The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-10-14
HIS OWN MURDERER.


was visiting the pleasant rooms of
my friend R, an old telegraph opera
tcf: not old in years, but in experience,
for he had worked at the business since
boy, and had been in many difficult
positions, thus having a varied expert
ence from which to draw his stories.
The hat he now held in his hand was q
light gray felt with leather band
around it, and near the top on one side
and through the crown on the opposite
side were two small holes, made by a
bullet, R said, in an attempt on his
life.
you remember" he began, ''some
ten years ago l made trip down the
Mississippi, through Texas, Mexico and
California. This was partly for my
health, partly for pleasure, but prin-
cipally on a business excursion for our
company.
II spent considerable time in A,
Tex, and while there the city-as they
called twas being completely demon
allied by as vicious, corrupt set of gam
blers as it was ever my lot to fall in
With. These southwestern cities of
rapid growth, rapid wealth and with a
population of adventures and uneasy
people collected from many parts of the
globe, are just the place for these des-
peradoes to do their richest fleeing; but
in this instance they were notorious, and
having committed several capital
crimes, the government took the case in
hand.
"In this quiet northern town you are
scarcely able to realize the difference a
few degrees of latitude can make in the
apparent dispositions and surroundings
of human beings. While travelling
through the southwest it often seemed
as though must be in different coun-
try, everything was so foreign and law
less in its character.
About this time there had been con-
siderable trouble along the telegraph
lines in that section of the state, and l
had been employed as a detective by
the government to help ferret out the
mischief makers, and as l was now stop
ping in A they wanted me to help
stop the gamblers, who were beginning
to smell rat and were keeping under
cover.
In an excitable community where
firearms are carried by all and often
used unfortunately, the arrest of des-
perate characters is not only difficult
but dangerous, for, as you know, birds
of feather they usually have many
friends in a crowd. In this instance a
small posse was selected to arrest the
gamblers, and it was agreed that except
in a case of emergency was not to
touch the criminals, but simply enter
their resorts, spot the men if there and
signal the officers to enter.
The first night we succeeded IN ar
resting two in faro saloon, and in the
confict-for they had to be taken by
main force-I had been obliged to help
the officers, and this l suppose gave the
crowd an inkling of my true character.
We did not know it, however, and the
next night determined re make a raid
and arrest 1Lo remainder of the set, who
discovered had located themselves in
one of the dives in the lowest part of
the town, near the river.
I'VE had, as we thought, used the
utmost precautions, for the men were
desperate and would fight, we knew, to
to the last. The buildings on this street
were so close together that their low,
fiat roofs nearly touched each other,
growing more and more squalid till they
reached the river, which cut off their
growth. Consequently there were no
side entrances At the back door we
placed two men, and at either side of
the front entrance, in the darkness, the
remainder of the posse concealed them
selves. 1t was agreed that if l found
the gamblers in the saloon l was to give
a signal at the most opportune moment,
when the officers would rush in from
both sides and secure their men before
they had a chance to escape or to offer
much resistance.
II then sauntered in, walked up to the
bar and called for a glass of liquor.
noticed that the bartender looked surlily
at me, and as turned with the glass in
my hand and faced the crowd standing
and seated around the faro tables, there
seemed to be an unusual silence, but /
leaned carelessly against the wall, pre-
tending to sip the villainous stuff in my
glass, but at the same time taking a
keen survey of the crowd. l think ]
never saw a more hardened set of Grim
inals outside of prison bars than were
gathered around those faro tables that
night. Little piles of silver and gold
NOAC AttApSu " Al'A = anu llltAGs lldA VI
them guarded with six shooters and |
bowie knives, while men were dealing
out the cards and raBing in the coins.
Just as l was about to give the sig /
nal one of the tables was overturned |
ana in an instant there was a general |
cOmmotion. Before l realized what was |
happening, so rapid and unexpected |
were the movements, a door opened by |
my side and a girl grasped me by the |
coat and said in a frightened voice, |
This way, quick, for your hfep Quick |
as a flash the girl slammed the door and |
l found myself being hurried up fight |
of stairs and through an open trapdoor
on the roof. The girl gave me push, !
as angry cries followed us, and said, |
To the river. It's your only chance. !
They mean to kill your You may be
sure l wasted no time in grateful
thanks, though why she braved the
angry crowd for my sake never knew.
II leaped rapidly from me flat roof to
another toward the river, but none too
fast, for tramping feet, oaths and shots
followed all too quickly for my comfort,
and as l leaped from the last roof into
the river one bullet made the holes in
the crown of that hat, just missing my
head. The ruffians thought they had
finished me, and then the rush of the
waiting posse, who made dash when
they heard the commotion, gave them
other business
at was a short time osssre was on
the opposite bank of the river reviewing
the case. Detectives are more feared
and hated by lawbreakers than the
regular officers, and knew if my bust
ness was known, as it seemed it was, it
was as much as my life was worth to re-
turn for the present. Besides, the work |
had undertaken was finished, so con- |
cluded to go due north till had struck |
the railroad, stop the first train saw go |
TO the next station, then telegraph back
for my grip and continue my journey
west.
at was now toward morning, and
concluded had better make myself
scarce before daylight revealed my