Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-02-22

of other noted encounters with the
outlaws who gave to Texas such a ter
rible reputation in the years gone by.
| But il, was before he became
ranger that Hall won his spurs as a
fighting man in Texas. He was born
in Lexington, N. c., in October, 1S43,
and came of old revolutionary stock
{ by both his parents. Among his an
ccstors were the famous Gen. Giles
Melane and Gov. Stanford, of North
Carolina. Lee went to Texas in search
OF adventure when he was 20 years old,
and found it when he became deputy
sheriff in Grayson county, just south
OF the line of the Indian territory.
In little less than two years the
young deputy sheriff made 1000 ar
rests, killed seven men, and was
wounded five times. His fame as an
officer of the law spread far and wide;
it was foregone conclusion that any
man Hall undertook to arrest would
be made a prisoner or would be sub
ject for the coroner.
There was one desperate, however, a
ll1dA VLNAAoOAS Wv AAoN AAANAA
aged to elude Hall for months and who
had sworn he would never be taken
alive. He was wanted for cattle steal
ing and murder. Many long, weary
day and night had the young deputy
sheriff hunted for this man, and Wilkin-
son at last grew tired of being sought
so persistently. He sent message to
IN 10 HI oh "a
said that if the deputy sheriff wanted
him so badly he could come and get him
on certain day. Wilkinson said that
he would be on little prairie about
IS miles from Dennison at four o'clock
on the afternoon of that day and would
meet Hall there, provided the latter
came after him alone. The outlaw
pledged his word that he, also, would
be alone. If Hall could arrest him
under those circumstances he said he
was welcome to dol
And Lee Hall accepted the invitation
and the terms.
Early on the morning of the appoint
FED day he mounted his horse, and with
breech-loading shotgun and six
| shooter for arms rode out from Denni-
son to keep the appointment. The
sheriff tried in vain to dissuade his dep
uty from the undertaking, and begged
him at least to take posse with him
to surround Wilkinson and surprise
him into giving up, but Hall would not
listen to him. .a
NO." he said; "Wilkinson has made
a fair, square offer, and I believe he'll
keep his word and be there alone. If a
desperate can keep promise, I think
I ought to be man enough to do the
same, and I'll meet him on his own
terms. And" he added, "if come back
he'll be with me-"
The place of meeting was a clear
space about half mile square, sur
rounded on all sides by mesquit,
chaparral and live oak woods. At pre-
cisely four o'clock Hall rode out from
the southern edge of the chaparral on
to the prairie, and minute later Will
kinson rode into view from the north
end. He, too, was armed with shotgun
and revolver. The men were within
plain sight of each other, but too far
away to exchange shots. At the same
instant they urged their ponies into a
gallop and made straight for each 9TH
er, both holding their shotguns ready
for action.
haps, had ever met in duel to the
death, for such they knew their meeting
must be. Each was perfect horse
man and fine marksman. Neither
knew the meaning of fear.
They approached each other rapidly
and were soon within hailing distance,
but not sound escaped their lips; they
before they got close enough to each
other to use their shotguns effectively
both men dropped their bodies Indian
fashion to the sides of their horses, so
as to present as small a target as pos
sible, their guns being pointed over
their horses necks.
They fired at the same instant. Hall
wore an overcoat with a cape attached
to it, and the buckshot from the single
discharge of Wilkinson's gun almost
cut this cape from it's fastenings, but
not shot hit the deputy. Hall also
| fired one barrel of his shotgun. and the
charge entered the neck of Wilkinson's
horse, knocking him down. Wilkinson
sprang off and landed on his knees as
his horse went crashing to the ground.
His shotgun fell from his hands and the
horse fell on the weapon.
GIVE got you!' yelled Hall, wheeling
his horse about, Strengthening up in the
saddle and pointing his gun straight at
! the outlaws head. "Give up now or
I'll kill you!"
"You've got the drop on me, all right"
answered Wilkinson, as he looked
coolly into the muzzle of the shotgun,
"but if you're such brave man as you'd
have folks think you are, get down off
your horse and fight it out with me with
six-shooters."
No sane man would have accepted
such an absurd proposition, but Lee
Hall was not sane at that moment. He
was fighting duel, and his sense of fair
play was uppermost in his mind. His
| adversary was a brave man and he
| should have show for his life.
"All right" said Hall, ''I'll do that,
but you must promise not to pull your
six-shooter until I'm down.
"That's fair said Wilkinson; "I'll
wait till you're ready"
Hall deliberately showed his shotgun
back into its scabbard under his right
hand stirrup leather. Then he sprang
from his horse, jerking his six-shooter
from his holster at his belt.
The revolvers cracked with one re-