...are you a gun fighter? Tommy Warren Vintage Original Photograph and Broadside 1889

Tommy Warren

...are you a gun fighter?...

By the night of October 16, 1892, Tommy Warren, professional pugilist, bantamweight champion of the west coast, and some said in line to be champion of the world, was no stranger to trouble. From rumors of fixed fights, to brawls in the street Tommy Warren had seen a more than his fair share of trouble in his twenty-seven years. But come 3:00 AM on the morning of October 16, 1892, Tommy Warren was to learn the real meaning of trouble.

Warren and a friend, Jim Finnegan, had been drinking all evening in the St. Charles Saloon, in Waco, Texas. At around 3:00 AM Jim Finnegan adjourned to a private room.

"Jim Finnegan, " ... When I went into the wine room Mollie Adams, Lillie Meyers, Philie Goldsmith and Skeet (E. S. ) Root were there; I carried in there a picture of Mollie Adams, and we were laughing and talking: in a little while..Warren, came in and told me to come and let's go to bed; Mollie Adams spoke up and asked him what he was there for, and told him he had no business there, calling him a son-of-a-bitch; he then called her a bitch and she called him a son-of-a-bitch again;Warren then picked up a glass of beer and told her if she called him a son-of-a-bitch again he would throw it in her face; I grabbed Warren by the arm and Skeeter Root pulled his pistol on Warren, and told him that he came there with those women and he was going to protect them;Warren then asked if he was a gun fighter and left the room;we continued to talk and laugh, and directly Lillie Meyers said let's go and we got up; about this time Warren appeared at the door and as he appeared at the door Mollie Adams and the porter broke out the door; as soon as Root saw Warren at the door he began to draw his pistol, then Warren fired striking the porter; Root got up in the corner to the left of the door, and Warren stood outside of door...and hallooing where is he; I told him not to shoot and told him and Root to put down their pistols, which he did. Warren agreeing...then came in and picked up both pistols and left...(1)

Tommy Warren was convicted of the murder of Clem Stovall, the black porter and sentenced to 7 years in the Texas State Prison at Waco, Texas. Warren was released in January of 1898. On April 21, 1900, thirty-five year old Tommy Warren fought Terry McGovern, the fight lasted twenty-five rounds, Warren was knocked down twicce.

"Poor Old Tommy Warren Battered and Hissed Off"

-L.A. Times. April 21, 1900

Warren enlisted in the army transport and died February 10, 1904 of pnuemonia. He was thiry nine years old.

(1) In the Criminal Court of Appeals Transcript Testimony.