The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-30
A FRISCO TRAGEDY RECALLED.
How lin Dob-on. the Terror Came Near
fgyine with Ills Boots On.

How lin nobsOn, the lcffof' 'an'' wear
iying with Ills Boots On.
"This il tie man who killed jim D0bson,
said my friend, as we crossed Twenty third
street az the junction Of Broadway and flitl
avenue the other afternoon.
This recalled the life and death Of one Of
the worst men that ever set foot on the IA
cidc coast
Every town in California, Nevada and
Colorado. especially in their early days, has
had its terror. Jim Dobson was for many
years the terror Of San Francisco. He
was a hydra headed terror" too. Nher
ever there were races, fairs, billiard matches
prize Fights or excitement Of any kind, jim
Dobson was there He bad killed several
men and attempted 10 kill many more. lie
never paid for anything, and was generally
well supplied with funds, although he never
/ ala a stroke II work. Honest men Stunned
! him, aud many Of those who knew him feared
/ him. His associates were Of the lowest OF
/ both sexes
/ In one Of his shooting scrapes, curing q
debauch some twenty years ago. his aim was
| 30 Inaccurate that no ompticd the seven
/ chambers Of his revolver in trying 20 kill MS
adversary, without hitting him. Throwing
his revolver on the floor he exclaimed:
"Hore, you ----, you shoot. III
/ be - If can"
When Rudolph went 20 San Francisco.
about nineteen years ago, 10 play John Deery
/ for the billiard championship Of America.
an audience Of nearly 1900 persons gathered
in the Mechanics pavilion 10 witness the
game. OF course D0bson was there. He had
bet heavily on Deery. When it became ap
parent that Rudolph would winnie having
but 10 to GO with the balls IN hand, T.
7 Decry's lC3-Dobson stepped up to the table
just as Rudolph was about 10 shoot, and,
grabbing ono Of the object halls, threw it at
random among the audience Some one
caught ton the nose. Although Deery was
tho iayorite tho audience wanted fair play
Cries Of "Put him outr proceeded from al
parts Of tho hall. Turning to the audience.
Dobson said:
"There amt q --- here who can
put me ont. II any one attempts 10 I'll pui
daylight through him.
No one attempted it. Tho ball was brought
back and placed on tho table, and Rudolph
ran tie game out.
These are only two instances OF many Of O
similar nature, but they will suffice 10 .ndi
cate the mans desperate disposition. 10 wa
about year later that lie met bis death
very unexpectedly, too for his slayer was
quiet, in0Gcnsiyc amateur blihardist Of some
repute. They had met 40 a fancy ball abou
a week previously. D0Jsol, who had beer
"buclng the tiger" that night with indifTcr
ent success, asked for loan OK $50, which
fan told the man who had dared refusc
% comply with bis wishes that he had better
keep out OF bis way ia tho future, as he
would ki.l him Oh sight
sob, guess Frisco is large enough % hold
as both, was tho calm reply.
On tho following Saturday tho two mer
met Oh Montgomery street, near Market
Dobsou stepped up to tho other man ano
sjaculated
II thought told you to keep out Of m!
say. Now I'm going TO kill your Aud hf
ma.le motion as if 70 draw bis pistol
"You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man
would your inquired the billardist, calmly
"Well, il you amt heeled you 60 and hee
yourself, YOU -- --; for tho next time
meet you I'll shoot you anyhow"
The billiardist, knowing tho desperate
character Of the man whose enmity be hac
incurred, procured q pistol forthwith. Id
then went % the Occidental hotel and playeC
q few games Of billiards On going out b.
saw Dobson half a block distant coming
toward him. Thinking he had been seen, D,
knew it would be useless 20 retreat, so be
awaited Dobsons coming in the hotel ves.i
bule When the latter had got within a few
feet Of him the billiardist stepped out anC
fired two bullets in quick succession into
Dobson's body before tho latter had time tC
cock his revolver pobson dropped on the
sidewalk, eZclaiming:
81 never thought you'd do thisn
DWELL" said the Other, 81 thought you
would. and 50 I made up my mind TO gel
ahead Of you II could"
Dobson was then carried into a drug store
across tho street.
"Pull my boots or, be said family to the
bystanders, and as soon as this was done be
expired
lie had often been told that ho would 'die
with his boots on" as is generally tho case
with dosperadoos Of his ilk in the west, bu.
even IN this he cheated public opinion.
Tho man who thus rid the community Of
Jim Dobsous obnoxious presence was not
only promptly acquitted, but even made
hero Of by many and complimented by some
Of the daily papers. /, who had seen Dobson
on a Calistoga train compel tho conductor 10
give him change for $50, when be had given
him only $40 for his fare, always looked upon
the killing as an act Of self defense aud upon
the billiardis5 as brave man.-New York
Herald.
Mrs Jones with unopenel: letter. -
wonder who it's FRONT
Mr.. Jones-You can quickly find out by
opening it.
Mrs Jones-Yes, but l am enjoying the
anxiety Of suspense New York World.