The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-04-25
A TEXAS TRAGEDY.
A Prayer-Mecting Changed into = wild
Scene Of Blood.

[stephensville CTeras) Cor. st. Louis Globel
The particulars, as near as can be
ascertained, of the late shooting and
murder in this region appear to be as
follows: This Erath) county is one of
the most recently settled in Texas, and
is still regarded as one of the frontier
counties. One of the oldest residents
of the county is J. p. Holloway, who
has heretofore passed as q quiet, order
ly citizen, his family consisting of sew
eral sons and daughter.
1t so happened that the county Of
ficials had papers for Rusk Hollo-
way, one of old man Holloway's sons.
Previous to executing them, however,
Deputy Sheriff w. H. King duly sum-
moned three citizens, M. d. Robertson,
J. T. Ross, and Eli Keith, to assist in
service. Late in the evening Deputy
King and party left the village of
Stephensville and rode out some miles
to the residence of old man Holloway,
where they arrived in the midst of a
prayer-meeting in full blast. The
Deputy entered among the worshipers
and inquired for Rusk Holloway, who
was pointed out to him. The Deputy
then, walking up to the young man,
said:
Rusk. I have papers for you for un-
lawful carrying of pistol, but it is too
dark to read them, and I will state
to you their substance. Have you any
arms?"
ayes, but more of your sort will get
them" answered Rusk Holloway, at the
same time throwing back his coat and
reJreating. In twinkling the Deputy
was surrounded by his enemies, and
Joe Holloway, a brother of Rusk,
rushed up, seized one of the latter's pis-
tolls, at the same time drawing it. The
official party threw up his hands and
called for peace. Paying no attention
to the request Rusk Holloway began
shooting. Fora few minutes it was like
the first skirmish of small battle. King
and his friend, Robertson, ran around
the house. Just as he turned the cor
ner bullet struck him, and the unfort-
innate man, throwing up his hands,
staggered few PAGES and fell, the blood
at the same time trickling out of the
CORY wound and flowing down his
clothes. He was shot through, and
breathed his last just as Deputy King,
under heavy fire and the swift crack
of pistols, stopped down and asked him
if he was hurt. The fight now amount
ed to regular battle.
The voice of prayer was hushed in
the whiz of bullets, and the bang!
bang! bang! of guns and pistols. In the
meantime the smoke of gunpowder and
the groans of the wounded and dying
assembled together. Keith and Ross, in
the midst of q shower of bullets, ran
around the opposite side of the house.
Just he reached small tree Ross fell,
pierced by ball. But, with his six
shooter still in his hand, the doomed
victim rose to his knees, chung to the
tree with one hand, and tried to shoot
with the other.
At this moment old man Holloway
and his daughter appeared on the scene
of carnage, and, fastening to where
Ross lay clinging to the tree, demanded
the surrender of his six. shooter. Ross
replied he might have it, provided he
would let him take out the one remain
ing cartridge. Holloway and his daugh-
ter-the eyes of the girl flaming, and
her long hair floating on the south wind
which blew away the smoke of the fight
then seized the pistol of the wounded
man, and, by main force, wrenched it
from his hands, enfeebled as they were
through loss of blood. The old man
then, like fend from hell, placed the
muzzle of Ross own pistol against the
side of the wounded man and fired.
Ross, with groan, fell over and died,
his murderer coolly extending the life
less body on the ground, besmeared in
blood. King and Keith escaped, and
the bodies of Robertson and Ross we're
shortly afterward found where they fell
by posse of citizens. The murderers
were subsequently arrested.