San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-02-07
Ben ThOmpsOn-Diflculties at the States
man Office and Elsewhere.
Especial to the News

AUSTIN, February 2.-Ben Thompson hal
been on the rampage since last night. Hi
exploit in getting away with Mr.. Bowen was
reported in The News this morning. After
ward he cursed Mr.. Mcintyre, proprietor Of
the Southern hotel because woman Of
questionable character. who was in Thonp
sons company, was denied accommodation
ut the hotel. f
This mornings Statesman gave an account
of the assault on Bowen and made some Sc.
we're structures on the police for permitting
Thompson's escapades. About s o'clock in
| the morning Thompson entered the bust
ness Office of the Statesman Furnishing q
pistol and demanded of young man who
the author was. The young fellow said he
did not know, whereupon Thompson -four
ished the pistol suspiciously and the youth
beat hasty retreat. Thompson then went
up stairs to the composing room, pied two
galleys of type and forced three or four
compositors who were in the room to beat
hasty and undignifed retreat. He then
smashed lamp and left.
Mr.. Gaines, proprietor of the Statesman,
entered complaint against him in the JUS
tees Court, one in the Recorders Court
and one in the County Cont, for different
offences. During the day he was arrested
and arraigned in the Recorders Court
While there he larruped man named Wes-
sells with chair, twice, and for each offense
was fined $25 for contempt of court. He
was finally bailed out, and will receive
trial on Monday.
This evening about 8 O'Clock he again
called OF the Statesman office and made some
loud talk His appearance at the office
created intense excitement, and the street
in front of the Office as well as the counting
room was crowded with people. Thompson
served notice on Mr.. Gaines that he would
hold him personally responsible for any fur
Their publications concerning him in his pa
per. Gaines said that he (Thompson) would
be treated the same as any other man, and
that when he created news it would be PUB
lished and commented upon as its merits |
deserved Gaines said that no wanted no |
personal difficulty with him; that he looked |
to the State of Texas for protection, and as
IN evidence of this, mentioned the fact that |
some of the best men in town said they
would raise fifty men for him in IN hour.
This excited Thompson. and he said that he
could raise thousand men in half ON hour.
He said that he was informed that the States
man folks means to kill him and that he was
to meet them.
A News correspondent was present du-
ring this conversation. Thompson contin-
ned his talk and said; 81 supped with no
ess person than the governors law part
ler, and be warned me that the Statesman
'rowd had said they would murder me, I
It once went and secured ten Winchester
-iflee and have thpm nov in the handa NJ |
EN- men out there ready to avenge me, were
shot down"
This remark was addressed 10 Mr.. Gaines
md Col. CardEell and was heard by at
east twenty gentlemen Col Caldwell,
Istonished a; this phase Of the question,
'sked him again IL he was sure that the gov
rnor's Law partner said that. He reitera-
ed. but afterwari, recollecting himself. said
hat he bad gone too far and would take Il
'ack- He nA1s the statement however.
nd i Is q matter of much comment to-
tight In order b be sure Of the language,
he News correspondent requested Col,
lariueli 20 Sri-s i, and the portion IN quo
alton MARKS "a IN that gsniiensu's hand
iritinE- Il u g1i,s.nnfiatsi By several listen
-. e. vel IS TIE writer % this. o. course
-homTlson ray have ursuufaetzred ths
.aie-nsuf ont q si,ols cloth. bui On &C.
Jz-f - tbf -urtars b---ef1 IL Statesman
II ;hs governs, TIE isci5e1t j. unplaas-
utly c1s1ulE1.iei On
L = r--u1roi thsf Th11urs5- j. r-s-kinrl
ssT5ly to-ririf md further tr1utls is n
s-1sd- Ahust frs1ty r1sll sd 9 nzrt.sr
Z F,a-lcs,-l,f1 are s-Eiiu1s1 u sd Erorrz
b. Sta.1r-ls- cfsss- TllO.ps--'s counts
IN ~ a,azuty sbs-if .rEs eEooslsi to-5Ey.