The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-18
COMMUNAL SUICIDE.

MURDERER AND HIS WIFE SEEK OBLIVION
TooETHER-How LIES EXTINCTION WAS
ACCOMPLISHED.
The following remarkable story is related in q
special despatch to the ST. LOUIS Globe Democrat June
Is
In the latter part Of April 1875 Embry Cannon his
son William and two nephews, got on a big spree in
Rockwell Texas aud created great disturbance Ia the
town until late hour OF the nignt. sheriff Alexander
C. Siarks was on intimate terms WITH the Cannons and
endeavorcd to persuade them TO desst from their riot
Gus proceedinss but unsuccessful He then
warned them that II they did not stop disturbing the
peace he would be Obliged to lock them up This only
made them and Tho whole party assaulted the
Snerh and beat aud cut him very severely.
during % mete the snerif drew his re-
volver aud snapped II several times, but none
OF tho chambers exploded. The party scattered,
however, and Siarks, procuring better weapon fol-
lowed the Cannons with the intention OF arresng
them. lie found them IN billiard saloon, and was
again set upon by the whole party and defending him.
self, shot and killed William Cannon. Tins ended the
amIcAble relation between Sturks and the Cahnons,
and some TIME afterwards Starks was notified that
Lmbry Cannon was trying to hire some desperate 10
sssassnate him. This became SO evident that starks
offered his fnrm for sale with the Intention OF moving
TO some other place where ne would Oe more secure.
In september, 1876, stranger appeared In Rockwell,
snguariy dressed and armed with doube-barreiled
shotgun and several revolvers. He pretended to want
to guy farm, and was referred to Starks as having
one for sale. He called Starks and after short
conversation, both started for the farm, Starks
OF his vile and the advice Of some
OF his neighbors- He never returned alive, but next
morning MS DEAD Douy was IOunu III tue WOODS Win u
load OF buckshoi III his head The murderer Ned. II
was subsequently learned that his name Was George
W. Garner In October following murder the Grand
Jury indicted Garner for the murder Of Starks, ana
Embry Cannon AS instgator OF the crime but neither
oil them could be found. IL seems, however, that u
shoA Time PRIOR 10 the murder Of SarKs Garner had
shot the Sherii OF Lee county, Texas while that officer
WIS attempting his arrest, and rewards aggregatlng
81. 600 were offered him. When tho Sheriff OF Lee
county recovered from his wounds he determned 10
capture Garner, and alter long iouno him in
little town near Little Rock, Ark, and succeeded IN
arresng Ind taking him to Lee county, where he was
turned over TO The authorities OF Rockwell county last
March. he was tried IN May and convicted Of Starks
murler, and sentenced TO be hanged on the l5th Of
June.
To-day. after his conviction, he made confession
that Embry Cannon hired him 70 Kill Starks Tor $500
cash. note for $125 and OF horses. Last
TUESDAY evening Mrs. Garner was permitted 10 onter
the Jail remain with her husband uni. his execu-
ton. TINS morning On opening Careers cell the
Sheriff found Mrs. Garner dead and her husband al
most lileess physician sent for, but before ne
arrived Garner dicu. Both lett letters In the one
written by Mrs Garner she said she purchased NOR
rnius Al Dallas two weeks ago. ana took u into the
jail her mouth. question then arose as TO who
lher there enough 70 xiii both, aud which OF them
shodld take tho largest portion OF II. Mrs. Garner
evidently look enough TO kill her, but there were
about her neck which showed she had also been
stra ngled. Garner also took oil the poison but
found this morning he had cotton stuffed IN bis
nostrs, ana handkerchief crammed down his throat
and wlre tho bail oil bucket IN his cell, twisted
around his neck, evidently not being satisfied that
they had taken enough morphine to kill they
finished the job by strangulation The verdict OF the
jury death by stranguiaion. Mrs Garner's letter
urther states that II was not through ner husbands
persuasion that sho gave up all TO so with him.