The Van Buren press., 1903-07-25
A NELL KNOWN
GAMBLER SLAIN
]. D. Conant Passes in His Checks
After An Eventful Career.
TRAGEDY OUTCOME OF ANOTHER SAOOTING
In Which Joe Fitzpatrick Wounded
Jack Clifford, a Telephone Line
man - fitzpatrick Also A Well
Known Gambler.

]. D. Conant, a well known gambler,
was shot and killed by Joe Sarlo in
the latters saloon at Little Rock on
the night of the 17th
The killing of Conant followed the
shooting Of Jack Clifford by Joe Kill
patrick, also a Rambler, on the side
walk in front of Sarlos saloon, both
affairs occurring within a few hours
of each other.
The shooting of Clifford occurred
about II O'clock and the shooting Is
said to have been about Clifford's
divorced wife. Several months ago
Clifford broke into a room where
Fitzpatrick slept and as he entered
was shot in the shoulder. Clifford
claimed that his wife. who was run
ming the rooming house, was in the
room with Fitzpatrick Ever since
trouble was looked for between the
men, and it is claimed Clifford had
repeatedly threatened to kill Kirk
patrick.
The men had some words in Sar
los saloon, and as they stepped out
on the sidewalk the shooting com.
menced Fitzpatrick claims that Clif
ford drew knife on him, and that
ho shot In selfdefense
Jack Clifford served a term in the
penitentiary for train robbery. About
eighteen years ago, Clifford with
three other boys, held up Valley
Route passenger train in the suburbs
Of Little Rock, All the parties were
captured with the exception of one
Cline, and served terms in the peni.
tentlary.
Just three hours after the Clifford.
Fitzpatrick affair J. ID. Conant was
shot and instantly killed by Joe Saro
In front of Sarlos bar. Only one bul.
let struck Conant, passing through his
body and striking tho wall. Death
was instantaneous.
The only party in the saloon at the
time Of the shooting besides Conant
and Sarlo was colored porter.
Sarlo claims that ne shot In self.
defense; that Conant came into the
place for the purpose Of killing him,
and that he struck him with pair Of
brass knucks and made a motion "
draw pistol.
Jim Conant was one OF the best
Known gamblers in the county, and
was known from Mexico 10 the lakes.
he was man OF striking appearance
and In his younger days was very
handsome man,
He was a man OF ane education and
possessed business talent OF high
class, which II he had utilized In 10.
gitlmate channels would have made
him useful and respected citizen In
any community
When quite young man Conant
left the old home in the east and drift
ed to tho far west,
Fascinated with tho free and easy
life Of the gambler, Conant adopted
that az his calling, He dealt faro
from old Mexico to the metropolis Of
Chicago, and In many places conduct
cd resorts OF HIS own, 40 was con
slderod a dangerous man when an
gered, and his first trouble Is said W
have occurred In El Paso In 1880,
when he Killed man In hand to.
hand struggle 1t Is also reported
that another forfeited his life to Co
nants unorring aim In Mexico, aud
only few years ago he shot ana
killed Joe Townsend, n young sport
Ing man with whom ho had been In
business, on Main street In Little
Rock
Tho dead man up 20 fow weeks
ago operated n gambling house ncSt
door Sarlc's saloon, and II ~ strange
coincidence that the only man who
would 80 hIB bond for tho killing OF
Townsend was tho man who killed
him,
when Conants body was searched
whcro II lay on the llOor OF the saloon
no weapon was found, A, hl8 prollml'
nary trial S8rlo was admitted to bail
In the sum Of $4,000.
Conant had boon married thrco
tImca By his first wife no had q
daughter, nov OF Plttsburg, Pa, Ito
separated fom hls seoad wife
about ten years ago, and few years
later was married at Little Rock 10
Miss Hanger, who survives him
A Curious Proceeding.
A stranger admitted below the bar
OF the British house OF lords was re-
Qulrod to deposit his umbrella with one
OF the attendants The umbrella was
not TO be found aftorward, and the own
er brought action IN court 20 recover lts
value, lie was succosafnl, and was
awarded Ave dolafs, iut this was Z
violation of sanctuary which the lord
chancellor would not tolerate, sum
monng the plalntIfr and hls attorney to
the bar Of the house, he only refralhed
from committing them both to prison
on their making humble apology and re-
| tundlng the amount thoy had gained.