Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-16
PAINTER FOLLOWS HIS PAL
Died in the County Jail YeSter-
day Afternoon.
VISITED BY A MINISTER
Authentic Copy of His Ante-Mortem State
ment Made at Horse Greek.
HUNDREDS GAZE UPON BART'S FEATURES
The Seal of Death and the Art of the Under
taker Removed Nearly All Traces of
the Desperate Additional
Particulars.
HUNDREDS GAZE UPON BART'S FEATURES

AS stated in yesterdays State Herald,
Bart Thrasher, the notorious outlaw and
desperate. for " hom price was offered,
Is dead and also his pal Lester Painter,
man who had recently taken up with
him
The details of the killing were outlined
in yesterdays issue, and were eagerly
read by people here, there and every
where. Though not full, the report was
in the main accurate, the only diver
gence being as to the shooting of Painter.
The plan devised by Messrs Cole and
Ball, in which they had valuable as
sistant, worked admirably.
The Remains Brought Here.
Yesterday mornings Kansas City train
arrived on time, and on board were the
two deputies, the dead body of Thrasher
and the fatally wounded prisoner, Paint
er The depot was crowded with spec
tators eager to get a glimpse of the man
whose name was spoken only in whis-
pers in certain localities, and also his
pal Ut was with difficulty that the
dead and wounded were conveyed to the
vehicles prepared for them, and before
the norgue and Jail could be reached
both places were surrounded by eager,
anxious people,
1t is said by early risers that the Kan
cas- City track from Fourteenth street to
the Depot entrance at Eighteenth street
was lined with spectators also.
Atthe Undertakers.
When Thrasher's body was removed
from the dead wagon and placed on the
slab mary volunteered their services to
aid the undertakers. but their assistance
was declined, The body was taken in
hand by MI. Lige Icy, the well known
undertaken. and was soon prepared for
public gaze
The body, after being neatly attired,
was placed on frame in the front Of the
undertaking rooms, where hundreds
passed and gazed on the dead man.
Among the callers ip the morning was
a cousin of Thrasher's She stroked back
the hair from his forehead and said:
''He looks so natural He was brave
and good boy. Why couldn't he have
lived? And he is SO handsome, too"
BAIT had been neatly shaved with the
exception of his moustache, and his
waxen face, slightly retrousse nose COM
pressed lips and dimpled chin did not
suggest the typical desperate. He's
not bad looking mani" was the common
remark of the endless procession which
filed by the bier.
All day crowds gathered about the
door of the undertaking establishment
and the police had difficulty in keeping
the sidewalk clear.
At one time in the afternoon Henry
Cole stood on the edge of the sidewalk
surrounded by motley group or 10
deep In 1t were white and black, small
boys and gray boards, democracy of
curiosity, their eyes feasting upon the
features Of the man whose gun had done
such quick, deadly work, and their thirsty
ears trying to drink in every word
which fell from his lips. Mr.. Cole an
swered in low, even tones the queries of
acouaintances. and few except those at
his elbows caught the utterance. Now
and then'a friend in passing silently ten
dered his hand. Mr.. Cole grasped it
and went on with his story. Drops of
rain began to fall. but the eager throng
held their ground until the central hgufe
moved away.
Messrs. Cole and Bali Talk.
Henry Cole was spoken to yesterday
by State Herald reporter in reference
to the affair which resulted in the death
of Thrasher and fatal wounding of Paint
er.
Mr.. Cole aaid the meeting point" was
prepared by himself and Ball, and the To-
cal confederate knew its exact location.
The two deputies occupied positions, on
either side of the road almost directly
opposite each other. Both were armed
with shotg uhs and pistols Mr.. Cole was
IN thickly wooded spot and in preparing
his position cut away enough Of the un-
dergrowth to leave a. square opening of
about feet each way in order that he
might have full play with his gun. Mr..
Ball secured himself in his position and
both men awaited with impa tience the
coming Of the men for whom they were
looking.
1t was but short time until footsteps
were heard, and the two vigilant officers,
knowing fun well what to expect in the
event of failure on their part--death for
themselves gripped then guns and made
ready for action. Soon Thrasher appear
ed, with Painter at his side and Cham
blee about 10 feet away. All three were
moving at a lively gait. evidently anxious
to reach some desired destination.
Mr.. Cole, to use his own language. said:
"I took deliberate aim, fired and Thrasher
fell. I waited an instant to see If he
would rise to elbows and he failing to
do this used the other barrel on Painter.
Mr.. Ball fired at Painter about the same
Time, and he, too, fell"
When asked as to Chamblee Mr.. Cole
said he ran as soon as the first shot was
fired, and he and Ball then paid their at
tention to the two men shot.
Mr. Cole stated most positively that not
word was spoken by either party, and
II Mr.. Ball spoke he failed to hear him,
but he was positive neither ThraSher nor
Painter spoke.
Mr.. James Ball was also seen by the
reporter, but as is usual with him he was
retlcent about the matter. He never
was much of hand for notoriety and in
this instance seemed very reluctant to
talk
He said, however, that when Mr.. Cole
6hot Thrasher Painter turned in his d.
rection and he ordered him to halt In
stead of doing SO Painter brought his
gun to his hip, and then 1t was he fired
ct the man. He would not say if the load
from his gun proved the fatal one, or
whether 1t was Mr.. Coles but he was
positive the shots from each gun took
enect, though in opposite sides of the
body.
DR.. Hale Visits Painter.
DR.. p. T. Hale, pastor of the scuthside
Baptist church, visited Painter in the
county Jail yesterday morning. The
wounded man said his name war Lester
Painter; that ne was 10 years old, and
he was born and raised at E,lijay, Gill.
more county, Ga, His fathers name IS
w. p. Painter. He has two brothers and