The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-09-12
SHOT TO DEATH.
AN EXCITING SKETCH OF FRONTIER
TEXAS FIGHTS.
It Was When Pistols We're Fashionable
And Human Life Was Cheap Among
Tho no,porodoo of +bo Wac+

GA man will be murdered during
the next half hour
We were seated in the San Antonio
club room, peacefully smoking our
cigars, when an excited young man
rushed in and destroyed our serenity
with the above startling declaration.
Moved by one impulse, every man
sprang to his feet, determined to be a
witness of the promised tragedy. Be-
fore the door was reached moments
deliberation showed us the folly of our
eagerness. A second impulse brought
us to halt, and with one voice we
demanded an explanation.
Our informant quickly told US that
Ben Thompson, of Austin, was in
town. He had come for the purpose
of killing Jack Harris. the keeper of
notorious dive on the main piazza,
and if we wanted to see the fight we
had better hurry. As we struggled
through the crowd on the streets he
gave us some more particulars. Ben
Thompson was the hard case of Aus
tin He had killed some thirteen
men in as many fights, and was gener-
ally looked on with terror. He had,
however, some good qualities. He
was generous to a degree. The word
fear had no place in his vocabulary,
and he had never been known to at
tack a man unaware..
Jack Harris was a man Of the low
est possible character. No one could
be found to say good word for him
except his bar keeper, Billy Simms.
He kept theatre, bar-room and Il
gambling hall in one, witch was an
open, flaring disgrace to San Antonio.
You entered the theatre through the
bar-room, and the gambling depart
ment could be reached from either
place. Harris also had record of
killed and wounded, but he had al
ways brought his man down in a
sneaking, coward,y way
A feeling of Jealousy had sprung
up b. tween the two men, and when
that afternoon some one in Austin
told Thompson he was afraid of Har
ris, he Immediately declared his inten
ton of visiting San Antonio for the
purpose of removing Harris from the
world. He went home, cleaned and
loaded his pistol. hurried to the depot
and caught the afternoon train to San
Antonio. The news of his intentions
had been te.egraphed ahead. and when
he arrived there was quite crowd at
the depot to meet him. Leisurely and
quietly he made his way to the street,
and then t ok direct course for
Harris's theatre.
When he reached the place the
electric lights had just been turned on
and the brilliant glare dazzIed him
for second. Billy S,mms was be-
hind the bar, but Harris was nowhere
in sight. Standing few PAGES from
the screen which was placed in front
Of the door Thompson asked for
Harris. When he was tod the man
he was looking for was on the street
Thompson left message saying that
he had Come to kill Harris, and he
had better be prepared, as he would
| be back in half an hour to execute his
intentions.
As we turned into the main plaza
we saw dozen men collected about
the door Of the theatre. They were
all talking earnestly, but no one
showed the slightest desire t., pass the
| big screen which hid the interior oi
the place from the street. Suddenly q
whisper of there he comes" arose
and then the tall form of Ben Thomp
son came lounging down the street
He seemed perfectly unconcerned
and except that he carried his righl
hand in the pocket of the loose coat hs
wore there was nothing unusual in hii
appearance. He quietly pushed hi.
way through the knot of men at the
door, and turned to pass round the
screen. AS he did SO, however, hi
stopped short He looked at the wal
in front of him. Then his eyes fell t
the bottom of the screen. Slowly ht
drew his right hand from his pocket
and as he did so the electric light
shone on the barrel of n heavy nickel
plated pistol. He glanced once more
at the side wall Of the bar room, thel
raised the pistol to the level of a MANI
breast, placed it against the screel
and fred.
/ One wild shrek rose from the in
terror of the bar room. The biz
screen swayed for moment and then
fell with crash outward, revealin,
the interior Of the place. Behind tn,
bar stood Siinms, pale and horrifed
and on the fpor half lying ON th'
screen he had overturned, was th'
body of a man still grasping rife il
his hands; with dying effort the fig
ure rolled over ON its hack and til,
distorted face of Jack Harris was re
vealed.
Thompson stood for few minute
looking down at the body Of his deat
enemy. Then he made his wa,
through the gathering crowd aud dis
appeared IN the direction of the sta
tion-house. A few people f,llowes
him and saw him give himself up
saying that he had killed u man il
self defense and was willing to stan,
his trial
The affair proved = nine days won
der, and then the matter MAS appar
emily forgotten by every body excep
| Simins. He swure he would have r.
venge, and il the court failed to con
Wet he openly asserted that he wo,,l
act executioner and kill Tholnl,so