Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-24
DALLAS.
The Scott-Halsell Trouble Results in
Probably Fatal Shooting.
The New Charter Ready for Submission to the
Many Talked OF Robberies
Never Occurred.
CUT AND DRIED.

| suueu mucn tlIuS III the OlScussIou "a suc
proposed amendments to the city char
| ter, but at the meeting held last night
the matter was concluded as far as dis
| cussion goes, and the committee only
have to get the matter in presentable
shape to go before the legislature. The
| city will ask for limits embracing thirty
six square miles; an increase of the
! bonded debt Of 81 500, 600, maximum
| of fourteen wards and twenty sight
| aldermen. If these amendments are OBJ
tanned Oak Cliff with her 5000 population
will be absorbed by Dallas. 1t is more
than probable that this amendment Will
meet with much opposition by the people
| of Oak Cliff and may be defeated. There
| is also much opposition to the enlarge
ment of the city limits, even in Dallas.
NOT MUCH THIEyING.
Too much cannot be said about the
| efficiency of the Dallas police force and
the good work done by 1t. When it is
| taken into consideration the force Is only
| fourteen patrolmen to each twslve-ho hour
watch, and that these twelve men have
| over ten square miles of territory to at
tend to, the great wonder is that there is
not more lawlessness than now exists.
| many cases Of highway robberies that
have said to have been committed in
Dallas daring the past month, but an in
vestigation of the matter leads any fair
minded person to believe that many o
| them had no foundation. Only three
cases of highway robbery have been re-
ported at police headquarters within the
past two months. Two of these were IN
doubtedly true, but the other was I'M
| doubtedly reported for purpose of some
kind. A negro says that ct p. m. on
last Saturday night seven men
met him on the corner of
Griffin and Caruth streets, threw
| a sack over his mead, put him in hack
and drove him to the Commerce street
bridge, beat and robbed him of two
weeks wages. The negro further stated
to the officers that he escaped to his
home. This whole matter is absurd for
the following reasons: The place where
the man says he was sacked is directly
under q large arc electric light and in
one of the most thickly settled portions
of Dallas. Seven men would not under
take thing like this at an early hour in
the evening when many people are al
ways in ths street at this point. The
man had been beat up, but it had prob
also lost his cash.
The police are all right aud those who
have a legitimate attack by robbers
should notify them end the matter will
be thoroughly sifted. Even officers
cannot work up case without clew to
start by and this the parties interested
are in duty bound TO furnish.
ANOTHER SHOOTING.
About $3.50 p. m. Dallas was the scene
of another shooting scrape, in which
Cliff Scott received ball from thirty
eight caIiber Smith s. Wesson revolver,
penetrating near the right thigh, rang
ing inward. Tho readers of THE GA
ZETTE remember the arrest by Scott OF
County Commissioner Halsell for tres
passing on the county courthouse
grounds; also of the arrest of Scott for
assault on Halsell and the penalty of SIS
and costs being inflicted on Scott. These
events led to the shooting to-day. The
shooting was done by V. B. Halsell, a
son of Commissioner Halsell. V. B.
Halsell is resident of Garland, where
he is engaged in merchandising. 1t ap-
pears that he has taken up his fathers
fuss, as to-day he met Scott and asked
him to take drink with him. The men
entered the saloon of Il. H. jenkins, on
tuc CcTHoI Va 1hlu duo hbIhcI stT6Sls,
and drank at the bar. A number of the
bystsnders say that Halsell paid for the
drinks, and as he was putting the change
in his pocket he pulled his
pistol and shot at Scott, missing
him. the ball penetrating barrel
of liquor piled against the walls.
Scott ran, and just as he reached the
door Halsell fired again, missing his
man. Scott ran across the street and
Halsell after him, firing three more
shots, the last one striking Scott as
stated above, just as he reached the side
walk on the opposite side of the street.
Constable w. F. Marten was on hand,
aud Halsell gave himself up and was at
once taken before Justice Braswell and
his bond fixed at $3.50, which Halsell
readily gave. Mr.. Halsell would make
no statement, and was perfectly cool.
The man and his father both bear a first
class character, and are quiet citizens.
Scott 8 wound is in no wise dangerous,
and he was taken home.
The great mystery Is that no one on
the street outside was hit with some of
the stray balls, as the street was very
crowded at the time. One ball pene-
tFated box that was on the sidewalk
opposite Jenkins saloon, and lady
standing III store QOOr says Oue went
whizzing by her ear. Scott ives seen at
his residence and said that on yesterday
he and young Halsell talked over the
trouble between Halsall, Sr. and him
self, and that he supposed the matter
was all settled. Scott further says that
to-day's attack was a wilfull attempt to
assassinate him. The whole affair Is
creating much comment on the streets,
and is greatly regretted by all.
Later-It was rumored on the street
since dark that word had been sent to
Sheriff Lewis by the physician attending
Mr.. Scott that the wounded man was in
@ worse condition than was at first re-
ported and that he could not live until
morning. Mr.. Scott has large family,
is brother of Capt. Will Scott, late of
the Texas Rangers, and brother-in-
law of County Judge E. G.. Bower.
ALIMoNY GRANTED.
Last Saturday Mrs. Fingers filed suit
for divorce from her husband Jacob
Fingers, an account of which was in
Sunday mornings GAZETTE. AS the
suit could not be called until the March
term Of court clause was inserted in
tae petition that she be allowed alimony
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