Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1868-09-12

IillI ncchiho 80 popular, during tii
. days of the Convention:
. "Amsag III. tru.,t ffi,nd. of the people Of all
the pTes~ai csassaiioa MAY 10 namsi John Hiil.
~, fHnrls. lie energy. eloinsAoe, aBi soaT..
h'iiy sntitis him 10 the place h- holds, and. as
Arkansas ilsmosTaey,"
The second extract is taken fron
tho same paper for May, 1910;
"bleopr ArrRw.-A desperate rsneounisr o,
eutrsi iu ~. franei. last week, Two distinsuishe
riitsns were killed. aud three others dAngerousl
wounded, III. dlficnliy rrsulied FROM an atismT
." arrest John iil, member cf the last LsgslaiuI,
aud forni-fiy u the State Convention, who, as 10
alleged, 70 the notorious rabter Nixon Curry, VIII
e"mmiilsd such airoclous ff,esn years ago In th
inoun'aiu. Of North Carolina"
A rcquisition was sent by tn,
Governor of North Carolina demand
ing the surrender of Nixon Curry
ThcGovcrnor of Arkansas publishc,
an additional reward for the arrcs
of John Hill, and thus between th,
two il seemed as if il was about ~
with the victim. ..... ... ...
Hill packed up hastily, and SO,
ont with his wife and children fol-
Upper Arkansas, where he knew o
tho existence of a band of despcr.
ADDE'S that he had reason to believe
would protect him. He was pur.
sued by over II hundred of the citi.
zcns, many Of them unarmcd and
who attended only for tho purpose
of witnessing the sport and sccur-
ing part of tho muniiicent reward
that was offered for his apprchcn
sion. Hill was ovortakcn at Con
way courthouse by these men, and
halting his wagon, and admonishing
his wife and children to keep their
places, he marched forth with his
death dealing gun.
Tho gal.antry of the action, and
Hills bravery, operated in his favor.
Many were unwilling to hurt SO in
trepid character; others were
afraid; II panic was created, and
Hill pursued his way unmolested.
Subsequent attempts were made to
arrest him, but all resulted tragic
ally or ludcrously to those attempt.
ing it. 1t was known that Hill
could never be taken alive, and
many began to believe that he could
not when dead The constant pur-
suit and hunting of him changed
his nature. He became morose and
sour; and unable to follow any reg
ular business, he resorted to the
gambling table for the support of
his family. He became q drinkcr,
too, and was speedily transformed
into most bitter and quarrelsome
opponent. 1 os'5 ig.rass ~ 1a
IfHill had been famous among
tho mountains of North Carolina,
he now became doubly so. Except
ing, perhaps, that prince of duel
lists, James Bowie, there never was
a man who inspired more terror
Men who had acquired a wide rep
utation for deeds of daring turned
pale when they encountered John
Hill. .Bullies who sought quarrels
on the slightest preteXt accepted all
manner of insults from him without
a single word of remonstrance.
One day in September, 1915, while
he was seated at the breakfast table,
Hill burst into tears.
What is the matter, dcar?" in
quired his wife.
II have had a dreadful dream
It is a warning. know l shall
dio before sunset. Together we
have encountered perils and hard
ships; you abandoned wealth and
position for my sake, and you have
never spoken an unkind word to
me. We have loved from childhood,
and that love has never known
abatement. 1t is this that troubles
me-not regard for self. 1t is in.
dcllibly impressed upon my mind
that / shall die a horrible death
before sundown, and the thought
that it will distress you also dis
trcsses me"
lucSc NcTc tDG cAGCb WOluS VI
Hill, as testified by his wife and
children. His wife told him:
"Thcn, my dear husband, do not
90 10 court to day
(The Circuit Court of Pope coun-
ty, in which Hill resided, it should
be remarked, was then in session.
ayes, my wife, | must &c" he re-
piled; "whcn mans time has come
he should not seek to avoid death,
but meet it bravely." Then turn
ing to his son William, a bright boy |
of thirteen, he told him to go and |
get the Bible, and upon it he made |
him swear to kill the man who |
killed his father.
"Herc comes Moses Howard,
father; he will protect you," re-
marked Mary, tho eldest daughter, /
as she deserted the young man ap
preaching.
The youth, who was fine, pow
crful looking man, chattcd a few
mirutes with the family, and then /
went out with Hill, who shaved and I
dressed himself with particular
neatness, and embraced his wife |
with the warmest affection, and with
tears in his eyes, before leaving
As soon as the two reached town .
Hill began drinking deeply, and !
showed a more quarrelsoms dispO 4
sition than ever. He insulted every
body that crossed bis path, and al .
e treaties Of the young man failed !
10 paeify him. Finally be declared
that be would clear the courthouse,