The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-25
TWO men SHOT TO DEATH
AT Beaumont, One ia The Morning and
The Other in The Afternoon.
J. A. KENNEDY AND JEFF WILKINSON
Are the Dead Men-Slayer OF Kennedy
Wounded Himself in the
Hand.

Beaumont, Texas. December 24-whle
tne section Of Pearl street just south OF
the Southern Pacific tracks was lined with
christmas shoppers this morning. w f.
steinman, Of the firm Of Whitney ~ Stein
man. architects and builders. shot and
Killed j. A, Kinney. n carpenter. who had
oeen In the employ Of Stcinman'S firm.
Inc shooting occurred at II o'clock when
the stores and sidewalks were thronged
with people, and it was fortunate that no
one else was struck by one Of the Nnur
shots fred by Stclnman.
peculiar feature of the killing was that
while several hundred people were in the
vicinity, no one seemed TO know just how
the difficulty started. A lady who asked
that her name be withheld said she saw
commotion among a number of mon
across the street from the office of Whit
ney Stenman. A moment later she saw
an elderly man pursued by a younger man
come out OF the Beaumont Pharmacy, and
after running a few steps the older man
turned and grappled with the other and
theN scunled part of the way across the
street the Younger man wrenched one
Of MIS- hands loose, drew a pistol and COM
menced firing. I'hc older man ran through
an opening in a wall OF brick piled up
near the curbstone and fell just inside the
row OF brick. crowd gathered aud She
saw the older man no more, bait TIE one
who did the shooting turned and Went to.
ward the Beaumont Pharmacy.
Three of the four shots fired 10y Steinman
TOOK effect. causing the immediate death
Of Kinney. one entered the left breast
Just over the heart. another was In the
pit Of the stomach and the third struck
the left shoulder.
Steinman went to the rear Of the Beau.
No.. 81.
he was placed under ares. Ills right
hand was wounded by n gunshot, which he
says he Inflicted himself while trying 10
ward off blow from someone who sought
10 stab him.
The pistol was 3s-caliber Smith n Yves.
son and there were four empty chambers
when 1t was taken from Stenman.
Steinman refused to discuss the shoot
Ing.
j. H. Slniman and MIR StrinCcr, car
pentcrs. state that Kinney and other car
pentcrs who were employed In the con
struction Of a house and that the pay
ment Of the mems wages had been deferred
from Saturday night until Monday moru-
ing, and again from Monday morning "a
this morning, This morning six or seven
of the men, including Kinney. called AT
the contractors office and asked him for
their wages He said he would go and
get the money, He went away and was
gone for some time When he rcturne d
( the men were standing on the sidewalk
| talking with him. when, according to their
statement. Stcnman jumped from the door
Into tho crowd and asked II they wished
10 make n personal difficulty. The men
did not recall whether any reply was made
hut MIR Strincer was struck on the face
by some one and he and Steinm1n clinched
Sllliman SAYS ne proposed separating the
men and seized Steinman around the neck
Some ono pulled him away and Steiumar
md Kinney cliuched after one shot had
been fred and three other shots followed
| In rand succession
While several men saw tho ARRAY that
! led 10 the shooting. no one seems able
| 70 give clear account Of II.
/ The dead man came from Ohio to Beau
mont about seven months ago. He loavc'
wife and two daughters in that state.
jeff Wilkerson Killed.
Beaumont Texas December "a. -Ien
Wilkerson switchman employed In th'
| Southern Pacific yards, was shot and killed
| this afternoon by William Smith, commonl
/ known as "One-Ey Smithy,' also a rail
road man.
! Tho tragedy occurred on the sidcwalI
/ along the west side Of the Iowa saloon
| on Crockett street, shortly ~fter ] O'Clock
/ ana while II was witnessed ny several per
/ sons none If them was very close Il
| WilkprEou aud Smith.
/ Several persons stated that the two mel
/ had been drinking together in the snloon
Q
/ Bennett. a police officer. who was acros
| the street. saw them come out OF the ore
! gon saloon together. They passed aroun'
! the corner Of the Iowa saloon and appeared
/ 10 he quarrelling. and just after they pass
/ ed the corner Of the Iowa saloon Smltl
was heard to warn Wilkerson not to strik
| him. Bennett says that Wlkerson struc
| nj Smith and the latter drew his pisto
| and commenced shooting. the nuZzle of m
| pun being only three or four feet from Wi
] kerson The second shot struck Wilkersoi
/ in the face and he fell into pool o
water and mud by the sidewalk. where h
lay until he was pulled out few minute
smith went down Crockett street aftc
! the shooting carrying the pistol neN
3s-calibcr Smith & Wesson, In his hand
Policemen Reed Tevis, who was hurryn
| Smith and demanded that he give MP hi
| gun. He refused nj first but the polcpma
| pressed his pistol against Smiths body an
The SLAYER Of Wikerson delivered his veal
| on 10 the policeman TN the way to IN
mil n friend If WilkersOn tried to Strili
smith with a pistol. but he was prompt
The shot that struck wilkerson IN th
| face entered the left cheek and paSse
through the brain. lodging in the l><'k r
| the head The face was powder burned
showing that Smith held his pistol yer
close 10 Wilkerson. Another bullet Stluc
the left wrist. and there was scalp wonn
on the head.
Of feud had existed between them for SON
time.