The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-05-31
TWO KILLED.
Dreadful Tragedy at Laredo--Lee
Hope Slam and Juan Rosales
Mortally Shot.
Origin Of the Quarrel About the
Payment of Drinks IN
a Saloon.
s.ecial Telegram to the Statesman.

LAREDO, May 28.-About 10 O'Clock to-
day, parties in the neighborhoOd of Mar
ket plaza were startled by the rapid ex.
change OF shots, and the smoke which
poured out of the open door of the Grand
Central saloon, located in the building, as
the place where the shots occurred. A
reporter was on the scene, and at once
managed to work throu IN the crowd, which
blocked the street on both sides Of the
house and secured admittance upon the
floor in front of the bar. Lee Hope, of
Fort Ewell, LaSalle county, lay stretched
at full length dead. A crimson stain on
his white shirt Just over the region of the
heart showed where the fatal missile of
death had entered. In the adjoiaing
room the barkeeper Of the house, Juan
Rosales, lay in mortal agony with
a crowd around him and physi-
clans ministering to his wants
He had been shot in the bowels, the ball
entering in front and coming out of his
back, and also shot in the left shoulder,
which was shattered in horrible manner.
A cot was passed and the wounded man
was conveyed to the house of his brother
Benito Rosale3. where he DOW lies at the
point of death, and is MT expected
to live until tomorrow. Thu
body of Lee Hope, deceased,
was taken CHI arge of by Colonel Tower,
undertaken, and placed in a refrigerator,
and will probably be expressed to LaSalle
county for burial. His wife was tele-
graphed for, but cannot possibly arrive
in the city before tomorrow night,
The evidence at the coroler's inquest
ELECTED the fact that Hope and three
Mexicans had been drinking at the bar,
when the Nexioans who had invited Hope
to drink, walked out before he had
finished his lemonade and Ros lies
demanded payment of Hope,
cursing him and calling him hard names.
Hope told him he would whip him ii he
had two whole arms. Hope was carrying
his left arm in a sling at the time, having
had it broken few days ago by being
thrown from horse.
Rosales again cursed him, and taking
pistol down from the rear of the bar re-
piled that he could not do it and laid
the pistol down in front of him
under the bar. Hope went out and re-
turned with something in his hand
Standing in the north door both parties
INDUCED in hard words, the barkeeper
having pistol in his hand. Hope again
went off but shortly returned and entered
the saloon, when the firing began.
Another witness testified as follows:
81 heard the shots in the Grand Central
saloon; ran in and saw Lee Hope lying
on the floor in front Of the bar with a
pistol in his hand. 1 asked him
if he was killed. He answered yes.
/ asked who did it? He replied,
pointing toward the bar, that man
behind the bar 1 asked Rosales
if he did it. He nodded yes. Asked him
if he was hurt He replied, II am shot
twice." While was speaking he was par
TALLY stopping over and sank down as he
answered the last question. l picked
him up and carried him into an
adjoining room. Some claim Hope fired
first, while others say that the firing was
simultaneously. Hopes weapon was
short 45 Colts six-shooter, single action;
Rosales' pistol, Smith & Wesson, 80
double action pistol. Hopes pistol
shows four empty chambers, while Ro-
sales shows fveOempty chambers.
It is said that Rosalis was under the in
fuence of liquor, but there is no evidence
to that effect, and Hope was sober as he
never drinks Intoxicating liquors. He
was only taking lemonade.