it's
just as [ told you, and will go and
tell Foster you want to have friend
. " talk with him." Yes, go and get
him." Fisher, said. 81 want to make
you fellows good friends before I
leave. 1 have invited Thompson
here; he did not want to come. but
you are all friends of mine, and L
WANT YOU TO BE FRIENDS.
1 told him to come and talk
the matter over like gentlemen
together, and bury the past;
Thompson is willing to do it, and l
want Foster to do meet him half
way" Simms said "all right, will go
and get him." He went into box
and came out with Foster and they
came down to where Thomp-
son and Fisher were. AS
they came up, Thompson, with
out rising, extended his hand to For
ter and as he did so Fisher said, 81
want you and Thompson, to be
friends. You are both friends to me
and want you to shake hands like
gentlemen" Foster said Il cannot
shake hands with Ben Thompson. nor
can he and 1 be friends, and | want
him to keep out OF my way
AS HE SAID THAT
both Sims and Coy stepped to one
side, at least two feet from where
Thompson land Fisher were sitting,
and Foster was about as far on the
other side of them. Thompson and
Fisher sprang up, neither had re-
volver in his hand, and before they
got to their feet a volleY that sounded
as though there were a dozen car
bines was fired from a box a little to
doomed men, and both went down
instantly. Neither Thompson nor
Fisher drew their pistols, nor did they
have time to do so. Any statement to
the contrary is without the slightest
right side and just as soon as the
volley was fired from the box one of
| the tWo-either Simms or Coy rushed
/ uI0W 1OfO1fCl dIu
bent over, putting the muzzle close to
his ear and fired. He then fired two
other shots into his head and body
and the other man shot Fisher in a
| similar manner. Foster
TRIED TO DRAW HIS
revolver, but it caught and he gave it
an angry jirk bringing it out, but the
| jirk discharged 1t and the ball struck
him in the leg and he fell. The crowd
then gathered around the dead men.
at is monstrous," said Mr.. Raymond,
"the evidence those fellows gave
at San Antonio, and the whole town
seems to be in mortal fear of the
tough crowd who have their head
CHARTERS at that den of infamy, the
Vaudeville. Thompson, no doubt,
was bad man, but that crowd who
murdered him ought to be hanged, for
it was the coolest blooded murder ever
committed"
THESE GENTLEMEN
were asked to give the name of the
friend at San Antonio who was with |
them, but this they refused to do, be- |
cause they had promised him they |
would not disclose his identity, as he |
was afraid if these men knew he |
might be used as a witness against |
them they would kill him; and |
he did not want to be mixed up III it |
at all. He did not want it known