The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-30
STORY OF A TEXAS FEUD
REMOVAL OF BAPTIST COLLEGE TO
FOLLOW A DOUBLE KILLING.
Bloody Affair at Waco Growing Ont
uIty and the Girl students.
Waco CTex) Letter in New York Herald.


sons. who read it because they admire a
man who calls spade a spade, in forceful
if not always elegant English. AS result
of this characteristic trait of Editor Brann,
this city for the last week has been la
boring under the most intense excitement.
the outgrowth of one of the most sensation
al street duels ever fought in Texas. Two
well-known newspaper men are now lying
in their graves, q prominent resident of the
town is slowly recovering from the fray,
and the Baylor University, together with
the headquarters of the Baptist Church in
Texas, will evacuate the city and move
to Dallas. And Brann is directly response
BILE for it all.
The trouble began some time ago, when
the Iconoclast made a bitter attack upon
the faculty of Baylor University, charging
the professors with running young girls
who were students in that institution.
Week after week these charges were reit-
Grated, and the friends of the university
waXed more indignant with each recurring
attack. Finally the students determined to
take the law into their own hands. They
proceeded in a body to Branns office and
forced him to accompany them to the
campus.
and possible hanging, they forced him to
sign paper apologizing for the article
which reflected on the chastity of the
young ladies attending the university. The
entire city was up in arms. Several men
attacked Brann on the street and cowhided
him. The excitement was at fever heat.
The town was split into factions Some
took Branns part, while others We're
against him.
Colonel George Gerald wrote a communi-
cation for the local paper, which was edited
by j. w. Harris This paper had previously
published "a bitter editorial attack upon
Brann. Colonel Gerald's letter. while not ex-
actly reply to this editorial was never
theless in defense of Brann. AS the com
munication was not published, Col Gerald
went to the office to secure the copy.
Hot words ensued, and Editor Harris, as
sisted by his brother, w. A Harris, admin
istered a sound thrashing to the colonel
Then they gave him his communication and
he left the office, swearing vengeance. So
severe was the beating that it was ten days
before he was able to leave his house.
Colonel Gerald served in the Confederate
army, and has been known as a killer"
Friends of the Harris brothers, fearing
trouble urged them to apologize. This they
firmly refused to do. Gerald recovered and
was able to walk about the streets. Still no
trouble came, and the people were begin
ming to breathe a trif1e freer, thinking that
the worst was over
In this they were mistaken. Gerald was
merely bidinG his time and it came last Fri
day. 1t was Just about noon when the
tragedy occurred, and the streets were
crowded with people. Colonel Gerald had
driven into town from his suburban home
IN company with his young son. j. w. Har-
rlS was standing on the corner of the post
office block, when he saw Colonel Gerald
drive up across the street in his buggy and
set out Upon seeing Gerald alght from
his buggy Harris pulled his pistol out of
his hip pocket, and, warning friends stand
ing near to make their escape as there
was trouble coming. began firing on Gerald
as he walked up the street on the opposite
side.
At the first shot, which pierced Gerald's
SIDE the colonel turned and pulled his own
gun. From that time on the fusillade was
rapid. Gerald coolly walked across the
street straight at Harris his pistol barking
Viciously at every step. while Harris con-
tinued to fire at him. Gerald never stopped
In MS march for moment. When within
few feet of Harris he took deliberate aim,
and sent bullet crashing through the
editors neck, striking the main artery, and
sending him to the ground paralyzed from
head to foot and bleeding like slaughtered
cow
While Gerald and Harris were shooting at
one another the spitefu bark of a pistol in
the rear called attention to the fact that A.
w. Harris, the other brother. was shooting
at Gerald from the rear. AS soon Gerald
saw the elder Harris fall he turned and
walked back across the street bleeding
from several wounds, and returned the fire
of A. W. Harris
You tried to shoot me in the back. | will
kill you for THAR
Crack went his pistol The younger Harris
fell like a log with bullet in his heart.
Gerald stood in the middle of the street.
like a lion at bay. Blood squirting from
half dozen wounds His face was a red
smear. through which his eyes cleaned
wickedly. His right arm was hanging. at
his side, literally shot to pieces. 1t was then
seen that he had transferred his pistol to
his left hand and the shot which had killed
the younger Harris had been fired under
circumstances requiring wonderful nerve.
Gerald was taken to his home where his
arm was amputatel. as the only means of
saving his life. The elder Harris died short
ly after the shooting. When the immediate
excite ment had somewhat subsidized it was
discovered that negro dairyman had APP
peared upon the scene in time TO receive
a bullet near his heart, and his recovery
is doubtful
discussed the situation. Excitement was at
fever heat. Brann. the editor of the Icono-
clast. was abused by some and exonerated
that the duel was directly attendant upon
the university scandal and the articles
which Brann had written about it.
Last Sunday the double funeral services
of the Harris brothers were held. There
were four thousand persons in attendance.
The two brothers were buried in the same
grave. The sermon preached by the Rev.
DR.. Carroll was in accord with the sensa-
tional happenings that had inspired it.
He scored Brann and the lconoclast very
severely, saying they were the sowing that
had brought about the present whrlwind
of tragedy and that if Brann was allowed
to remain in Waco and continue his out
rageous publications there would be other
casualties following in the wake of this
most terrible one.
And now the announcement is made that
the Baptists will shake the dust of Waco
from their feet and move to Dallas. The
removal entails thousands of dollars of loss
to Waco and much social prestige. All the
disburse ments of the various boards here
toforc made from Waco will go out from
Dallas. The extensive publication interests
of the church will also be centered at Dali
las. The board of foreign missions includes
in one item the sustaining of eighty
preachers in Mexico and Texas and the dis
bursements under this head alone are large.
Baylor University is to be taken away from
Waco, also The educational interests of the
university are so extensive and complex.
however, that immediate change is not
possible.
For the present, at least the factions arc
al peace. Colonel Gerald is generally ex-
onerated from blame, the contention being
that he acted i'm sef-defense 1t is believed
that the friends of Mr.. Brann will besesch
him to let the matter die for want of fuel.
His course will be closely watched.
Martyr to Domestic Pets.
Chicago Post.