The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1894-02-20
]. R. Mitchell Of Richmond and D. l. Sutton of
EAGLE Lake Meet and at Once
BEGIN H0StilitieS.
MITCHELL ESCAPES UNHURT AND is PLACED IN CUSTODY
OF OFFICERS OF THE LAW
He Makes Statement Saying Family Matters Justified Him
One Man. Two Women and an Infant Are Also
Victims Of the Sad Occurrence,

There was a bloody tragedy enacted last
night at the Grand Central depot In
which twee men were almost Instantly
ialled and three other adults and
child wounded. The dead men are NM
ton Sparks and Constable Sutton OF Eagle
Lake and Dan Gleason OF this city. The
wounded are Mrs. Milton Sparks, the
wife Of the dead man. and her baby,
James Sparks. a brother OF the dead
man and Mrs. Mcdowell, an old lady 50
years of age. of Wharton county.
James r.. Mitchell of Richmond. Fort
Bend county, is in the cit ycalabopee
charged with this terrible slaughter.
The shooting occurred Immediately after
the arrival of the $3.50 Southern Pacific
passenger train from the west. and the
scene of the bloody affair was Just out
side Of the south or street entrance to
the waiting room OF the Grand Central
depot AT the time Of the shooting. the
depot and sidewalk outside the building
We're crowded with people, some going
into the depot and others coming out
The widest confusion followed the shoot
ing and even half an hour afterwards it
was a difficult matter to obtain anything
like connected statement from any one.
Young Mitchell, who IS only about %
years Of age, had been in the city some
days, but an the persons who were shot
had just arrived on the Southern Pacific
train from the west According to all
accounts. young Mitchell was standing
about twenty steps from the street door
near the depot building. and as Sutton
and the others. who had just arrived and
were walking toward the city. approached
him. he was heard to say: Now. you
get your gun and we will settle IT," or
words to that effect and then the tuslade
begun There were eight SHIFTS fred al
together. Five are supposed to have been
fired by Mitchell and either two or three
by Sutton. 1t seems to be very generally
agreed among those who were near by
and heard the reports that there were
two different weapons in action.
There had been previous trouble between
Mitchell ana Sutton. and all the clrcum-
stances and Mitchel's statement go to
show that the killing and woundlng Of
the others was not Intentional Sutton
and the others were all walking together
when the shooting commenced, except
Dan Gleason. who was standing just OPP
poslte the door leaning against tele-
graph pole
The shooting was over in an instant
and then there was the widest excite
ment, women screaming and men run
ming to and fro.
Mitchell, with his empty revolver sim
In his hand, walked back to the depot
door ana entered. and he was Immediately
seized by Officer Hodgson, the depot po-
liccinan,
Dan Gleason, who was leaning against
the telegraph pole, exclaimed; "ohl 1 am
shot in the back" He reeied and fell to
the ground, and after gasping a few Sec
onds died, the ball having pierced his
heart.
Dave sutton, the constable, was also
shot through the heart and died almost
Instantly. without uttering a word
Milton Sparkle was shot through the
bowels and fingered ab5ut twenty min
ures bef5re he died, The bali entered his
right side and passsd entirely through
the body cutting the entIails 50 that
they protruaed through the wound made
by the ball as 1t came out
James Sparks, brother OF the dead
nan, was shot through the right lung
he han passing entirely through the
,ody, lie was Immediately put in hack |