The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-23
Mr.. Baskets Final Hours.
Especial to News and Observer.)

Henderson. N. c.. March 22.-Mr. Joe
Basket is yet alive but there is little
! hope for him. The doctors think he may
| live until O'Clock tonight. perhaps lon
ger. He is so years old and has a very
strong constitution. This alone keeps
him alive. The load fired by Watson Sat
urday tore away the neck of his blad-
| der, but no shot entered his bowels. He
| is in Dr. II. II. Bass office. and has q
trained nurse and sEilled medical atten-
! ton.
MIR J. B. Watson is in jail, and though
at first stubborn is now penitent and says
he is much concerned about the recov-
cry Of the man he attempted to kill.
| His son, a boy about Is, is also in jail,
indicted for shooting at Mr.. Basket with
pistol Today Watson had Gen. B. s.
Royster in consultation with his lawyers
here.
Mr.. Basket has told this story of the
| fight:
Mr.. Watson had wanted to buy some
land from me but 1 had refused to let
him go into possession save as a tenant
with the understanding that l would sell
HIM the land the first of January, 1904
if he could make me a payment on it.
my tenant, and the first Of this year he
promised to pay from time to time till
had told him that l would be forced to
have him leave my land if he did not
make a payment. He wrote me an insult
ing note and ! sent in reply an Insulting
message. Saturday morning he sent his
son to my house for me to come down
where he was at work: | at first re-
fused to so but then thought it might be
best to go and see what he wanted with
me. AS l approached where he and his
sons were at work he asked me why l
sent him an insulting message, and 1
answered that he had written me an in
sultng letter He then advanced and
knowing shat he and his sons were too
much for me, | drew my knife and he his
and then I saw they had a gun in the
grass, and I told him l could ro- fight
them unarmed. and went home. he fol
lowing, and got my gun, loaded both bar
rels and put one load in my rocket, and
went out to meet Watson, and as we faced
each other within about fifty steps. both
fred at the same time. | fired both bar
rels and he fired twice with a single
barrel gun. The Watsons then started to
run, and I turned for my home when
Watson's son fired at me with a pistol
four times, and l returned the fire with
my last lead. I then got ready to come
to town and have the shot picked
out and indict Mr.. Watson. On my way
to town l met Watson going home and
he called to me to stop, saying he wanted
to see ne, but | did not stop, but came on
to town. had the shot picked out of my
leg and hand and went with my attorney
to Col. Jones' office and got the warrant
Tor the arrest of Watson and was just
coming out down the street when I saw
Watsons carriage drive up, and as I
pointed 1T out to Mr.. Zollicoffer Watson
fired.
Watson went home after having his
wounds dressed and soon started back
with the same gun of the mornings duel
when he was overtaken by his son in a
wagon. and got in, but when his son
found out where he had started he would
not bring him, so Watson got out and
walked. He stopped on the edge of town,
bought a knife and tried to buy shells for
the gun, but the merchant would not
sell him any. but tried 70 dssuade him.
In the meantime word had gotten to Mrs.
Watson of his intent and she hastened
to town n a carriage either TO stophim or
to warn Basket. The police was stand
ing on the corner of the street at the
postoffce when Watson nassed looking
in the stores las in search of some one
He passed Basket (who was pointing
out Watson's carriage to Mr.. Zollicoffer)
and saw him as he passed. but Mr.. ZolG /
Golfer who had ssen the man with the
gun kept his eve on him and as he |
raised to shoot grabbed him. but too late |
Mrs. Watson had Just at that moment |
stopped to warn him. the policeman, Bob
Crockett. had followed him from the cor |
ner and grabbed him as he fired. Besides