Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-10
Linn Alter y desperate stFaFgle,

\ "a C~nCA hOtCu WIN the
outlaws who gave to Texas such ter.
ri6le reputation in the years gone by
But IT. was before he became q
ranger that Hall won his spurs as a
fighting man in Texas. He was born
In Lexington, n. c., in October, 1s4o,
and came of old revolutionary stock
by both his parents. Among his an
cestors were the famous Gen. Giles
Melane and Gov. Stanford, OF North
Carolina. Lee went to Texas in search
OF adventure when he was 90 years old,
| and found 1t 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;
1t was foregone conclusion that any
man Hall undertook to arrest would
be made a prisoner or would be a sub
ject for the coroner.
There was one desperate, however, q
man named Wilkinson, who bad man
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 a long, weary
day and night had the young deputy
sheriff hunted for this man, End Willxin-
son at last grew tired of being sought
so persistently. He sent q message to
Hall, who was in Dennison, in which he
said that if the deputy sheriff wanted
him so badly ne could come and get him
on certain day. Wilkinson said that
he would be on a 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 do 1t.
I'D Lee Hall accepted the invitation
AID the terms.
Early on the morning of the appoint
ed day he mounted his horse, and with
a breech-loading shotgun and a six
shooter for arms rode out from DENIM
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 q posse with him
TO surround Wilkinson and surprise
him into giving up, but Hall would not
listen to him.
NO." he said; ''Wnkfnson has made
fair, square offer, and believe he'll
keep his word and be there alone. IL q
desperate can keep promise, think
ought to be man enough to do the
same, and III meet him on his own
terms. And" he added, eff come back
he'll be with me-"
The place of meeting was 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 a minute later Will
hnson 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 q
gallop and made straight for each 9TH
er, both holding their shotgvns ready
for action.
- $1,000 per
haps, had ever met in n 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 hsiling distance,
but not a sound escaped their lips; they
were there for action, not words. Just
before they got close enough 10 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
sihle. their guns being pointed over
their horses necls.
They fired at the same instant. Hall
wore an overcoat with cape attached
TO 1t, and the buckshot from the single
discharge of Willdnson'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 WiIkinson's
horse, knocking him down. Wilkinson
sprang of and landed on his knees aa
his horse went crashing to the ground.
His shotgun fell from his hands and the
horse fell on the weapon.
'I've got you'll" yelled Hall, wheeling
his horse about. Strengthening up in the
saddle and pointing his gun straight at
the outlaws head. "Giye up now or
I'll kill youi"
You've got the drop on.me, all right"
answered Wilkinson, as he looked
coolly into the muzzle of the shotgun,
but il you're such BRAKEMAN 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 a duel, and his sense of fair
play was uppermost in his mind. His
adversary was a brave man and he
should have a show for his life.
"An right" said Hall, III do that,
but you must promise not to pull your
!six-shooter until I'm down."
III