The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-13
IN THE OTHER EYE.
JOSEPH n. WELLS SHOOTS AND
KILLS 4 BURGLAR
while Attempting to Enter HIS
UOusc--ue WAS shot Once He
fore by MIR. pilot.

About 3 o'clock yesterday morning Jo
seph I. Wells, who resides at 7o5 Cheno-
vert street. shot and instantly killed
colored man whom he discovered trying to
enter his house through the rear door
The killing In thus described by Mr..
Wells himself In the following statement
made by him at an inquest subsequently
held by Justice Fitzc:
AT about o'clock this morning heard
n noise on my back gallery, and immedi
ately proceeded to the front Of the house.
where | saw the front gate was open.
Thinking that whoever 1t was had gone.
then came around the house quietly and
suddenly came upon this man standing on
the back gallery at the door OF my VIII a
room. | called to him to throw up his
hands. when he threw his hands TO his
hip pocke,t, when | Immediately shot him.
The ball entered the left eye and he I'M
medabcly fell dead to the floor. ! do not
know deceased, nor has he ever been to
my place that | know OF, On his person
was found lot OF keys, which burglars
use to effect their entrance into houses, He
| had already secured lot OF clothing,
| which was hanging on The clothes line, and
| such he had secroted under his vest
Officer 7. s. Lubbock testified that about
| 5:15 o'clock in the morning MIR. Wells came
| to tho police station and informed him that
he had killed n burglar. 81 immediately
| went to his house. where found u LONG
| haired yellow negro lying dead on the back
| gallery OF Mr. Wells house. He had been
shot through the left eye with S-caliber
pistol, and his right eye was already out.
| He had taken some clothes from the clothes
| lines, which he had secrcted under hts
| vest lip also had n lot of keys''
The dead man was subsequently ident-
fled by Detective Proctor as a negro named
Sam Ferguson. who about three years ago
had his right eye shot out while attempting
| to burglarige the house OF Mr.. Camille
Pilot on Mckinney avenue
This first wound not proving fatal sim
ply destroying one OF his eyes he was sent
to the penitentary for two years for the
attempt at burglary and serving his time,
returned to this city some months ago,
and making threats against Mr.. Pilot. he
was arrested by the police. but afterward
released, as Mir. Pilot did not care to
again prosecute him.
! Mr.. Pilot, however, took every precau-
ton to protect himself against these
threats OF violence, even to the extent OF
having his house guarded, and when he
viewed the corpse yesterday he remarked
with sigh Of relief, Ferguson is a good
negro now"
The fatal bulleb entered the eye, evi-
IDENTIFY penetrating the brain and causing
instant death
An examination of the Wells premises
showed that the dead man had already
taken large quantity OF clothing, which
hau been left hanging on she clothes line
III the yard, and had deposited the bundle
on the sidewalk II was also found that he
mad taken the precauiion to take of his
shoes and deposit them on the sidewalk.
From these circumstances VI was evident
That this was the mans second trip, He
had entered the yard first and taken this
clothes from the line and left them on tn,
sidewalk Then perhaps not satisfied with
mis- haul. he must have concluded be
would enter the house. Then no doubt Il
was that be took OF his shoes and was at.
tempting to unlock the door when he met
his death.
The body was removed to wrlsht's un.
aeNaking establishment, where during tn,
gay y was viewed by hundreds OF curious
search OF the house where rersuso,
lived was made by the officers and amonp
tho things found there listed as stolen
Were; Two umbrellas three oyercoats. ont
nleck capo mackintnsh, one pair OF gray
tailor made pants. one pair Of serond- hand
iamsv shoes. lcA OF other clothing. knive,
ana forks concealed between the mat,
tresses and lot OF groceries
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