Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-28

homa. He fell in what the west calls fair
fight, and Houston was triumphantly &C.
quilted. That was in tho spring. A short
time ago Houston shot and killed Judge
Jennings, the father of his first victim
Jennings had no chance for his life, ms the
other pressed the revolver against his breast
before firing. Houston gave himself up
In Oklahoma, when a man develops a
habit of shooting at his fellow men, it may
mean one Of two things-eithcr that he Is
n desperate and a murderer ut heart or
that he has made it his practice to oppose
instead of avoiding men who are. Temple
Houston's reputation was that of man
who never sought quarrel and never
shirked fight. He was such character
as is seldom found nowadays, except in
dime novels or on the borders of civilian
ton. The exigencies Of a new country g
development bring out such characters,
and they are Invariably heroes to their
friends and acquaintances. 1t Is n claim to
distinction in Oklahoma to be able to say
truly that Houston is your friend. The
Hon. Edgar Jones OF the supreme court of
Oklahoma once wrote this of him:
Temple Is one of the grandcst person.
alities in the western country. He Is as
profound in law as a Bacon, as polished as
q Chesterfield and as brave as q Davy
Crockett
In country where titles are prevalent
it would be strange IL such man did not
bear one. His admiring fellow citizens
long ngo bestowed upon him the title OF
senator" probably because he never has
been a senator nor tried to be one, and
through all that part of the country he Is
universally greeted as Senator Houston.
Physically he Is well qualified for heroic
roles, for he towers above O foot man.
He is 40 years old, but doesn't look IL.
One OF his striking physical characteristics
is his reddish brown hair, which hangs In
long wavy curls almost to his shoulders
putting ont in glorious luxuriance from
beneath the wide sombrero which he al
ways wears. But for one ecccntricity he
would be regarded rs n well dressed man.
as he Is superlatively neat in his attire
He will not wear suspenders, n popularity
which once drew from an Oklahoma belle
this appealing comment:
Senator Houston, I wish you'd tell me
what makes you wear your pants SO neg
ligee."
Had the speaker been man, the result.
would probably have been dire, but e
women the senator was always the pink
of courtesy.
But for his own ins,stcnce. Houston
would not have been brought to trinl fol-
killing Ed Jennings. Nobody wanted e
try him, but he demanded that he b
tried. The circumstances of the killing
were these: Ed Jennings, who came Of q
family celebrated for courage ard ability
to use gun, opposed Houston in n law
suit ut Woodward, .. T., in the course ol
which hot words passed between the law
yers. That night Houston was I'm the
Cabinet saloon with his friend. Jack Love
the sheriff Of the county. Ed jennings
with his brother John, entered the place
and the quarrel between he lawyers was re
newed. The quarrel became n fight AL
four drew rcvolvers, and at the first FRI
Ed Jennings fell dead. At the other enc
Of the saloon John Jennings and Jacl
Love had fired at each other, but neithel
shot took effect. On seeing his brother
fall, Jennings turned away from the sher
i'll, who could then have shot him dowr
easily had he wished. and letting his weap
on fall to his side cried out to Houston.
You ID coward You We done YOU
work now
The theatrical quality of Houston's cour
age asserted itself. Throwing down his re
volver, he tore his shirt open and advanced
upon the brother of the man he had JUS
killed.
Coward, am r" he cried. .No mar
can call me that Shoot. and shoo
| straight"
Amazed, the other stood hesitating.
Shoot, tell you" shouted Houston
Il killed your brother. Shootr'
Slowly Jennings raised his pistol, bu
before the muzzle had come to level Will
| Houston's heart there was a fash from
| Loves revolver, and Jennings arm fell
| she bones Of the wrist shattered by the bul
let A second shot from the sheriff put ont
the light Jennings ran out of the tiool
ard escaped When the lamp WAS r,light
| ed. it showed Houston kneciing over tn,
| body of the man he had killed, with hi,
face bowed in his hands He and Low,
were tried together and acquitted in ter
minutes. Since that time there has beer
| a feud between Houston and the Jenning,
family. Everybody knew that sooner o.
| later il would become a question whether
Houston would kill the Jenningses or the,
would kill him.
| After this fight hostilitics were suspend
ed until the other day, when, it Is said
Judge Jennings, going up town In Wood
ward to- his home, met Temple Housson'i
little son coming from school The boy
said something TO him. and Judge Jeu
uines spat In his face. This meant thai
houston or Judge Jennings or both woult