HOCKLEY'S SENSATION.

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DETAILS OF THE LYNCH-BINFORD SHOOTING.

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Testimony at the Examination — Bail Fixed at $1500 — Binford's Wounds not Dangerous.

[Special Telegram to the News.]

Hempstead, Nov. 8. — At Hockley today Geo. W. Lynch was arraigned before justice Byrnes, charged with assault with intent to kill and murder John Binford by shooting him, which occurred on the morning of the 6th instant.  The cause of this difficulty is traceable to an old feud, which began some years back.  These men have met several times and drawn weapons, but no actual conflict occurred until the 6th inst., when Binford was shot, receiving seven or eight buckshot in his left thigh and leg, and at the same time Lynch was wounded in the left hand, which was struck by two shot.  Lynch fired both barrels of his gun and Binford one.  It will be remembered that Mr. Lynch has barely recovered from wounds, one through the body and one in the neck, received when his eight children were murdered and burned with their house and contents some two months since.

When your reporter reached Hockley this evening the preliminary investigation had closed, but the attorneys who took a condensed statement of the evidence permitted a perusal of it, the substance of which is that, at about 10 or 11 o'clock A.M. on Wednesday, John Binford and Harry Ledu (sic: Lado) rode into Hockley on horseback, stopped a few moments at Ellis's garden, then proceeded toward the Warren hotel, reached the horse-rack, Binford carrying his double-barreled gun across his lap, the muzzle pointing toward the depot.  As Ledu and Binford stopped, preparatory to dismounting, Lynch was noticed going up the steps to the depot platform, with a gun in his hand.

Ledu says Lynch stepped to the corner of the depot, threw his gun up and fired, Binford jumping from his horse at the time the gun was fired.  Binford then ran around toward the depot (described as if Binford circled so as to get into a shooting position).  As Binford reached the path, or walk, that runs from the depot to a bar-room, he fired; that is, two guns were fired.  Can't say which fired first, but Binford staggered toward the bar-room, and when near the horse-rack was disarmed of his gun and a six-shooter.  The latter was belted around his body, under his shirt; did not see Lynch after the first shot.  The parties were 25 or 30 yards apart when the first shot was fired.  Binford was not dismounted when Lynch fired the first time.  Only three guns were fired.  Do not know whether Binford was wounded by the first fire or not.  Lynch threw his gun up to his face, went to the corner and fired.

R. W. Cherry, another witness, stated that he saw Lynch going towards the depot with a gun in his hand.  He walked up the steps on to the platform, laid his gun up to his shoulder and fired about the time Binford was leaving the saddle.  I think, as near as I could see, Lynch dodged back behind the corner of the depot.  After firing the shot Binford, with gun in hand, advanced towards the depot steps, when both fired at about the same time.

J. G. Dupree testified that he was sitting on the steps of the depot; saw Lynch advance toward me quickly, after which I heard the report of a gun.  I sprang to my feet, and passed by Mr. Lynch, he facing the Ellis hotel when I heard another shot; don't know who fired.

Counsel for defense only introduced testimony as to Lynch's abilty (sic) to give bail, and to show that Lynch was justified in shooting, in that he did it in self-defense.

They introduced Roberts, who said he saw Binford as he threw himself off his horse, and at the same time heard a gun fired.  He just lit off on to the ground.  About the time his foot struck, or just before, I heard a gun.  Binford had his gun in position to shoot as he struck the ground.  He made a motion to shoot as he threw himself out of the saddle.

Bail was fixed at $1500, and though not yet given, will doubtless be forthcoming to-morrow.  Binford, though suffering considerably from his wounds, is doing well.  No bones were broken.  Lynch is still in the custody of deputy sheriff Dupree, at this place.

"Details of the Lynch-Binford shooting." The Galveston Daily News, Saturday, November 9, 1878, p. 1, col. 4.

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