Shot and Fined.

Otago Witness, Issue 2295, 24 February 1898, Page 52

Shot and Fined.

| I "Northern vain were sc&rce in Texas in i 1879," said the Chicago man, who was after- ! wards a Texas ranger, "aud noli particularly well liked by the native Texans, as they call themselves. When I left Chicago for Texas I had provided myself with a formidable weapon in the form of a 22-cslibre revolver, and had no doubb that I would b"3 able to cope with the mosfc bloodthhsty adversaries. Arriving at my destination, I soon began to form acquaintances among the cifc:zsn« of the city in which I had taken up my temporary residence. " Strolling into the palatial saloon known as the Glass Front one evening soon after my arrival, I mtt a number of cjw'oovs and deputysheriffs, and the conversation dritted to the subject of guns, as shooting weapons are termed in Texas. By the way. in Texas at the time I speak of the only pereouf- k-gally entitled to carry weapons were sheriffs marshals and their deputies, and raugers and every bad man who wanted to shoot somebody would generally have influence enough io get appointed a deputy of some kind or other. The inosb reputable portion of trMr population was therefore debarred from carrying weapons, and at the mrvcy of any licenned thug. As I said before, the subject of conversation was gan?, and with considerable pride I displayed my silvermounted and ivory-handled pistol, and asked for an opinion as to its merits. The gun 'vas passed from hand to hand, each grizzled deputy looking at it with the greatest curio=ity. " What do you call that, my son ? " asked a bewhiskered rufFUs at the extreme end of the bar. " That is a revolver, my friend," I answered, " and one of t'ae best makes in the country." " J3ut what do you do with it ? " he then asked. " I have never used it, sir," I answered; " bur, if necessary, I have no doubt I could defend myself and do some little execution." "I'll tell you what, my lad," sak! the representative of the law —"I'll srand up here and let you r<hoofc at me all night tor tour bits a shot " " I have no cause to shoot at you," said I, " and do not care to get in any trouble." " You needn't be afraid, young feller," said the deputy ; "no popgun like that is ever going to hurt me." " Give me back my revolver," said I, " and I will go." " I think I'll try it anyway," said the desperado, and, taking deliberate aim at me, he shot me through the arm with my own pistol. I fell against the bar paie snd terrified. Then the whole gang began to laugh. One of them bound up my arm with a handkerchief, and they insisted thar, I drink with ther/j. As soon as I could escape from my tormentors I hastened back to the hotel and summoned a doctor. He pronounced my injury only a slight flesh wound. The next day I was arrested by the deouty who bad «shofc me, brought before a magistrate, and fined 50dol and costs for carrying a weapon. —Louisvilie Dispatch.