The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-25
STREET Dull N WACO
THE LoNG-ExpEorpD ENcouxrr,
BETWEEN JUDGE GERALD AVN
EDITOR HARRIS HAppr,rp.
WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED
EDITOR HARRIS FATALLY wouNp-
ED, HIS BROTHER DEAD. JUDGE
GERALD BADLY WOUNDED.
1 BUSY Street WAS The Scene
1 BUSY STREET WAS THE Scene
OF the Awful Tragedy, Which Grew
Out of the Brann-BayIor Contro-
versy-Gerald's Goodness I'M
der a Double Fire Was Re-
markable, Indeed.


the sun was shining brightly and the
streets were crowded. the long-expected
battle growing out of the Brann-Baylor
trouble took place this afternoon, and the
result is that one is fatally wounded,
one seriously wounded. another painfully
wounded, and the fourth dead.
Col. G. B. Gerald was advancing from
one corner, diagonally across Austin
avenue to the next corner. and J. w.
Harris. Editor of the Waco Morning
Times-Herald, was standing in front of
the Corner drug store talking to Drs. H.
L. Taylor and w. w. Odds. When Edi-
tor Harris saw Col. Gerald, he remarked
that trouble was on hand and that they
had letter get out Of the way. With
out further delay he drew his pistol and
aimed past DIR. Taylor. with his arm
touching DR.. Taylor's shoulder. and fired
at COL Gerald. who was moving in his
direction. When Gerald saw Harris, he
aalted. unbuttoned his overcoat, thrust
= lis hand into his bosom and drew his
own revolver. after which he advanced
on Harris rapidly, and when at close
range, fired a shot which penetrated
Harris windpipe, touching the spinal
cord, paralyzing him from the neck to the
toes, and sent him to the floor, helpless
and hors du combat.
Faced a Second Antagonist.
Meanwhile. from the opposite corner,
in front of the Citizens National bank,
w. A. Harris. brother of ]. w. Harris,
was firing at Gerald, and Gerald was now
wounded in two places and bleeding.
After disposng of Editor ]. w. Harris,
Gerald faced his second antagonist and
marched straight across the street after
him at a double quick time. Hunt Bel
lefant, policeman, rushed between the
two and did all he could to keep them
apart at the point of pistol. but they
closed in spite of him, and continued to
shoot until w. A. Harris sank to the
sidewalk corpse.
Col Gerald fell once during the fight,
but arose to his feet quickly. and when
both of his antagonists were down on
the ground he walked off. with one arm
shattered, swinging by his side, the
blood spouting from wound in the hip.
After glancing about in every direction
he found an officer and offered to sur
render. He said:
''They laid for me, but I got them
both; that is 1 think I did,"
After the Battle.
Meanwhile an immense crowd had col |
Iected so that the streets. which cross
each other at that point, were entirely
blockaded: street cars and vehicles all
zane to halt, and the widest excite
- .ent prevailed among the people. Men
came forward with stretchers. and the
dead and wounded were borne off.
Col. Gerald had grown faint from loss
of blood and was removed from the field
and taken to his home. The corpse of
w. A. Harris was borne off by, friends
TO an undertaker's. and that OF ). w.
Harris was stretched out on the hoor
Of the drug store and examined by sur
rnons His right limb disclosed the
foot that the spine was involved and
+bot there was no hope for his life.
RIood streamed down his throat into MS
stomach, and was elected with severe
retchings.
The three parties in the duel We're mar
r;od men. and the fathers Of children
The wives and children were seen Oh Tue
ground. and the sounds of women weep
inc were mixed with the confusion OF {
noises.
Negro Bystander Wounded.
After the smoke of the battle cleared
owav if was ascertained that stray
hr,iet had severely wounded Sheppard
Iasner A colored drayman. who was
rossine by when the ARRAY commenced.
Tosnor was also taken off on stretcher'
moting the fourth man borne away from
+he streets with blood dripping from MS
enamo as the result of the awful duel. t
# was very we'll understood that >.
w Harris and G. B. Gerald would nsnt q
wbeneyer they would happen to meet
outerowth of the Trouble.
= Judge Gerald was an ardent supporte,
Of W. C. Brann while Editor Harris anu /
bis paper, the Morning Times-Heraio, s
= l<Arwa n