El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-07
lew VIDAL DIES;
NEGRO Gets AWAY
Dead Man Was Midshipnlan
In British Navy With
Lord BeresfOrd.

Giving his assailant chance to draw
his pistol cost the life OF Lewis Vidal,
the saloon man, aged 81 years, who
died Tuesday night at 1890 o'clock.
Vidal died as the result of being shot
twice by an unidentified negro Sun
day night near his home, 900 Texas
street.
his automobile the negro was seated
on the curbing in front of his home.
Receiving no satisfactory reply from
the negro Vidal went into his nome
to secure a gun. He told his chauf-
feur to guard the negro until he came
out of the house At the time he was
shot Vidal had his pistol cooked and
drawn on the negro. He was waiting
for the negro to draw his pistol or
wait and submit to being arrested by
the police. The negro was wearing a
heavy overcOat. In the right hand
pocket of the coat he held pistol,
which he fired through the pocket. The
first bullet struck Vidal in the arm
shattering it. The second shot went
through the arm and penetrated both
lungs. The negro fired five more
shots two Of them passing through
VfdaFs hat close to his head. The
others went wild.
sunday night when Vidal was sent
to the hospital it was not believed
that he would live. Monday morning
after rsllying his condition grew
steadily worse and Tuesday night he
Was Arizona Deputy Sheriff.
Vidal had lived in FL Paso Fl years.
He came here from Phoenix, Ariz,
where he had been deputy sheriff
During the bad man" days Of Arizona,
Vidal was a peace officer in southern
Arizona. Before coming to FL Paso
Vidal had lived in Los Angeles and
San BernardiHo, Calf
Vidal was born in London, England.
In the early 7O's he and rear admiral
lord Charles Beresford were midship-
men on the same English manofwar.
In EscRpade in Honolulu.
It was during the cruise of a squad
ron of the English navy that Vidal,
lord Beresford, and other middies Of
the English navy narrowly missed be-
ing the authors of an international
dispute. When the fleet reached Hon
olulu on the cruise the middies and
others were given shore leave. During
the shore festivities the mtdshipmen
took down the sign over the American |
consulate. The American consul, be-
coming indignant, called on the rear
admiral of the fleet for explanations.
Cablegrams were sent out to the state
department and to England. The rear /
admiral offered his apologies and !
forced the middies who had taken the /
consuFs sign to nail it back in its /
place.
Mrs Vidal. the surviving widow, has /
a picture OF me mldd1es, among whom /
is her husband, mailing back the con-
sUls sign
Friend of Lord BeresfOrd.
Lord BeresfOrd and Vidal were per- 1
sOnal friends. When lord Beresford /
came to Ell PasO several years ago in I
the interests of his brothers estate, |
he and Vidal renewed their old &C I
acquaintanship.
While it is not generally known, |
Vidal during his life time had given J
away considerable money in charity. (
1t is said that no one in distress ever J
appealed to him In vain In VidaPs /
saloon on Broadway, is the sign: IF /
your family hasn't got shoes, don't I
buy booze"
Vidal is survived by his wife and /
the body viii be made Friday morning ]
in the COncOrdia cemetery.