The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-06-27
Democratic peace In Texas.

ST. Louis, june l5-The GioJe-
Democrat mas y special from Rock
well, Trxa4, which gives > graphic
account of remark.bis mu. Ter aud
suicide which were r-cenlIy ctumu-
ted thrre IL appsa's ,has Ia the
latter part If April. 1919, Enhe.ry
Cannon. his son William and tw0I
nephews commenced debauch 10
Rockwell, and created great disturb
ance in town until late hour OF the
night. Sheriff Alexander G. Starks
was ON intimate terms with .he Can
mons, and endeavored To persuade
them TO desist from their riot0us pro-
ceedipgs, bu. was unsuccessful. He
then warned them that if they did not
stop disturbing the peace be would
lock them up This only made them
worse, aud The whole party assaulted
the Sheriff, beating and cutting him
severely. During the melee the Sher-
in drew a revolver and snapped it
several times, but none of the cham
bers exploded The party scattered,
however, and Starks procured e bet
ter weopon ahd followed the Cannons
with the intention Of arresting them.
He found them 10 billiard saloon,
and was again set upon by the whole
party. and, while defending himself,
shot and killed William Cannon.
This ended the amicable relations
between Starks and the Cannons.
Some time afterward Starks was
notified that Emberry Cannon was
irving to hire some desperate to assas-
sinate him. This became so evident
that S.arks offered his farm for sale,
with the intention of moving 10 some
place where he would be more secure.
In September of 1876, a stranger ap
peared in Rockwell, singularly dress
ed and armed with double barreled
shotgun aud several revolgers lie
expressed a wish to buy farm, and
was referred to Starks as having one
for sale. lie called on Starks, aud
after a short conversation both started
for the farm. The next morning
Starks was found dead in the woods,
with load Of buck snot ia bis head.
The murderer fec, and it was subse-
quently learned that his name was
George W Garner
In October following the murder,
the Grand Jury indicted Garner for
the murder OF Starks, and Emberry
Cannon as instigstor oftbe crime, but
neither could be found. Ii seems,
however, that a short time prior to
the murder of Starks, Garner had shot
the Sheriff of Lee County, Texas,
while that officer was attempting his
arrest, and rewards aggregating
81 900 were offered for his apprehen-
sion. When the Sheriff of Lee County
recovered from his wounds he deter
mined to capture Garner, and after
long search found him at Little Rock
Ark, and took him to Lee County
where be was turned over to the au-
thorities Of Rockwell County last
March. He was tried in May, con-
victed Of the murder Of Starks, and
sentenced to be hanged on the 18th
of June, 1871 After bis conviction
ne confessed that Emberry Cannon
hired him to kill Starks for $500 10
cash, note for Sl25, and a team o.
horses. Last Tuesday evening Mrs
Garner was permitted to enter Jail 10
remain with her husband until his ex-
ecution. This morning, on opening
Garner's cell the Sheriff found Mrs.
Garner dead, and her husband almost
Iifeless A physician was sent for,
but before be arrived Garner died.
Both left letters, and that written
by Mrs. Garner stated that she pur-
chased morphine at Dallas two weeks
ago, and took it into Jail in her mouth.
A question then arose as 10 whether
there was enough to kill both, and
which should take the largest portion
Mrs. Garner evidently took enough to
kill her, but there were marks about
her neck which showed she had also
been s;rangled Garner also took
some of the poison, but when found
this morning be had cotton stuffed 10
his nosirils, handkerchief crammed
in bis mouth, and the wire of a bucket
in his cell twisted around bis neck
Evidently not beinc satisfied that Re
had taken sufficient morphine TO kill,
they finished their work by strang-
ulstion.