The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-07
ADAY OF EXCITEMENT.
Beginning IN the Morning and End
ing at Night.

liS Ut NlS Mt
Ben Thompson makes the States
man Onice the Scene of His
Little PIeasantries
Yeste day THE STATESMAN con.
tanned Il short local paragraph in re-
gard to Mr.. Thompson's assault upon
w. a. Bowen, the Austin correspon-
dent of the San Antonio Express. 1t
was stated in that article that Thomp-
son made use of language on
the occasion that ought not TO be toll
Grated in the presence of ladies. This
is the part that he said last night he
took exceptions TO. The report WAS
written upon the information given
by persons who claimed to be present
on the occasion, and who also claimed
to have heard his words. After the
paper had gone to press yesterday
morning and while the mailing clerk
was at work. Policeman Brown
came into the composing room
and got a paper. In a short
time after Ben Thompson came into
the editorial rooms of this paper, per-
haps between and 6 o'clock, and
found no one there but Rush Debar-
lehan, one of the employees in the
financial department of THE STATES
MAN. He is young man about
eighteen years of age. At the time
he was sitting behind the office desk,
which is surrounded by wire screen
He did not notice Thompson as he en-
tered, as he was busy ut work at the
desk. The first he noticed was some
- rolr ~ irA N front nj
him, and on looking up he says he
yaw Thompson standing in front Of
him with revolver in his hand, the
muZzle pointed towards him. As he
looked up Thompson demanded to
know who wrote the article which
appeared in the morning paper. MIR.
Debarlehan told him he had nothing
to do with that bran h of the STATES
MAN and that he kn"w nothing about
the article. He Ga ) Thompson then,
in most rP' il 6 l9ge, informed
him that lac W Il Ii Il i'i response
BILE unless h to!t Il III WHO the author
was. D3baIlehan hen epljed he did
not know, but he supposed it was Mr..
Wing, the city ;ditor. Thompson
said he would go mp stairs to the COM
posing room All fiud out. During
this time Deb irlehs,n ,ayS he held the
revolver p in e at him. Mr.. Thomp-
son claims that he at first pointed it
at him but immediately removed it.
Thompson apparel in the composing
room. At the tine all the force had
gone except the mailing force, in
charge of the chief mailing clerk, Mr..
Scott. He came up to where Mr..
Scott was and asked a sim
lar question. Mr. Scott says
to the one asked in the editorial
room, and Mr.. Scott replied that he
did not know who wrote the article.
Mr. Scott says that Thompson got eX-
cited and began to move lamp, and
he. fearing he would upset it, said to
him, Don't do that, please you will
set the whole place on fire." Mr..
Scott says Thompson then drew his
revolver and said he would know
who wrote that article and also that
he would go to the editorial room
below and murder the whole editorial
force, or words to that effect. This
part of the transaction Mr.. Thompson
denies. He admits he drew his pistol,
but disclaims that he made such
threats, as the force upstairs all say
he did, In effect as we have stated.
Mr.. Scott and the others upstairs
Say that he took a couple of galleys of
type, containing the names of subscri-
bers, and dashed them to the floor of
course making pi of the type.
Thompson claims this was done by
accident. BE this as it may, the en-
tire force IN the composing room,
present at the time Mr.. Thompson en-
tered, left in dismay, and Thompson
then walked out. OF course when it
became known to the manager of this
paper and the city editor what had
occurred, they were indignant at what
had been reported to them, and at once
filed criminal complaints against
Thompson for his threats and the
breaches of the peace said to have
been committed. These were filed be-
fore Justice Won Rosenberg, the re-
corder and county court, who at once
issued warrants on seven different
charges against him. In the Justices
court room Mr.. Thompson made,
what Justice Won Rosenberg deemed,
demonstrations and the JUS
tice fined him twice for contempt of
court, $25 each time. He gave bonds
in the sum of 800 on each of said
kSSs III LID u6AU NIOu-
day, and was released from custody. |
During the day many parties came to
the manager Of THE STATESMAN and |
the city editor and informed them |
that Mr.. Thompson was making |
serious threats in regard to them, and |
these parties likewise circulated these |
reports about the city, and before |
night the city was in state of excite
ment such us Austin has perhaps !
seldom known. The day went by, |
and from statements made 10y Thomp- |
son last night, it appears that certain
parties went to him and made state
ments calculated TO bring about more
serious trouble than that of the morn
ing. About seven o'clock last night,
Mr.. Cardwell and Mr.. Wing, of The
staff, were sitting in the
editorial room, and Mr.. Thompson
again entered. He spoke to both of
-he gentlemen, and turning to MIR.
Wing. asked why he had filed the in
against him, saying he had
lot made the threats the charge con-
aimed. Mr.. Wing replied he had done
10 because he had been informed they
we're true. Mr.. Thompson thereupon
lenied that he had made any threats
against Mr.. Wing of that nature.
lie then stated that he had ?
jeen told by Governor Ireland's law
PARTNER while taking supper with him
hat THE STATESMAN force were pre-
,aring to shoot him down in the street
md adviced him to prepare himself
or such an attack. Mr.. Cardwell then
)egan to talk about the statement he
lad made In regard to the governors
aw partner and Mr.. Thompson SAID:
j will not say the governors law
partner. | will take that back, l
lave no right to say that" Mr..
Jardwell said mo, Thompson,
AXE nothing back" to which Thomp-
ON said, Eyes, will. don't saw it
vas the governors Law partner" In
he course of the conversation he said
le had acted upon this advice, and
lad bought ten Winchester rifles and
lad employed ten men to use them.
having paid them 500 each, and that
hey were in waiting to obey his call.
lie said he had fully prepared
himself and was ready that
The STATESMAN force. could shoot
lim down but these men would
Ivenge him. Mr.. Wing then said to
lin, $50 FAR as L am concerned Mr..
Thompson, never carried pistol in
ny life, do not now and shall not in
he future. expect to do my edito-
ial work faithfully and feaIlessly and
AVE no fears of the consequence. L
want you to distinctly understand
hat il you kill me J on do it not under
he pretext that you are doing it in