The true Democrat., 1854-11-01
From the Clarksville Texas Standard, Oct. 2l. Tragical Occurrence.

we noted In our paper, two weeks since, the arrest of Green Caudle on a charge of stealing mules. When Sheriff West arrested him, he took some four or five persons with him, to the place of Peter Ringo, on Sulphur, where Cau- dle had been living about three months. The sheriff had, at the same time capias for two sons of Ringo indicted for robbery, and as he rode up to an enclosure where the old man and some other persons were, he asked if one of them was not Elias Ringo. At this the old man became greatly excited, and informed him that he and his sons would all shoot; had the best sort of tools always in the best sort of order and warned him that The came to take any of them, he had better come we'll prepared, and bring large force-that they would die before they would be taken. Subsequently he told one of the party that he could muster 25 or 30 men. The sheriff told him that he should always en- deavor to do his duty as inoffensively as possi- ble, but that he should do his duty. The old man gave him information of Caudle, and he passed on, found him and took him. As he did this portion of the party who had gone around, for the purpose of preventing an escape, rode up, and there was some noise made which induced the old man, who could not then see them to believe that thay had found one or both of his sons. He came riding up with gun, avowing his suppostion, and repeating his threat. On Tuesday last, sheriff West having summoned posse, started off once more to ex- ecute the capias against the Ringos, and having divided his party of IA men, got to the house about sundown and found no men there Four of the party Wm. Powers Simmons, James Ward, and Marion Stanley were detail ed to watch the house and the others secuted about for the persons to be arrested, who were. at the time, in the Sulphur bottom. After awhile the old man came up on horseback, shook hands with Powers, and as he got near the fence was met by one of his daughters who handed him his double barrel shot gun with the excla- nation Pa-there is Bill Powers-he is the first one who set his foot on the place-shoot him." As Ringo reached forward for the gun. Powers told him not to take it. or he would shoot The reply was that it was his own gun. and that he would take 1t at the hazard of his life: he took it, cooked it, (the barrel being near Powers breast) and as he cooked it. after hearing the click of the lock- Powers shot him near the neck the load of buck shot, probably ranging towards the heart, Ringo at the time being bent forward. He died that night. One of his sons, not included in the warrant, came up afterwards, and threatened to kill Powers. who warned him not to approach him or make any manifestations. Immediately upon the sound of the discharge, the rest of the party came up to see the cause, and Powers request ed one of them to take Ringo's gun, and see that 1t was cooked. As one of them started to do so, one of Ringo's daughters leaped the fence, seized the gun and threatened them.- Two of the party, however, saw her let down the cock
 The party retired that night, and returned next day, but did not find the persons they came for, and became satisfied that they could not, as the place was admirably situated for se- cretlon-the woods dense-thickets numerous and close at hand while the house itself is on a high point and affords excellent means of giv- ing signals to lying-out party and the neigh borhood Is thnly settled. One of the sons. con- vlcted some years since of manslaughter, and sentenced to the psnitentiary, escaped, and it is well known has been rowing about the neigh borhood ever since, without being in danger of capture. Peter Ringo, was an old resident of the county, well known to most of the old citi- zens. So far his dealings hereabout are hnown, there has not, to cur knowledge, been any complaint. But in his own neighborhood there has been for a long time, a dread of the family as passionate, domineering, and danger OuS.
 On our trip up the country, week before last, we found that the fear of them, or the fear of some private injury from them in case of any manifestation against their habits and course of life, extended as far as the line of route be- tween here and Paris. Whether there was suf- tcentcause for this, we do not know; but we know that 1t existed.