Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-25
A FAMOUS CASE.
James Holland Tells of His Ex.
perience with Bunko Men.
HOW HE TOOK THE DOODLE
And the Desperate Fight for Life He
Made-The Methods of the Buuko
Men-The Panel Scheme-He
was on to the Combination.

Frequenters of the lobby of the Picllwick
during the last few days may have noticed
spare built, sinewy, rather nervous APP
pearing man, who has been guest at the
hotel since Wednesday. The person in
question is James Holland. one of the
foremost real estate dealers of the enter
pfisins city of Amarillo Probably no man
in Texas has had moro exciting and
eventful career and was at one time better
known than James Holland. Every one re-
members about five years ago an occurrence
that happened in New York city in which
a bunko steerer by the name of Davis got
his deserts at the hands of an intrepid
Texan which Texan is none other than the
gentleman of which this is written. Remem-
brance of the affair has doubtless
grown rather dim, but the mere mention of
the name and the circumstances surround
ing the shooting of the swindler brings to
mind wildly one of the most sensational
happenings and famous trials that ever
took place within the city of New York
The trial lasted nine days and the news
papers of New York and other cities de-
voted columns of space to the account of the
trial and to the history of James Holland,
the man who so effectually thwarted the
scheme of the cleyerest confidence man in
New York. Interest in the case was ma
tional and all over the South from Texas to
Maryland, and, indeed from New York and
llle NUGtHfIu SlkittS, OllClo VI dSSlSl-
ance were freely sent to Mr..
Holland, all of which he declined,
he and his friends in Texas meeting all the
expenses of the trial. Prominent men in
New York city placed their bank accounts
at his disposal for the purpose OF employing
the best counsel available, and all through
the seven months that Mr.. Holland was in
New York were unremitting in their efforts
to serve him. Henry E. Dixey, the popular
and clever actor, was deeply interested in
Mr. Hollands case, Offering to do anything
in his power that would be of assistance.
After the trial and the full and complete
vindication of Mr.. Holland, Dixey again
came forward and tried to induce him TO
agree to benefit in his honor.
But the Texan stuck to his
original course and politely declined
all the generous offers made him.
There were engaged both in the defense
and prosecution some of the best legal tai
ent the state of New York could afford.
Gen. Roger A. Pryor was the principal law
yer for the defense and scored brilliant
legal triumph. Davis, the bunko steerer,
was one of the most prominent ward politi-
clans of the city, quite wealthy, and ipfuen-
tial with certain class, and no money nor
pains were spared by his brothers to con-
Wet the man who had. as they claimed,
murdered their brother. The trial was
postponed time after time in order to allow
the prosecution time to coniure up false
representations aud to find witnesses in the
West who would, for sufficient considera-
ton, perjure themselves as to the character
of the accused. One man was found in
Kansas, who was induced to testify against
the character of Holland, but the prepon-
derance of the evidence as TO his previous
good character was SO great that the bought
witness was obliged to leave New York
state to escape being prosecuted for per-
jury.
The case was tried before one of the
higher courts and the intensest excitement
prevailed during the nine days which it
lasted, the courtroom being at all times
filled with q crowd which was overwhelm-
ingly in sympathy with the gritty Texan
The washouts on the Fort Worth and