Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-07-07
EStempore Duel Between onicial.
orthe Merchants National Bank.


lur hfst serious result OF the ditfer-
ences between the stockholders of the
Merchants National bank occurred yes.
terday morning ut 1890 in the business
Office OF the bank, and took place be-
tween a. u. Smith, the cashier, and X.
NJ. Page. vicc-president
Col Il. NJ. Wynne and A. p. Luckett,
just previous 10 the difficulty. met at the
private office Of Cashier Smith for the
purpose OF discussing matters pertaining
to the bank, but prior to the shooting
MIR. l.uckctt withdrew
Several shots were fired by both Mr..
Page aud Mfr, Smith, the former gentle
man receiving bullet wound in tine
neshy part OF the left breast. left of the
nipple. The wound is superficial one,
aud is not considered dangerous by the
attending physician. However the in
tenscly warm weather is unfayorable to
1t.
There were not less that eight shots
fired in all by both parties, aud for
awhile 1t looked like veritable bat
ueneli. Col. Wynnc was The only spec
tator present during the fusilude, aud TO
thick aud IA st, and some of them came un-
comfortably close When the trouble be-
gau, Col. Wyhne jumped between the
c0ubatunts, and, by 50 doing. evidently
saved the life Of one or both of the prin'
cipals, for while lie was between the
parties, l'agr WIS hit by bullet on tile
lett side in close proximity TO the NIP
After Smith and Page had been sepO-
rated. the former walked toward the
rear of the bank, firing at Page as hp
went In the mean time, Page mad re-
covered the pistol which Smith had drop
ped OH the liour and also opened me,
but as Smith was behind The wicker
work of the counters, the bullets failed to
take erect and embedded themselves in
the walls.
After some three or four shots were
fired Chief of Police Maddox. who, hap
pened to be- IN the vicinity Of the bans,
was soon Oh the scene, and just as lie
stepped inside the door leaden pellet
pissed over his head and embedded Itself
IN the front door sill OF the Crescent
restaurant. The chief ran n narrow
escape from instant death. lie az once
put Mr.. Page under arrest When an.
rested he still hold in his hand a small
pattern southern derriuger which he had
ATTEMPTED to discharge. ~ there was an
indcnlion IN the cartridge
Deputy Sheun Nitcher put Smlth
uuuel arrest Nuu Noln lltn were AAhfh
to the shprf's office, but rs 1t was not
known who the aggressOr was, the prose-
cutting attorney ordered the release of
both pending the Investigation by the
grand jury, which WAS hearing the evil
dence Of several witnesses all the after
noon. II Is probable that bills will be
returned SATURDAY.
After the affair had quicted down Mr..
Page remarked to MIR. Maddox that he
had lcru shot and requested hiui TO cN-
anime his side. On lifting up his shirt
slight flesh wound WIS found near the
left nipple. lie was rs calm AS could
be. md proceeded to the pOstuili-G, got
his mail AMI drove home In his cgrriHEc.
During the general wAizzing Of bullets
several miraculous escapes were made.
4 cOlOrrd boy named VIII Phillips was
sitting OH the sill Of tho front door step
when the shooting began. \ bullet passed
through the plate window Just above
glnss. a white boy named Winnie Smith.
who lives Oh the South Side, also narrow
ly escaped being hit by flying bullet.
which passed near his head.
Last evening, a reporter called Ut the
residence of Mr., A. u. Smith for
statement of the history OF the shooting,
but he was rVticcnt. stating that his
attorney had instruct sd hin 10 say moth.
ing about the matter.
As Col. Nyunc was the only witness Of
the affair from beginning to end the
reporter sought him at his office, only 10
meet with si,nilar results. He didn't
care TO make q statement Of the mat
tor, but he said however. Tint at the
outset Of the trouble he INTERVIEWED for
the purpOs, Of puelling til" disturbance
hut the bullets became Il litilc TOO pro-
miscuous for snfcty, and he was Obliged
10 stnnd aside. He had been in many
battles where the rnun0ns reared aud
shot and shell iew thick fast but IL had
No terrors for the colOrel In comparison
with this battle. He said he was CON
vprsant with the filcts leading 20 the
shooting, but for the present declined 10
give them 10 the reporter,
Mr.. Page was next seen and consented
TO make statement. He said: shortly
after q o'clock ] arrived at The Mer-
chants National bank and took a seat
| IN the room known rs the cashiers office
A. y. Smith was sitting there al the time
aad after few exchanges VI preliminary
remarks. We began the discussion of
pressing business matters of Importance.
| We concluded. before getting very far
along In this direction, that we had bet
ter take counsel Of the attorneys Of the
! bank as TO the propriety of a proposed
course of action. Accordingly, X. 81.
Wynne. Esq. Of the firm Of Wynne.
Booty a Mozart. was tclophoned and
] requested to come down. lie came down
and seated himself IN the office beside
\ us aud we together discussed some bust
I ness matters on behalf Of the bank. and
while thus engaged Smith reached over
1 TO his desl, and got bold Of an expense
bill. which had been presented by a
stenographer against the bank for pay
ment The amount Of the bill was $50
| and had been certified 10 as being correct.
| We seyeral!y discussed the merits Of the
claim and the opinion was concurred Ia
substantially thai the bill as Il stood was
cxtortionatp. Feeling that It was of this
/ character OF bal. aud that II was oar
! boundea duty as officers Of the bank ia
/ econotuize In every essential particular
3 aud "a discourage extravaganza of what.
! socyer nature ! remarked that IN future
! ] would see " It that not single dollar
ever went out ~ the bank until ID was
| know where Il went aud for what purpose
| il was expended. Colonel Wynne IN.
| quired whether this had not been fhe
case all alongi | answered hs question
By inquiring Of him II he as a director ii
/ the bank hsd ever examined it's expense
account He replied he never Ind.
Saith. constituting his r-warls to be-
an indication Of a belief on Wynncs part
tina. there was no oceasion for the exei-
! else Of close attention Ia The direction