The Portland daily press., 1892-10-15
HIS own MURDERER.

ss'Do you see the bullet hole in the
crown of this sombrero, Neb? Thereby
hangs tale, which, il you will make
yourself comfortable in an easy chair,
I'll relate"
was visiting the pleasant rooms Of
my friend R, an old telegraph opera
tee; not old in years, but in experience,
for he had worked at the business since
a 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 a
light gray felt with a 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.
81 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 adventurers 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
SIN 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 I 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
had been employed as detective by
the government to help ferret out the
mischief makers, and as 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.
Gin 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 a feather, they usually have many
friends in a crowd. In this instance
small posse was selected to arrest the
gamblers, and it was agreed that except
in case of emergencyI was not to
touch the criminals, but simply enter
their resorts, spot the men if there and
signal the officers to enter.
'sThe 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 suppose gave the
crowd an inkling of my true character.
We did not know it, however, and the
next night determined to make raid
and arrest the remainder of the set, who
/ discovered had located themselves in
one of the dives in the lowest part of
the town, near the river.
'sWe 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. It was agreed that if found
the gamblers in the saloon was to give
q signal at the most opportune moment,
when the officers would rush in from
both sides and secure their men before
they had change to escape or to offer
much resistance.
81 then sauntered in, walked up to the
bar and called for glass of liquor. I
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 I
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. I think I
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
were heaped up here and there, many of
them guarded with six shooters and
bowie knives, while men were dealing
out the cards and raking in the coins
''Just as vaa about to give the a9Es
nal one of the tables was overturned
and in an instant there was general
commotion. Before 7 realized what was
so rapid and unexpected
were the movements, door opened by
my side and a girl grasped me by the