The Forrest City times., 1904-01-01
AWFUL CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY.
Hall Sanders, a Sterling Young Man, Sh ot tc
 Death by Gordon Casteel.
NO reasonable Cause for the Deed and Castee
 Claims that it Was an Accident
Shot Fired at Close 3S Calhre Dob keNoiver Bullet Flows Its Through Intesnes..
 Heart of Forrest City Stirred.


 pierced and deeply wounded by the news of the awful Christmas tragedy which occurred at about 7:15 last Fri day night on North Washinrtcn street. at which time Hall Sanders was fatal ly shot with 3S-calibre smith & Wes- ton double-action revolver by Gordon Casteel.
 The terrible tragedy occurred about fifteen feet north of the southeast cor ner Of the vacant. lot owned hy Capt. J. W. Beck, across the street, north of the residence ol Judge John Cat ling, and was so sudden and unexpeet- ed that those present scarcely realized for several seconds that such an awful deed could have been committed by one of their number, and even then could scarce believe their eyes and ears when they saw that noble young man sink To the ground and heard him cry out that ne had been shot.
 It was simply appalling!
 It was wholly unexpected and none dreamed or had the slightest intuition of serious trouble. Had the bystand- CTS thought for a moment that serious consequences would have followed the little misunderstanding, the fearful result 4uld have been prevented.
 According to the evidence adduced at the examining trial of Gordon Gas teel it seems that James L. Alley, Hall Sanders, Paul Pope and Guy Eldridge met by chance on Christmas night about o'clock at Sanders drug store Being filled with the bouyancy Of youth and the gladSome feelings of Christ mas, these XOupg men agreed upon a proposal from one to purchase a lot of fireworks and go out and have lit tie sport. Accordingly they purchased then and there supply of Roman candles, torpedoes, and dynamite canes, and started. They went east to J. ". Beck X Co.'S corner, thence north on Washington street and as they were crossing the alley between F0lbre x Co < and Nelson & Co., $ saloons they met Gordon CaSteel James Alley, WG0 was in front, think ing that Gordonwas deputy marshal, and knowing that the explosion of ire works had been prohibited within cer- tain districts by an order Of the may or, but not being satisfied as to the boundaries stopped and asked Gordon as to the lines. Gordon told them they could shoot fireworks north of J ckson street. and they proceeded north, to Garland street, two and a half blocks north of where they had met Gordon
 When they reached the Baptist church. or just north of it they began to shoot Roman candles, &c
 shortly after they lfft Gordon Mar Shal Rainbolt camc along enroute to the Iron Mountain depot, and Gordon asked him if he had seen those Mari anna boys shooting fireworks He saw the glare of the fireworks but did not know who were Greing them Gordon joined him, and they proceed ed up Washington street to where the others were fireing their Roman can dies, &c. Rainbolt said he was sur prlsed to find that the boys were For rest City boys and he cautioned them to not fire into any person yard or house and not to fire low as there was danger of hurting someone.
 The boys disclaimed any intention to violate the laws, and there was quite d good deal of talk about the lines. &c., and Alley said to Raiabolt that if they were violating the law. they would cease at once and pay q fine. but that they did not think they had violated the conditions of the may or's order The marshal thought that they had not violated the law. but cWtioned them not to. In the mean time Gordon had wrenched q Roman andle out of Paul Pope's hand, broken it in two, and thrown 1t 10 the ground. Paul told Gordon he wanted 5-cents for it, and Gordon said "lH u2l you fifty, and he ran his hand in his pock- ct and gave Paul the money, which, being by this time a little sore. he took and put in his pocket
 About this time Guy Eldridge spoke up and said, well Gordon told us We could shoot north ot Jackson street. Gordon, asked him what he had to do with it, and Hall sanders said, well, you did say so, ,''and Gordon called him | liar, ilall then took off his oyercoat, itid down his fireworks and dynamite cane. and went up to Gordon. and laid his arm on Gordou's shoulder and said, Il can't take that" or "i'ye got enongh of that or something of that kind, and before any one eff the others