Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-07-16
SUNDAY MORNING DUEL.
A Fight to the Death The --latest
Bloody Tragedy Enacted Up 10
Kaufman County,
One Of the Principals Falls Pierced by
Several Bullets, While the Other
Escapes Unhurt,
An INSULT TO WOMAN AVENGED.

AN INSULT TO WOMAN AVENGED.
Correspondence OF the Gazette.
KEMP, TEX, July IL "A most hor-
rible tragedy occurred one mile south
OF our town this morning at o'clock,
resulting In the death OF James Pryor
by the baud of Joe Holt, Esq, Coro.
nor Bryant Immediately summoned q
jury OF inquest and repaired to the
scene. The evidence as given to the
Jury by the witnesses was that bad
feelings existed for sometime past be-
tween Joe Holt and lin Pryor. Ga
Thursday last Pryor went TO Hollis
house and abused Hollis wife, In his
absence. Holt came in from his field
and learning from his wife what had
taken place, he came TO town and
swore out writ for Pryer's arrest.
Pryor in the meantime had gone to
Trinity river fishing and remained
until Saturday evening.
On his return the constable, w. q
Johnson, arrested him. He gave bail
sometime during the evening. On re-
turning home Saturday night, Pryor
stopped at a neighbours house and in
formed him that Holt had been talk
ing very Unexpectedly about a
member Of his family. Early
Sunday this neighbor went
TO Hollis house and inquired
what he had been telling Pryor about
, :, rnemuer OF his family. Holt denied
ever mentioning any such talk to
Pryor, and denounced the who thing
as an infamous lie, and that he would
meet Pryor anywhere except at Pry
-. l. I.
The neighbor then went down a
lane half mile from Hollis to Pry.
er's house, and told him OF Hollis de.
NAL and that he was ready TO meet
him and settle IL. Pryor Immediately
took his Winchester and walked down
the lane half way to Hollis house and
there he met Holt. Walking up
within twenty-five yards, Pryor re-
marked that Holt need not deny say
ing what was stated, and that he could
not get out of this lie. At once Holt
raised his gun, shooting Pryer's gun
| from his hand rs he fired, and partly
knocking Pryor to the ground. Holt
then fired three more shots in rapid
succession, hitting Pryor each time
Pryor walked ten steps and fell dead
| in the corner of the fence. There
were four men present besides Holt
and Pryor. The above is the testi.
mony as given to the jury of inquest
Holt is still ut large. He left his
home Immediately after the killing.
His friends state that he will surren-
| der soon. Holt is mau thirty.five
years old, and bears good reputation
For honesty.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
| lorrespOnueuCp of tho Gazette.
KAUFMAN, TEX, July Is quite
an excl cement " asIcreated in the town
OF Kemp, twelve miles south OF here,
yesterday, duel being fought by two
men named Holt and Pryor, both OF
whom have families, in which Pryor
was Instantly killed. 1t seems that
Pryor became intoxicated and went Il
Hollis residence in his absence and
cursed and otherwise abused Holt,
wife. Holt returned home and met
Pryor in a saloon in Kemp Saturday
evening. They quarreled and finally
agreed to meet n short distance from
town the next morning ana settle the
matter.
They were both prompt the mex
morning, and at sunrise were at tn,
appointed spot with seconds and guns
Holt got in his work frat. He fired q
shotgun, the contents of which tool
effect in Pryei's hat, filling 1t full o
holes, and in his hand, causing him t.
drop his gun. Four more shots wer,
fired in rapid succession, three o
which took effect in Pryer's abdomen
aud the other one in his thigh, cuttinl
the femoral artery. Pryor expired in
stantly. Holt was not hurt. He wen
to town and got drink, and thel
I A. l.. a. - q a.