San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-23

George Dixon. notorious gunman and
safe blower, sent to the Huntsville peni.
tertiary for As years from San Antonio
two years ago, was captured at Dallas
Sunday night. Dixon will be remem-
bered as the safe blower who was cap
tured in Prassel's drug store on Nolan
street in 1919 after a gun fight with
officers. He previously had fought a
gun duel with an army lieutenant when
he was caught blowing the safe of a
grocery store on South Alamo street.
Dixon escaped from the penitentiary
in April 1921. When caught in Dallas
be had a $500 liberty bond in his pos
session. identified as having been stolen
from Bridgeport, Texas. A safe in a
mercantile establishment was blown
there few nights ago.
When arrested Dixon and cOmpan-
ion had nitroglycerine dynamite caps
and three pistols in their possession. He
was picked up on suspicion and was
identified by a clerk in a pharmacy in
East Dallas as having held the place
up last Saturday night.
"'Your Texas penitentiary won't hold
me. I'll drop in here one of these days
and I'll bump you off for this" is a
threat made by Dixon, when, tried
in the Thirty-seventh district court.
He was convicted and sentenced
TO As years in the Huntsville prison on
indictments charging him with burglary
and with assault TO murder. This talk"
which officers say, was made by. Dixon
was instantly recalled by a number of
San Antonio police and detectives Of
ficials.
Know He Will Shoot.
Dixon has always been regarded as
dangerous man from a police view
point and his record in police annals
throughout the United States has
branded him as man who will shoot
andH shoot TO kill. His career in San
Antonio has demonstrated he will not
hesitate TO use gun. Records of Cali
fOrnia show he began his record as
crook in a gun fight and his capture
here in 1919 was accomplished only
after one of the most sensational and
spectacular gun fights ever staged in
this city.
Police say it is probable that he will
be turned back 10 the penitentiary au-
thorities to serve his long term, which
may be added to by charges which led
to his arrest in Dallas.
Dixon escaped from the penitentiary
after having served less than a year.
After his escape police received informe-
ton that Dixon was in Tampico, Mex
leo. This information was brought TO
headquarters by J. Il. Swift, former
member of the detective department.
In Duel With Army Officer.
The attention of the local police and
detectives was directed toward Dixon
in the early part of 1919, when after
a series Of safe blowing cases, Dixon
was surprised in the Schultz grocery
store. on South Alamo street by Lieut..
| G. Fleet. Dixon was in the act of
| blowing the safe in the store when the
army officer, residing in an adjoininS
dwelling. discovered him in the estab-
lishment. When called upon to sur
render, Dixon came up shooting. In an
| exchange Of bullets both Dixon and
| Lieutenant Fleet were wounded, the
latter shot through the foot and Dixon.
as it later developed received a bullet
through his left cheek, which ranged
downward. passed through the fleshy
part of his neck and then through his
| coat collar and shoulder.
! Despite the dangerous wound, Dixon
escaped capture, leaving a trail of
blood through the streets for many
blocks which was finally lost on
/ Leigh street. Several weeks later Of
ficers found the bloOd-stained garments
and found where the bullet fired by
the army man, had passed through the
coat. Mystery rs to Dixon's identity
at that time was never pierced. His
whereabouts, too, proved too much for
officers to solve.
Caught in Drug Store.
His downfall came when, after two
months layoff, Dixon sought to stage
safe robbery at Prassels drug store
on Nolan street. He was discovered
in the establishment when a burglar
alarm sounded. which caused the police
to surround the place.
Dixon refused to surrender, aat
engaged the officers in a gunfight
A dozen or more shots were exchanged
Police Chief A. o. Van Ripper, ther
detective captain, was at the head Of
a squad of plain clothes officers and
was first to reach the rear of the drus
store. He ran squarely into Dixon
who halted him by firing point blanl
at the detective captain. Bullets flew
thick and fast in the darkness.
Dixon was forced to retreat and tool
refuge within the building where, foI
several hours. he held the police at bay
1t was the daring Of Police Captain
Jim" Stevens that ultimately brough
about Dixon's capture. Despite tn
protests of his officers, Captain Stew
ems entered the drug store. Thoug
he was an excellent target 70
tho 0unpnan he was unframed Ate