The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-08-22
REMARKABLE CAREER OF THE
NOTED "KILLER" DESPERATE
AND EX-CONTICT.
A SCORE OF PEOPLE SUCCUMBED
HIS DEADLY AIM.
Served IL Years of a 23-Year Sentence
Was Pardoned, and Again Renewed
His Lawless Life-SOn Of a Bap-
fist Minister.

Ell Paso, Tex, Aug. 20.-(Special)-
John Wesley Hardin, the most noted des-
perado in the State, and whose light was
put out hast might by Constable John
Sellman, an old policeman of this place,
was buried today. John Wesley Hardin
was born IN Comanche county in 1871 and
was the son of Baptist minister in good
standing. In 1868 he entered upon his
career of crime and bloOdshed at the
early age of II. At that time originated
the noted Taylor-Sutton feud His nerve
and daring soon placed him at the head
of the Taylor faction and between the
years of 1868 and 1874 40 or more of
the Sutton faction were eXtermnated, 16
deaths being laid at Hardin's door.
Two years after the conception Of the
feud Hardin became the leader of II des-
peradOes who tcrrOrized and controlled
the town of COmanche at intervals for
Two years or more, openly defyiDg law and
order. The gang did not confne their
operations to the town of COmanehe alone,
but roamed over the counties of Com
anche, Gonzales and Dewitt, stealing
cattle, demanding supplies at the points
of their pistols and for excitement, eXter-
minating all stray members of the Sutton
In February of 1874 while Hardin and
his crowd were carousing in a saloon at
Comanche, Deputy Sheriff Webb of
Brown county rode up and entered the
saloon by the back door. Seeing himself
outnumbered he attempted to pass
through, but was accosted by Hardin,
who demanded to know if he had war
rant for any of his (Hardins) crowd. And
If he expected TO execute it. Upon Webb
replying in the affirmative, Hardin drew
his gun and Webb gamely gave up his
life in defense of his duty. This aroused
public Indignation TO such pitch that
Hardin became an outlaw and renegade,
q price being on his head.
Shortly before this time he killed Cap
tain Jack Helm, a man of note in his day,
who was in command of a ranger com
pany, which, wherever it went in Southern
Texas, left n trail of blood behind it.
Helm got into n dispute with 14-year-Old
boy, of whose father he was the muir
derer. While Helm was in the act of
Stabbing the boy with knife John Wes-
ley Hardin's pistol cracked and Jack
Helm turned up his toes. The rangers
took after him and ran him near York
town, but Hardin killed three of his pur-
suers and escaped.
After the killing of Deputy Sheriff Webb
Hardin's band drifted TO n mere handful
and owing to vigilance on the part of the
TuHEtTS lut was uOlNNh W bNNh
safety in flight Going to Jacksonville,
Fla, in 1879 he entered the butcher busi-
ness under the assumed name of Swayne.
In six months time his whereabouts be-
came known to detectives who had been
on his trail. Becoming uneasy, the fugi-
tive started for his old haunts in Texas
and while en- route was captured and
brought back to Comanche, tried for the
killing of Webb, and receiving u sentence
of % years penal seryitude. Seventeen
years of this was served before being
pard0ned by the governor.
During his confinement he applied his
leisure hours to the study OF law and upon
his release was admitted to the bar at
Pecos He came to this city last October
in the capacity of attorney for ]. j. Mil
Ter, who was to be tried on the charge
of conspiracy against the life of Sheriff
Bud Frazier of that place. Hardin gave
the Frazier crowd to understand he
would take no foolishneSs and no gun
plays were attempted. His next move
was to send word to Mike Collins of the
Wigwam saloon mat he wanted to be ms
partner and Collins, thinking discretion
the better part of valor, gave, him half
Interest next day. Going to local whole
liouor house he ordered all the wet goods
he thought necessary and had 1t charged
The liquor house not only charged TINS,
but told him the store was ut his dis
lished a card to the effect that while he
was in the saloon he would see that be-
1igerents had q fair deal and no dead
sure thing would go if he knew IT. In
consequence the saloon was given VIDE
berth and soon closed for want OF patron
age.
TO curl in the Gem gambling rooms, when
he pulled his gun and made the dealer
hand back the money he had lost ana
defied any one who did not like the play
to "get in the middle of the road"
About two months ago Martin McR0se
and Victor Queen arrived in Juaraz,
Mexico. from Roswell, where they were
BADLY wanted by the sheriff. Hardin
prevailed on their eXtradition. and for
his reward took both McQueen's and his
wife's money, some $1,000. McRose
came to the American side to make Hardin
divide. but was killed by Deputy Marshal
Scarborough and his deputies.
For the last three weeks Hardin has
been drinking considerable, writing a
story of his life, and making life bur
den to the police, whom he threatened to
run out of the country. Several days
since. on the complaint of Mrs. McRose, |
whom he had kept begging for her life
several hours at the point of pistol, he
was arrested by bunch of five officers, |
whom he made read the warrant twice
over before he would surrender.
The trouble which resulted in his death |
last night was brought on by his telling |
Constable Sellman, in the Acme saloon, |
he did not like his (Sellman's) son, who |
was one Of the party of officers who had |
arrested him few nights before. One
word brought on another, and it ended |
by his telling Sellman to get out in the
middle of the street and he would come
soon and come "a smoking" Selman
waited for him several hours, but he did
not come out. Then Sellman went into
the saloon with friend. and stepping up
to the bar near Hardin they both watch
ed one another Through the mirror in front
of them. After Sellman had taken his