Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-10-13
TIVE sMIrn srAnnING.
DId the Dying Man Innict the
Wounds ON Himself

Dallas, Tex. Oct, 12.-John Smith.
who was stabbed during brawl at
ChapmRn's saloon. Commerce and Mar
ket streets, at o'clock last Sunday
morning. and whose death has been
expected at the city hospital is still
alive, but his recovery Is very doubt
full, The case is beginning to assume
more serious aspect as new reports
come in. Heretofore 1t has been given
out that Smith stabbed himself. and
everyone seemed contented TO believe
the reports. The following. however,
VIII show that such is extremely doubt
full
James Chapman. the proprietor OF the
saloon in which the stabbing took
place, and who is charged with the as
sault requested the publication OF the
following document given him by DR..
Armstrong, city health officer. stating
at the same time: Smith may die,
and ! want this 20 help clear me In
the court" The document reads;
The party. Smith. told mo when he
first came to the hospital that he had
been ROBBED In the house where he was
hurt He afterwards said he had lost
the money In card game. He has
made SO many contradictory statements
that / consider anything he may say
as highly improbable.
v. =, ARMSTRONG, NJ. d.
Or. Armstrong was asked II he had
written and signed the document. and
he replied;
Yes, l gave Mr.. Chapman that docu-
ment, because l consider Smith an
unreliable person. His talk Is so contra
dictory and blow hardy that II makes
bad impression on the listener l do
not know anything about Chapman. his
saloon or the class OF persons who
| frequent It, | am free to say. how
ever that Smith was stabbed by some
body else than himself No man could
produce such wound as he has in
the abdomen without deliberate at
tempt at suicide. He could not have
been cut by an open knife In his pants
] pocket, as the pants are not cut; his
shirt and undershirt are the only parts
OF his clothing cut"
The above statement was made by
! Or. Armstrong after having been in
formed that Chapman claimed that he
could prove by witnesses that Smith
| put an open knife In his pocket before
the row started in which he was hurt
When Chapman was pressed yester-
day for plain, straightforward state
ment OF the difficulty, he admitted
having had a flght with Smith In the
early hours OF Sunday morning. In
I side his saloon. He said:
Jim Mcbride runs the card game
| upstairs over my saloon. Smith was in
] the game Saturday night and lost ali
1 his money. Mcbride took his hin from
his neoktie, | presume as matter of
! pleasantly or soprt and kept It. After
I coming down stairs later, and while
standing in front OF the bar. Smith
accused me OF having stolen the min
/ from him, and we had night as a
I result In the bar room. Smith had
his own knife open In his pants pocket.
and was. cut by It during the dltnculty.
] either while It was in his pocket or Nv
his pulling II out We both fen IL
! the hoor during the fight. and l could
not see exactly what Smith did do. The
/ next day-or rather, later that same
I day, Sunday-smith returned 10 the
/ saloon and was given back the hin
over which the difficulty originated .
Mr., Chapman did not wish ANYTHING
/ 10 be said about the card game runnini.
/ upstairs, but was given to understand
4 that II any OF his statement was print
/ ed that feature would also be used
He insists, however that he is In no
/ wise connected with the game. and Thai
/ he does not play cards at all; that tbe
game Is run by Jim Mcbride.