The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-06-02

years ne was ~ tht l
.op OF his class in the southwest. and /
oils fellows we're bad men. second
lnly In desperado's ability 10 himself
lack sellman killed him last August
IN spite Of the shirt Of mail which
,oyered his heart. When undreased by
he undertaken the scars Of ten bullets
md two knife wounds were barred. His
'ecord was seventeen dead men. not In
ludIng negroes. who didn't count
John Wesley Hardin-he never was
ipsken Of by any one except In that way
was the son Of a baptist minister.
md was born In Kimball county, Tex.
n 1852. Before he was Is years OLD
le had broken away from home and
killed his man for snoring too loud.
Hardin slept on one side Of a thin parti-
ion In a lodging house. and the man
who snOred slept on the other side.
Hardin was awakened by the noise, To-
'aied the precise spot where the sleep
sF lay. fired through the partition. kill
lag bis man. and then tarned over
again and slept quietly until morning
Then. At the age OF II. he allied him
ieli with the Taylor brothers In the
amous Taylor Sutton ieui, which orig
mated IN 1865 in DE witt county.
With the killing OF old maa Sutton By
he Taylors. The counties Of
~omanche, Dc witt and Gonzales we're
ne stamping ground Of the two fac
lions. and the feud lasted from 1865
% 1874. In that time no lever than
forty men we're killed. and Hardin, Il
Is said. killed In hand-ta-hand conflict
sixteen OF this number The two fac
lions were divided into three gangs-
me for each county. The worst fight
ing was done In CNmanche county. and
Hardin had charge Of the Taylor forces
in that county From 1874 TO 1875
Hardin and bis gang made attacks up
On the town OF comanche almost every
night. when they would shoot Il up.
This shooting 70 up" consists Of rid
ing breakncck through a town shooting
into bar-rooms. houses and at every
one who shows his head. Il used "a
be popular passlme. but Il has fallen
much into disrepute. except In very se.
leci little towns In New Mexico and IN
Arizona. In the fall 81 1874 Hardin
killed a deputy sheriff who tried TO ar
rest him. and then went 10 Florlda
where he worked as quiet farm
hand under the name Of sloane Il
1876 he was recognized and captured
brought back 10 Texas. put on trial ans
sent TO the penitentiary at Austin fol
twenty-five years. In 1895 be wa
pardoned by Gov. Hogg, lie at one
went to Pecos City and mixed up In tn
Miller rows. ami whea Millel
was arrested he came here and de
Tended him. having studied law whill
be was In prison. he was shot by
constable IN August
The terror In whlca Hardin wa
held was exempllfied IN 1875. whel
tis brother. Joseph. vas lynehed b
the people Of Comanche simply hecaus
be was john Wesley Hafdin's brother
shortly before his capture a youni
man and a Young woman were walkinl
throukh the streets o, Guerro The.
we're engaged 10 be married and n
event was TO take place In few weeks
During their walk they met a note
bully o; he place. who. alter passin
them. turned and. withou, a word be
tween them. shot the man. The broth
} er Of the dead man got down his she
gun and went looking Tor the bull!
Hardin met him.
! You'll have no ehaqce." Hard
, said to the avengor: hell have n
, drop on YOU"
p The young man va5 reckless an
determined.
IN Just 90 along TO see tha, there
, fair play" said Hardin.
I At this moment the young ma
; caught sight Of the desperate aero
E the narrow street. pulled the trigge
the gun missed FIRE and the bully hi
4 him covered.
y You've got just two minutes to 81
. your prayers" he grlnned. Hard
y was In the shadow. Before the "
minutes were mp Hardin had fired al
the desperado was dead Tia, was o.
!. OF Hardin's few popular crimes.
!. Finally things got too hot {
I Hardin Large rewards were out {
+ him and he disappeared
4 shrowd. painstaking Texas detel
i've go, on his track In this way; @
= man Hardin had a ranca near s
Antonio and the detective lived on
adjoining ranch. n the course OF IA
T he became friendly with the faith
Five months had passed when one a
: old Hardin remarked that he had
letter 10 mail. The detective said h
!. ride over to the postoiice with him.
d aid 80 and at the postoilcc he saw {
address that tho old man wrote on {
y envelope. In ew days he remark
that he had business In ST. Louis.
parted with oussyaislng the least n
plcion IN the t1y pans mind and.
l. stead Of going to 81, Louis. landed
!, Florida He found John Wesley Hart
4 working for a farmer In an obsc1
!. place In the interior. working like
good. decent. industrious farm hai