The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-09


John Wesley Hardin, is tonight dying
with bullet through his body.
About TWO or three months ago Selman
and United States Deputy Marshal George
Scarborough had quarrel over a game
of cards, since which occurrence the rela-
tions between them have not been cordial.
This morning at o'clock they met in the
Wigwam saloon and both were drinking.
Scarborough said Selman asked him to
walked out into an alley behind the sa-
loon, and Selman, whose son is in Juarez
prison, said to Scarborough: II want you
to go over the river with me this morning.
We must get that boy out of jail
Scarborough expressed a willingness to
go with Selman, but stated that no bad
breaks must be made in Juarez.
Scarborough says Selman then reached
for his pistol, with the remark: Il be-
lieve I'll kill you."
Scarborough pulled his gun and began
shooting. At the second shot Selman fell,
and Scarborough fired two more shots as
Selman attempted to RISE When Sell
man was searched no pistol could be
found on him or anywhere around him.
He says that he had a pistol, but that it
was taken from him after he fell and be-
fore the police reached him. He was hit
by every bullet Scarborough fired.
Scarborough is about 3S years old, was
born in Louisiana, but was raised in Tex
as, and was several years sheriff of Jones
county, Texas. He is out of Jail under
bond.
Selman was raised on the Colorado riv.
er, Texas. He is about SO years old and
has lived stormy life When not drink
ing he was as modest and gentle as child
but did not know what fear was, and has
killed not less than 20 outlaws. He was
Il dead shot and quick as lightning with a
gun. Last August in this city the noto-
rious John Wesley Hardin challenged him
to Il free fight in the Acme saloon, and
Selman killed that dangerous character.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
El Paso, Tex, April 5.-(Special.)-A
O'Clock this morning shooting scrape
occurred in the center of town by which
Constable John Selman. the slayer of that
noted desperate. John Wesley Hardin,
will lose his life. Since killing Hardin
i'll August last Selman has been drinking
continually, and was quarrelsome and
dangerous man while drinking, and it
was then predicted that he would meet
his fate before Il year rolled by. George
Scarborough, who fired the fatal shot into
Selman's body. is deputy United States
Marshal, and is brave man and quick
with his gun. He and Selman were to-
gether last tfnight in the Wigwam saloon
and Selman had been drinking all night
The evidence taken at the preliminary
trial of Scarborough this morning showed
that Selman had Scarborough to 90 out
side with him and talk over some personal
matters, but they were both apparently
friendly. Just what occurred in the alley
no one knows until the shooting began
Scarborough says that Selman told him
he was going to kill him and reached for
his pistol. but Scarborough got his gun
first and fired, hitting Selman in the neck,
then he fired two more shots, all of which
took effect, one through the left leg Just
above the knee, and the third entering the
right side under The lower rib. The ball
lodged inside, and is supposed to have
struck the spinal cord, as Selman's body
is completely paralyzed from the waist
down. There is a fourth wound in the
right hip, but just what made it is not
known, but it is thought that Seman's
pistol went off prematurely and caused
that wound. as the ball ranged downward.
The doctors say that Selman can not pos,
SSibly live. He is a man 60 years old and
has Killed number of men, the two most
noted being Bass and John Wes-
ley Hardin. At George Scarboroughs $
preliminary trial he was put under Il $500
bond to appear at court tomorrow. John
Selman's pistol was missing after the
shooting, but he says himself that he had
his pistol in his hand after the first shot.
and someone took it from him after he
fell. The preliminary examination will
he continued tomorrow, at which more
facts may be drawn out.