The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-27

On the morning Of July 18th the HERALD
published special telegram from Waco con-
corning the mysterious murder, near Morgan,
of a man named Hodges and fallen woman
named Matte Wilson, who had been living
in tent near that place, whence they had
come from the neighborhood of Weather
ford. A couple of children were found, I'M
injured, in the tent, but too young to give
any information of the preparation of the
horrible crime A note WAS attached
to the dead woman's garments, alleging that
the murders was the work of her relatives.
Recent developments give this dead woman
an identity with Dallas and vicinity and the
history of her life and death inge of the
romantic. Yesterday r. p. Howard, far
mer, living nine miles northeast from Dallas,
in this county, called at the HERALD Office to
give some information in the case. He said
he had been resident of Dallas county for
thirteen years; that in the year 1867 he mar
RED Miss Matte White. Ben Long, now
deceased, then justice of the peace, per.
formed the marriage ceremony. A
boy, who is still living, was
born to himself and his wife,
The child is now twelve years of age. Do
mestic troubles and dissgreementS led to
Mr.. and Mrs, Howard separating about six
years ago, he retaining charge of their child.
She got TO be loose woman and an outcast.
She took up with one Levi Wilson, by
whom she became the mother, two years
since, of a pair Of twin girls. Wilson de-
serted her over year ago, and his where
about is unknown. II is believed she has
since searched unavaiingly for Wilson, and
finally took up with the man Hodges, who
was murdered with her on the night Of the
10Th of this month. Mr.. Howard says he
has just returned from the locality of
the terrible crime that he went
there in search of his boy mentioned
heretofore. He stopped at the house of an
old farmer named John Collins, whs gave
him the details of the crime, and said that
few days before the murder the unfortunate
woman was at his house, and said to him;
:" If that man Howard comes here give him
pair them slippers" (She had three pair
in her possession.) The reporter mentioned
to Mr.. Howard the mystery surrounding the
murder. and asked him if he could suggest
any theory as to its authors. He said he
could not. To the question if any of his
former wife's relatives were living in this part
of the country, he replied in the
negative, saying that when he married Mat
tie White she was alone, having no relatives
in Texas. Her mother, an invalid, died n
short time before the marriage. Howard
says his wife once told him she had an uncle
living near Waco, but he never met him or
knew anything of him. He has not seen her
for two years, but knows she has been going
under the name of Matte Wilson. The
twin girls have been taken charge of by the
mayor of Weatheriord, and if Wilson, their
father, wishes to take care of them, he can
find them by calling on that gentleman.
The question, who committed the muir
der? is unexplained. The note on the
woman's dress said Accuse no one but rel
atives." Mr.. Howard has been IN the vicin-
ity of the tragedy, lie says his wife has no
relatives in Texas, without il is the alleged
uncle near Waco, Do detectives see any
clue for working up the matter in the fore
going narrative?