San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-01-26
notes for the balance payable in one

The Morrisons seemed very willing "a
settle, they figured up the interest, and
thumbed over the notes, told Lyons
they would have to 60 to Sonora to get
their money to settle, that they would
90 down with him in the morning, he
could leave his papers with them and
they could figure upa little more on
them and settle next day in Sonora.
Lyons left his papers, and the Morri-
sons destroyed them. Lyons called on
them for his money; they told him to
g 60 to the devil. ....,
Stung by this piece of sharp practice
Lyons hurried to Sonora and laid the
matter before a lawyer named Watson.
The lawyer told Lyons he had no case
as there was do evidence at all to sus-
tain it, but, said he, we will bring the
suit any way. Iwant to get chance at
the Morrisons, and will give them the
best Safeguarding they ever got in all
their lives, and before l get through
with them they may wish they had paid
the money to the persons entitled to it.
The suit was brought, the trial came
on, and rs expected Lyons lost it. He
had no evidence to show there was any
amount coming to him, and the Nor
risons swore point blank that they had
made payment in full. ia."., s'..
Then rueful mutterings were heard on
all sides as to the danger of the Morrison
brothers. 81 would not live on that
farm for all the money in California;"
said one. "Nor /, nor T." repeated
others. Thus it went from lip to mouth
with shake of head which brought to
mind all the troubles of the Lyons place,
the mysterious disappearance and the
horrid appearances of all the unfortu
mates connected in any way with that
fatal locality. L was at the trial, said
Captain Stewart, and remember well
these fearful prophesies. a'.i
1t was not long before terrible trag
,edy was enacted in return for the mock,
ing farce that had been put, off on the
Lyons. The trouble predicted by those
who knew the desperate character of
Jim Lyons was not long delayed. But
few days after the lawsuit, says Cap
tain Stewart, U was aroused by man
saying the Morrisons had all been muir
dered and their house burned down.
h l mounted my horse and went inn
mediately to the spot. As I approach
ed, saw crowd of miners looking
about the ruins by the light Of pine
knots which they carried in their hands.
I dismounted and went close to the
smoking ruins. They had found the
bodies of two of the Morrisons, the third
was missing. ..a
One of the bodies was a mere trunk |
without head, arms or legs. l turned it
over and counted IL buckshot holes in
the small of the back. The body of the
other Morrison lay outside of the fire
line, where he had dragged himself, his
right arm shattered from gunshot
wound; he was mangled and bruised
but was still alive. put my lips to his
ear and asked him who did this2 He
said it was Ed Watson, the lawyer, who
had killed his brother. as.ss
Twas astounded. knew Watson had
abused the Morrisons in court at the suit |
of Lyons, and had poured out on their
heads the bitter invectives of deeply in
jured client, but that he should follow
it up by murder most. foul which |
should glut its vengeance by committing
to the wrathful flames the bodies of his
victims and their earthly habitation, l
could not conceive. 1tr.' ..f
/ knew Watson had no pecuniary in
terest in the suit; knew he did not ex-
pect verdict in his favor but that he
had tried it as much II Salty these men
that an effort would be made to right
their wrongs as any thing else and to
prevent if possible any thing like the
very trouble which had occurred in the
terrible vengeance on the Morrisons.
This was my firm belief, and when he
told me "Ed Watson the lawyer did it"
| was more shocked and surprised than
when l heard of the principal occur
renee, the killing of the Morrisons and
the burning of their house. 80 70
had been afraid something like that
would overtake them, and its realization
only brought confirmation to my uneasy
The eye for eye, tooth
for tooth, life for life doctrine had been
practiced there every day, but here