Time To Die
True West|September 2018

Despite a handicapped left hand, Jack Harris felt  confident he could kill troublesome gambler Ben Thompson.

Thomas C. Bicknell And Chuck Parsons
Time To Die
Four years before controversial lawman Ben Thompson and pal John King Fisher were killed at the Vaudeville Theatre in San Antonio, Texas, on March 11, 1884, Thompson set into motion a feud that ultimately cost him his life.

The feud was sparked in late February 1880, when Thompson, an owner of a gambling hall above the Iron Front Saloon on Congress Avenue in Austin, was visiting San Antonio and decided to try his luck at the gambling room run by Joe Foster on the second floor of Jack Harris’s Vaudeville Theatre, located on the northeast corner of Main Plaza.

San Antonio’s version of what transpired goes: Thompson lost his cash playing monte and exchanged his gold watch and some diamonds for $1,000 to continue to gamble. He lost $360 of that, switched over to play faro and did not lose or win any more. He turned over his chips to Foster and said to keep his watch and diamonds on collateral for the $360 owed to the house. The next night, after Thompson retrieved his items, he pulled a pistol on Foster, refused to pay the balance and left. The following day, Thompson admitted to Foster he had been drunk, but still did not pay what he owed, and returned to Austin.

Austin’s version was recounted by William M. Walton, who worked with Thompson on his autobiography and finished it after the gunman’s death: When Thompson’s run of luck went against him, he watched the game go on and became convinced it was rigged. Angry at being cheated, he recovered his jewelry and, when Foster demanded payment for what was owed, Thompson pulled his pistol and denounced Foster as a cheat.

In either case, Thompson never paid his gambling debt. When the generally peaceable Harris found out about the altercation, he could not allow Thompson’s behavior to pass, or else others would attempt to take their money back in a similar fashion. As the principal partner, he banned Thompson from ever entering the Vaudeville again.

この記事は True West の September 2018 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は True West の September 2018 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

TRUE WESTのその他の記事すべて表示
FIREARMS COLT WALKER 47
True West

FIREARMS COLT WALKER 47

THE LEGENDARY HANDGUN THAT REALLY WON THE WEST

time-read
6 分  |
January - February 2025
HERITAGE TRAVE
True West

HERITAGE TRAVE

THE AMERICAN WEST IN ALL ITS GLORY OUR ANNUAL FAVORITES LIST CELEBRATES DESTINATIONS ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.

time-read
10 分  |
January - February 2025
Wild Turkey, and Not the Drinkin' Kind
True West

Wild Turkey, and Not the Drinkin' Kind

The actual bird was a favorite of pioneers.

time-read
2 分  |
January - February 2025
THE PASSION PROJECTS OF THE MODERN WESTERN
True West

THE PASSION PROJECTS OF THE MODERN WESTERN

A YEAR OF UNDERRATED EXCELLENCE

time-read
7 分  |
January - February 2025
WESTERN BOOKS THEN AND NOW
True West

WESTERN BOOKS THEN AND NOW

THE STATE OF WESTERN HISTORY AND FICTION PUBLISHING IN 2024 IS ONE OF GRIT AND DETERMINATION.

time-read
5 分  |
January - February 2025
SAMUEL WALKER VALIANT WARRIOR
True West

SAMUEL WALKER VALIANT WARRIOR

While a prisoner at the castle of Perote, Walker was put to work raising a flagpole. At the bottom of the hole, Walker placed a Yankee dime, vowing to someday come back and retrieve it, at the same time exacting revenge on his Mexican captors. In the summer of 1847, when Walker's mounted riflemen returned and routed Santa Anna's guerillas, the young captain kept his promise and got his dime back.

time-read
9 分  |
January - February 2025
THE BATTLE OF CENTRALIA
True West

THE BATTLE OF CENTRALIA

ON September 27, 1864, Bloody Bill Anderson and about 80 men took over the small railroad village of Centralia, looting stores and discovering a barrel of whiskey that they hauled out into the street. Wild enough when sober, they soon were roaring drunk.

time-read
3 分  |
January - February 2025
THE MAN WHO SHOOTS THE WEST
True West

THE MAN WHO SHOOTS THE WEST

Jay Dusard is a living American photographer who has made Arizona his home for over 60 years, seeing it first in 1960 on a visit, moving here for good in 1963.

time-read
2 分  |
January - February 2025
A TRUE WESTERNER INDEED PHIL SPANGENBERGER 1940-2024
True West

A TRUE WESTERNER INDEED PHIL SPANGENBERGER 1940-2024

Spangenberger had Nevada trained to bow by the legendary horse trainer, Glenn Randall, who trained Roy Rogers' Trigger, Gene Autry's Champion, Rex Allen's Koko and the Ben Hur chariot horses, among other great equines.

time-read
5 分  |
January - February 2025
Where Did the Loot Go? - This is one of those find the money stories. And it's one that has attracted treasure hunters for more than 150 years.
True West

Where Did the Loot Go? - This is one of those find the money stories. And it's one that has attracted treasure hunters for more than 150 years.

Whatever happened to the $97,000 from the Reno Gang's last heist? Up to a dozen members of the Reno Gang stopped a Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis train at a watering station in southern Indiana. The outlaws had prior intelligence about its main load: express car safes held about $97,000 in government bonds and notes. In the process of the job, one of the crew was killed and two others hurt. The gang made a clean getaway with the loot.

time-read
2 分  |
July - August 2024