The Portland daily press., 1899-01-13
MAJOR RANDLE.
The Last Of tn. Old-Time Texas killers

The Last Of the Old-Time Texas killers.
Dallas Letter to St. Louis Globe Demo
crAt.)
| Maio. /. q. Randle, who was killed in
this city last Monday night. was the last
| of the killers" for whom Texas has been
noted. He had slain five men in his ca
reer. and died, as thousands predicted,
with his boots on. His last act, when he
| was shot without q moments warning,
was to reach for the big 45-caliber & olt S
revolver which he always carried with
him When he fell to the pavement dead
the big revolver was cooked. Like all the
famous KILLERS" of Texas who met their
fate In the same way, Major Randle an.
tioipated his end. and was ready. The
man who slew handle gave him no
change for his life. and pounced upon
HIN as Bob Ford slew JESSE James.
Major Randle was the most peculiar of
oil the KILLERS of Texas. Never did he
STAY a man except just after big cry.
That was one Of his eccentrioities. He
would cry and blubber like a child for
ceased he hunted his enemy and killed
him in merciless way All his repent.
ence of the deed happen before he made
his gun play. Randle was possessed OF
the bluest of blue eyes, and hazy
film Always seemed to float before them.
Very emotional as he was he cried easily.
The tears were ever ready to flow. And II
l. i. I'm haf
when Randle cried men who feared him
fled for their homes. When he became
aggrieved he would brood for days and
when the mania of murder seized him he
began to cry. After he had cried him
self to desperation and resolution nothing
could prevent muir der II his enemy was
to be- found. Yet the murders credited
to him were oowardly. He was reaping
what he had sown when he was kille
without a chance, for he slew his victims
In the same way
Major Randle was a very rich man. and
at one time he was worth more than
81. 600, 600. Much of this was swept away
in the trials he had for numbering other
men. But even at the time OF his death
he could have cashed in his property for
$500, 900. A year ago he invested 500, 900
in cash in the Dallas Consolidated Elec-
trio Street Railway Company.
Major Randle met his match once.
Hugh N. Fitzgerald. now city editor of
the Dallas News. put . big gun under
Randle's nose one night and the killer"
begged for his life. At that time Fitz'
gerald, who 10 q man OF iron nerve. was
editor Of the Dallas Times- Herald. On
Christmas eve, 1892, Major Randle
Of high class cafe in Dallas. The muir
or was so brutal and oowardly that Fitz-
gerald came out in his daily paper with
some Of the wArmest editorials against
Major handle that were ever written in
Texas. Day after day he demanded that
Major Randle be hung for his deed. He
it was feared Major handle would be
lynched. At the opening of Major Ran
dies trial his attorneys demanded
change of venue. Editor Fitzgerald was
summoned by the state to give evidence
that Major Handle could get fair trial
In Dallas county.
justice In this county," asked the states
attorney.
~ do not," swore the editor.
why do you think thats" asked the
lawyer, aghast at this statement.
because, sir, do not think that hui
to that man to 1T his oowardly deed.
Hanging would be TO good for him,
bluntiy stated Editor Fitzgerald.
Major Randle was sitting directly
across from the witness as he testified,
and looked him sqnarely in tho sye
However, he did secure change OF venue,
and with his unlimited money and the
best legal counsel in Texas, was finally
acquitted. The first thing he did was to
beign to threaten Fitzgerald, who de-
Iiversd fierce phillipios upon the failure
Of the courts to convict Major Randle.
One night Fitzgerald telegraphed his
wife that he would leave Dallas that
night to meet her In Chicago, where she
was visiting. AS he turned from Main
street into Poydras he met Major Randle.
Fitzgerald was unarmed, and Randle be-
gan to cry. Fitzgerald backed up against
the swinging doors of the GleA Llsa sa-
I,or -htla Raudla hatvveau hts snhs ba-