Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-08-14
WINSTON n. C., THURSDAY AUGUST "a, 1884,
A TAR HEEL DESPERATE.
Turns up in Virginia Town---How lac
Outwitted an Officer and Made
Tracks for Texas.
From the Charlotte O5scrucr.

III Itie year ACt y young lHau Hd1H-
ed j. c. Fulton, of Stokes county, was
shot and killed by man named Geo.
Hairston, who afterwards fed the
State. A reward Of S40O was offered
for the murderer and is yet offered.
Hairston went to Texas, but after
wards moved to Appomattox, Va,
with his wife, who had followed him
faithfully. Last week it became
known that Hairston was at Apo
mattox, Va, and an effort was made
to capture him. Captain James M.
Irwin, chief of police of Lynchburg,
and brother to Sergeant Irwin, of
Charlotte, was the hero of the advent
ure, which was a thrilling one. In
response to telegram from a subor-
dlnate, Capt. Irwin took the train for
Appomattox, and on arriving there
was met by Sayers, the subordinate.
What followed is described in the
Lynchburg Ne,os: "When Irwin step
ped from the train he was met by
Sayers with the remark: There sits
your man on the depot platform :;
whatever you do must be done quick
ly'-and slowly raising his eyes with
apparent unconcerp, he encountered
the sharp, piercing survey of a dark,
brawny man, who sat on the steps of
the station platform. Savers had told
Irwin that he must be quick but
that was decidedly indefinite Irwin
was lett to imagine whether Hairston
would run or fight. However, they
had no time to parlcy, as the man sat
only some eight feet from where they
stood, SO Irwin walked with Savers
and was introduced, and after a few
words on the subject of fish frv,
Hairston, who had risen to his feet on
the approach of Irwin, suggested to
friend (Hughes by name) that they
had better go home. He shook hands
with Sayers, promising to meet him
Monday for the frolic, and then ex-
tended the tips of his fingers to Irwin.
1t was the quickly formed purpose of
the latter to grasp Hairston's hand
and jerk him to the ground, but the
instant he attempted to shove his
hand forward, Hairston stepped back,
and as quick as thought, had him COW
cred with revolver, exclaiming at
the same moment: Stand back! D-n
you, L know your game
Matt Irwin is a brave man nobody
ever had cause to question his cour-
age-and on this occasion he behaved
:II. -l----t--:-t.- n, !
ing great astonishment, he demanded
an explanation from Hairston, and
despite the latter's warning, advanc-
ed on him and backed him from the
platform. Hairston kept him cover
ed, however, until at a safe distance,
when he leaped on his horse and cir
cled around the depot in regular ran
ger fashion Meantime Sayers and
Hughes remained passive lockers on,
the former pretending surprise and the
latter genuinely astonished. Finally
Hughes called out to Hairston that
he had made mistake, and seeming
ly, this reassured him; but he requir-
ed Irwin to come out to where he sat
on his horse to receive an apology.
Subsequently Hairston invited the
party to drink with him, but he took
care never to give Irwin any advant-
age of position, and in the saloon took
his drink at some distance. While
the party were drinking, young
doctor called Hairston out, and that
was the last seen of him by the officers
Hairston, while he sat on his horse
and talked with Irwin, held steady
hand on his pistol, and frankly toId
the officer that he had fully determin
ed never to be taken alive, adding
significantly, and if taken at all, ii
will require two men to do it. In re
lating the attempt to capture him some
days afterwards, Hairston is said t.
have expressed admiration for Cap
tain Irwin's courage
The latest report is that HairstoI
has gone back to Texas.