The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-10-29
FATAL FIGHT
WILD WEST
COWBOY AND POLICEMAS MILL
EACH OTHER IN DUEL Fol-
LOWING ATTEMPT TO
ARREST SNOWMAN.
Accounts of Affair Differ. One Spe-
ciaI Sent Out From Gnifport
Intimating That Officer
Killed Wrong Man.

The route of Miller Brothers Wild
West Show through the South has
been fraught with trouble and beset
bv tribulations. and a shooting scrape
of a very serious nature occurred al
.Gulfport last Saturday night, when
Lon Seely, a rider with the show,
and Lee Varnado, member OF the
-Gulfport police force were both shot
TO death.
Accounts of the shooting diner OUT
according TO a special sent 10 the New
Orleans Times-Democrat by its Cult
port correspondent, several local CIT
izens were held up and robbed by the
showmen during the performance on
Saturday night, and among the We
time was a white man named J. ".
Garner, who was relieved OF small
sum of money Garner reported his
loss to Varnado, and the policeman
at once instituted search for the high
wavman. The policeman's search led
him among some freight cars that
were standing on side tracks IN the
railroad yard. and among. these cars
he found a man whom he suspected
of being one Of the guilty parties
Before the officer could make an ar
rest. however, the man under suspi-
cion fired. the bullet striking Narnado
| lust above the mouth. Varnado Ieli
heavily to the ground, but after hav-
inc raised himself on his elbow drew
his revolver and fired into the shad-
ows of the cars where his assalIant
had showed himself. The officer fell
! back dead, and persons rushing 70
the spot found Seely lying lifeless IN
a pool of blood, the bullet from var
nado's pistol having pierced his skull
killing him instantly
At the inquest which was held
over the bodies of the murdered men
a man named w j. Harris testlf1ed
that Immediately after the shooting
he heard one of the circus men eN-
lclaim: Good for Lee Stobal; ne
fred a good shot," and this led to
the belief that the man shot oy 70
liceman Varnado was not the ons
who shot him. j. c. Miller, one Of
the owners of the show, denied tha'
there was a man named Stobal VIII
the outfit, and the local police were
not disposed TO credit the story told
by Harris.
One account states that Seely wa
was loading stock into one Of the cir
Gus cars. and saw Varnado comm;
toward him with his revolver drawn
Both men fired simultaneously ant
both bullets took effect This is IN
most plausible story that has ap
peared in print, and is probably
correct version of the affair
AS stated above, the tour OF IN
: Miller Brothers show through IN
South has been exceedingly turou
llous. many fights and difficulties
various character having marked IL
massage. 1t will be remembered tha
two of the men became involved l.
rows while the outfit was here las
week. and according TO statemen
made by one of the press agents, See
ly is the seventh man who has oeel
killed since the show struck IN
Southern States.
There has been a tinge of romano
as we'll as a touch OF tragedy IN IN
shows history. recent disclosure
having developed the fact that Lou
ise Mulhall, one of the star perform
lers with the outfit, was married O
!, September IA, 1907, to Martin van
bergen, a vaudeville performer, IN
ceremony having been solemnized i
: Brooklyn. The wedding was kel
: secret until last Friday, when IN
young lady went to Topeka, kas-' I
ioin her husband. Miss Mulhall' G
: rather Mrs vanbergen. was here VII
the show, Columbus having been on
of the last cities in which she al
lpeared.