 Evansville (IN) Courier and Press
Sunday, September 14, 1884 Filled with Lead. Galveston, Sept. 13. -- (Associated Press.) -- The News' Sherman, Tex., special says: At a late hour last night Jot Gunter, a wealthy cattle dealer, shot and killed Dan Thompson, proprietor of a large saloon here and at Dallas. Thompson was indebted to Gunter about $45,000. Gunter levied on the property and Thompson publicly threatened to kill Gunter, taking a position in the hallway last night with the intention of shooting Gunter as he passed. Being warned of the danger, Gunter armed himself with shotgun and pistol and entered a saloon where Thompson was sitting and emptied the contents of both weapons in Thompson's breast. Gunter is a peaceable and highly respected citizen and one of the wealthiest men in north Texas. He has been held for the grand jury. The Sunday Gazetter Sunday, September 17, 1884 pg 1 KILLING Saturday's Sherman Courier Last night about 10 o'clock another of those occasional chapters of blood which mar the harmony of our orderly city was read out from the mouth of a shot gun in the hands of Capt. Jot Gunter, and resulted in the instant death of Dan Thompson. On entering the saloon, the body of Thompson was seen lying on the floor, surrounded by those who had been attracted by the excitement. Wounds in the neck, face, chest and shoulder were visible. The chest wound is large and has the appearance of having been made by the entrance of a whole charge of buckshot. His shoulder is crushed and torn. Thompson lived but a moment. Below we give the statement of Ike Jones, bar tender at the Horse Shoe, who was an eye witness to the shooting: "I was in the saloon watching some boys play pool. The game became dull, and I went out on the side walk and sat down by Thompson. He was sitting in a chair, leaning back against a brick column. The subject of the attachment of his saloon by the Driving Park Association was being discussed between us. Thompson said, 'It hurts me like h___ the way they have treated me; they may kill me yet, but they will have to come over on my side.' After a moment's silence he asked me 'Have you got anything in the house?' I saw some one crossing the street in the direction of southeast, and coming towards us. I saw a gun in his hand. I did not recognize him until he passed us about ten feet, when he turned round and began firing --- I then recognized Mr. Gunter. Gunter fired one shot while I was sitting in the chair. Thompson started to rise after the first shot and said 'don't.' At this point I started to go into the house. Saw Gunter fire a second shot, I thought he was shooting with a winchester or carbine. After getting into the house I thought I heard another shot and thought it came from the west side of the street. R. B. Mitchell, a farmer from Fannin county, who was near the scene of the killing, made the following statement to our reporter: "I was standing in the open space south of the saloon. I heard what I took to be the report of a gun. My attention was directed to the saloon by this shot, and stepped west to where I could get a better view. After this I heard a shot, the report of which indicated that it came from the west side of the street." THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE Yesterday the Sheriff leived an execution in favor of the Sherman Driving Park Association, upon the saloon property of Thompson. Mr Gunter is the president of the association and it is supposed that Thompson held Gunter in some way responsible for the levy, and became very much enraged at him. However this may be, rumors that threats of personal violence to Gunter, and, it is said, he told Gunter he would kill him. From a responsible gentleman we heard it stated last night that Thompson had during the evening posted himself in a hallway, expecting to kill him as he passed on his way to supper. These and many more rumors were discussed after the killing. A friend and adviser of Capt. Gunter told a reporter last night that at the earliest possible moment proof would be forthcoming in abundance to substantiate the truth of the threats and other hostile demon strations on the part of Thompson. Whatever the true cause of the trouble which resulting in the killing, the short and bloody work indicated that Gunter believed himself aggrieved to that extent which demanded the life of his enemy --- in short that his own life was at stake, and that to preserve it required the killing of Thompson. The body of Thompson was removed to the court house, where Justice Bullock empaneled a jury of Inquest composed of the following gentlement: W. A. Wells, Burt Willis, Charles McFarland, Bob Burns, Sam Zemensky and Harry Mitchell. After examining the wounds the jury adjourned over until 9 o'clock this morning when they will meet for further investigation. The Democrat McKinney, Texas Thursday, September 18, 1884 pg. 3 KILLING OF DAN THOMPSON Sherman, September 13 - At about 11 o'clock last night a bloody tragedy was enacted on North Travis street, in front of the Horseshoe saloon, in which Dan Thompson was shot and killed by Capt. Jot Gunter. Capt. Gunter is one of the most prominent and enterprising men in the state. Thompson was a saloon-keeper, who had been in our city for some time. When he came to the town of Gunter was very favorably impressed with him, and furnished him with $5,000 or $6,000, with which to open a saloon and befriended him in various other ways. Trouble between the parties began about two months ago when Gunter had Thompson's saloon attached and sold out. This made THompson very angry, and an encounter has been looked for by many ever since. About a week ago Thompson opened another saloon. The Sherman Driving Park association, of which Gunter is President, held a judgement against him (Thompson) for some $400 or $500, and yesterday evening execution was issued and his saloon closed up again. This made Thompson furious, and he repeatedly threatened the life of Gunter, and, it is said, made some demonstration to execute his threat. Last night about 11 o'clock the people in the vicinity were aroused by eight shots fired in quick succession, and upon going to the spot, Thompson was found dead. He had received a charge of buckshot in the centre of the breast, another charge had glanced the top of the right shoulder; he had also received a bullet in his left forearm, and one in the left side of his back. A friend of Thompson, who was with him at the time, says they were in front of the saloon sitting down, when Gunter passed with a shot gun in his hand, and that just as he passed he wheeled around and shot Thompson twice with his gun. No one seems to know who fired the other shots, which evidently came from a pistol. Gunter gave himself up to the officers immediately. The coroner was called and held an inquest last night. It is thought by some that more trouble will ensue from the killing, as Thompson has several friends and a brother who came up from Dallas to-day. The Democrat McKinney, Texas Thursday, October 2, 1884 pg. 3 The widow of Dan Thompson has brought suit against Jot Gunter for $35,000 damages for killing her husband. FELONY Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |