Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-14
PRAYERS AND PISTOLS.
LIVELY TIME AT A TEXAS PRAYER
MEETING.
An Attempt to Arrest Young 0esper-
ado During Its Progress, Result
ing in the Death Of
Two officials.

SrEPuENsyILLE, TEXAS, April l2.-The
particulars, as near as can be ascer'
tanned, 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 re-
garded as one of the frontier counties.
One OF the oldest residents of the county
is j. Z, Holloway, who has heretofore
passed as quiet and orderly
citizen, his family consisting OF
several sons and daughter. 1t so
happen ii that the county official had
papers for Rusk Holloway, one of old
man IS)llOway's sons. Previously TO
executing them, however, Deputy Sher-
i'll W. d. King duly summoned three
citizens: M. ID. Robertson, J. 7. Ross
and Eli kesh-tO assist in the service.
Late insthe evening Deputy King and
party lhit the village Of Stephensville
and rode out some miles To the resi-
dence OF old man Holloway, where they
arrived in the midst of a prayer-meeting
in full Hast. The deputy entered among
the worshippers and inquired for Rusk
Holloway, who was pointed out to him.
The Deputy, then walking up to the
young Inan, said: "Rusk, | have papers
for you for unlaw iul carrying of pistol,
but ii is too dark 10 read them, and !
will state To YOU their substance. Have
you any arms on your person."
Yes but none OF your sort will get
them answered Rusk Holloway, at
the same time throwing back his coat
and relreating. In a twinkling the
Deputy was surrounded by his enemies,
and Joe Holloway, a brother OF Rusk,
rushed up, seized one OF the latter'S
pistols, at the same time drawing it, The
official party now saw their danger. Ross,
one ot the shcrili's party, threw up his
hands and called Tor peace. Paying no
attention 10 the request, Rusk Holloway
began shooting. For few minutes
il was like the Skirmish of small
battle King and his friend, Robertson,
ran around the house. Just as he
turned the corner a bullet struck him
and the unfortunate 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
brcathcd his last rs Deputy King, under
a heavy fire and the swift crack OF pis-
tolls, stopped down and asked him if he
was hurt.
The fight now amounted To regular
battle. The voice ot 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
Rose, in the midst OF a shower OF
bullets, ran quickly around the OPP
poSitc side of the house. Just a.
he reached a small tree Ross-iGlL LRifpf4d
i'm ms nand the doomed victim rose to
his knees, chung 10 the tree with one
hand and tried to shoot with the other.
Al this moment old man Holloway and
his daughter appeared on the scene oi
carnage, and Fastening 10 where Ross lay
rlinying 10 the ctrredcmandedt the surren-
der oi his siX-ShoOtcr. Ross replied that
me might have it provided he would let
him take out the one remaining car
fridge. Holloway and his daughter, the
ewes of the girl flaming and her long
hair floating on the south wind, which
blew away the smoke OF the iight, then
seized the pistol of the wounded man,
and hvmain force wrcnched II from his
hands, eniceblcd as they were through
loss oi blood. The old man then like a
fend from hell placed the muzzle OF Ross
own pistol against the side OF the
wounded man and fired. Ross with a
groan iell over dead, his murderercoolly
extending the liiclcsS body, beSmearcd
with blood on the ground, King and
Keith escaped. and the bodies OF Rob,
rrtson and Ross were shortly aitcrward
found where they fcll 10y a posse OF citi-
zenS. The murdcrcrs were subsequently
arrested.