Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-17
THOMPSON, OF TEXAS.
DESPERATE WHO DID SOME SHOOT
ING AND WAS SHOT AT.

He Had a Terrible Record and Was
Made Marshal In Order to Help the
state-He Had Some Queer Ideas. but
Was Absolutely Fearless.
The most notable Englishman who
ever came to Texas was Ben Thompson.
But he arrived there at so early an age
and became SO thoroughly western in
his mode of life that Texans claim him
as their own. l imagine, however, he
always retained some of the traditions
of his birthplace, as there is a story of
his standing with his hat off to talk to
an English nobleman when Thompson
at the time was the most feared and
best known man in all Texas. The
stories Of his recklessness and ignorance
of fear and utter disregard of the value
of others lives, as well as his own, are
innumerable.
Thompson killed eighteen men in diff
ferent parts Of Texas, and was for this
made marshal of Austin, on the princi-
pie that if he must kill somebody it was
better to give him authority to kill other
desperadoes than reputable citizens. AS
marshal it was his pleasure to pull up
his buggy across the railroad track just
as the daily express train was about to
start, and covering the engineer with his
revolver bid him hold the train until he
was ready to move on. He would then
call some trembling acquaintance from
the crowd on the platform and talk with
him leisurely, until he thought he had
successfully awed the engineer and
established his authority. Then he
would pick up his reins and drive on,
saying to the engineer, "You needn't
think, sir, any corporation can hurry
me-"
One day cowboy, who was well
known bully and would be desperate,
shot several bullet holes through the
high hat Of an eastern traveller who was
standing at the bar of an Austin hotel.
Thompson heard of this, and purchasing
high hat entered the barroom.
81 hear" he said, facing the cowboy,
"that you are shooting plug hats here
today; perhaps you would like to take
q shot at mine" He then raised his re.
volver and shot away the cowboys ear.
~ meant" he said, ''to hit your ear; did
do it?' The bully showed proof that
he had. "Well, then," said the mar.
shal, "get out of here;" and catching the
man by his cartridge belt, he threw him
out into the street, and SO put an end to
his reputation as desperate. character
forever.
Thompson was naturally unpopular
with q certain class i'll the community.
Two barkeepers, who had a personal
grudge against him, with no doubt ex.
cellent reason, lay in ambush for him
behind the two bars Of the saloon, which
stretched along either wall. Thompson
entered the room from the street, in ig.
norance of any plot against him, until
the two men halted him with shotguns.
They had him so surely at their pleasure
that he made no effort to reach for his re.
volver, but stood looking from one to
the other and smiling grimly. But his
reputation was so great and their feal
Of him SO actual that both men missed
him, although not twenty feet away
and with shotguns in their hands. Then
Thompson took out his pistol deliberate
ly and killed them.
A few years ago he became involved
in San Antonio with Jack Harris, the
keeper of gambling house and variety
theater. Harris lay in wait for Thomp-
son behind the swinging doors of his
saloon, but Thompson, as he crossed the
military plaza, was warned of Harris
hiding place and shot him through the
door. He was tried for the murder and
acquitted on the ground of self defense,
and on his return to Austin was met at
the station by brass band and all the
fire companies. Perhaps inspired by
this he returned to San Antonio, and
going to Harris theater, then in the
hands of his partner, Joe Foster, called
from the gallery for Foster to come up
and speak to him. Th )mpson had with
him desperate named King Fisher,
and against him every man of his class
in San Antonio, for Harris had been
very popular. Foster sent his assistant,
q very young man named Bill Sims, to
ask Thompson to leave the place, as he
did not want trouble.
ri have come to have a reconcilia.
tion," said Thompson; 81 want to shake
hands with my old friend, Joe Foster.
Tell him won't leave till see him,
and won't make row."
Sims returned with Foster, and
Thompson held out his hand.
"Joe," he said, 81 have come all the
way from Austin to shake hands with
you. Let's make up and call it off"
81 can't shake hands with you, Ben,"
Foster said; "you killed my partner,
and you know well enough am not the
sort to forget it. Now go, won't you,
and don't make trouble"
Thompson said he would leave in a
minute, but they must drink together
first. Fisher and Thompson stood quite
alone beside the bar. The marshal Of
Austin looked up and saw Fosters glass
untouched before him, and said:
"Aren't you drinking with me, Joe?"
Foster shook his head.
"Well, then," cried Thompson, "the
man who won't drink with me nor
shake hands with me fights me-"
He reached back for his pistol, and
some one-a jury of twelve intelligent
citizens decided it was not young Bill
Sims-shot him three times in the fore
head. They say you could have covered
the three bullet holes with half dollar.
But so great was the desperate courage
of this ruffian that even as he fell he
fired, holding his revolver at his hip,
I. tn =.