The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-02-05

January %, 1874.
Editors etd5enaH ~ did not expect to
write ron from this section, as you and
your readers must be 81 tbeopiniOn that the
subject Of lands and crops Of this region
was thoroughly exhausted; but the perpe-
trafion Of 8 most diabolical murder and
robbery, in daylight and within two hun
dred yards Of two OF thEec dwellings, on
Yesterday, between three and I've O'Clock
?. r., and the hope that description Of
the supposed murderer, which viii give
directly, may lead 20 MISREPRESENTATION, leads
mo 70 write you.
Powers school house and chapel forms
tho nucleus around which some twenty fam
lies Of good, industrious farmers have set
tied. Yesterday about two o'clock, as
passed the residence Of Dr.. Whitaker,
who lives, perhaps, mile and Q half from
the chapel, saw remarkably fine horse,
black and white paint. Itseems the owner
Of that horse!was an Irish peddler, by rame
Patrick Quinn, and supposed 70 i've either
at Hearne or Calvert. After eating his din
ner and getting bottle Of medicine, he
told the doctor he was going to the store Of
Sims & Ford, some half mile above the doc
tors. Quinn then met one Andrew Shelf
field, or Shufield, young man about eigh-
teen years old, who, it seems, had been
loungiDg about the store nearly all day, and
who was acquainted with Quinn-forit has
como out since that the Irishman, Quinn,
passed Sunday at the Widow Knights,
some two or three miles below, on the road
to Calvert, at which place Sheffield met
him, and the two were out walking together
IN the afternoon for some two hours or
more.
Quinn asked at the store where he could
getto stop all night, and Sheffield proposed
for him TO 90 with him to his brothers,
Mark Sheffield, who lived about three
quarters Of mile north Of the store. A few
minutes afterwards, Quinn and Sheffield
left the store together. leading their horses.
Instead Of following the road, they diverged
about one hundred yards and entered the
timber, following q deserted trail. About
half an hour after they were seen to enter
the timber, two shots like those from six
ladies Of Mr.. John Ashbury's family,
but excited but little attention, as
IL was supposed some of the neigh
bors were out In tho. thicket hunting.
A few minutes afterWard, however, two
horses were seen rushing out Of the timber
at full speed-the paint horse without sad
die OF bride, but Shefheld's horse with sad
die and bride. Sheffield followed the
horses and called to O colored man working
in the cotton field close by to catch the
horse (his) and he would give him two dol
lars. The man succeeded in capturing the
horse and took him to Sheffield, who paid
him two dollars with his loft hand, and the
man observed that his right hand was all
bloody, and some on his clothes and face.
Shefield's acting caused suspicion, and the
two lads went to the timber, where they dis
covered Quinn lying under tfee all bloody
and dead. Tho alarm was raised and the
neighbors came up, but the general impres-
sion was that they were powerless to oct
without paace officer. Runners were dis
patched 20 Cedar Mills, q distance Of six
miles, for Squire Pearson, the justice Of the
precinct he was absent attending the
county court at Marlin, but Deputy Sheriff
Glass came down, and after examining things,
organized q posse Of the citizens, who
searched tho house of Shefield's brother,
but the bird had flown. The posse, headed
by the deputy sheriff, followed and traced
him to the house Of his brotherin-law, and
his father, who lived about twenty miles
from where tho murder wNa committed.
Here they were informed that he had been
there but had departed about thirty min
utes before.
One posse started to Calvert to intercept
him il ho got on the train; they retained
iaIc last night without success. The other
posse were heard Of on Little River.
Itispresumed that If he does not quit the
State and 60 to Georgia, that he will make
for Coryell or COmanche counties, in both
Of which no has relatives ta|
Tho corpse presented a most ghastly sight ;
shot in the back, the ball lodging on the
spinal column; struck over Tho head three
tines with pioce OF iron about eighteen
inches IN length, with q heavy knot on the
end, evidently shovel handle; his throat
cut completely around to tho bone. Any
Of these wounds would have caused death.
When saw the corpse, an hour or so after
the murder, Il was the most awful specta-
Gle ever beheld. The upper part all wash
ed in blood, a gaping wound In the throat
and oil except q space Of an Inch or two
round his left eye was bloody. His beauti-
ful blue ere open and staring at you as you
looked on tho body, which but an hour OF
two before, seemed to have as long lease
Of life as any Of as around his corpse.
Squire Pearson came down as soon IS he
could after hearing the news, impanneled
jury, and after examining all the evil
dence, they could get a, the jury returned
verdict that the deceased was murdered
BY Andrew Sheffield, and asked the justice
to mako such representation 10 Governor
Coke, as % cause him 20 offer q reward for
the capture OF sheffield
Too much praise cannot be accorded 20 the
citizens Of this settlement; theyd all they
could to capture the murderer, and had the
unfortunate mans dead body decently taken
LA H.
yard attached 10 Powers Chapel, and such
81 his pack as was net stolen BY the murd-
efor Is IN the hands 81 the officers Of the
law.
I forgot 10 mention that the pockets oil
the murdered man were found rided, and Il
il supposed, besides some money, that the
brutal assassin got gold watch and chain
which Quinn wore, and box Of jewelFy
which Quinn had exhibited for sale at the
Doctors, where he dined.
This Is tho frst murder for robbery that
has ever taken place in the county. Hereto
forn have been "a the habit Of going alone
al over the neighborhood roads, some a
which are very lonely--dont think viii
do 50 again; not that fear the neighbors,
but who knows Who may be lurking about
The following Is q description Of the &C.
cusod, Andrew sheffield, on Shudield
About eighteen years cid; Eve feet eight
inches high Ugh hair reddish complexion,
and supposed 20 weigh about 80 or ieo
pounds; sWaggeFe good deal, snd inclined
. be qnarrolsome; well known about Mays.
hope the eosernOs unl oiIer a large 70.
ward. WAxDREHR.
onsra1 cusurno ought certainly to en-.