The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-28
TRAPS FOR TWO.
BUT ONLY ONE OF THEM is USED.
Roland Ruckcr, 10 Have Been Eanged
at Palestine, Commits Suicide "A
History Of His Crime Lynce-
field Burks Executed Mt Waco
for the Heinous Crime OF
Outraging Nine-'
Year-Old Girl.
Special to the Herald .

Special to the Herald
Palestine, Aug. 27.-Roland Fucker, who
was to have been executed here to-day, com
mitted suicide in his cell last night by sew
ering an artery. The cash was cut in tn,
wrist, and was done with small, two bladet
pocket knife, which was found in mis- eel
Fayette Bowen, who was jointly charged
with the crime for which Rucker was convicted
occupied the same cell with Rucker las
Right. Bowen testified before a coroner
jury that the knife had been in Fuckers eel
for some time; that he knew nothing of
THE SUICIDE
until awakened this morning by Deput,
Sheriff McMeans, at which time Rucler wa
about dead. Physicians were summoned
but he was dying when they arrived
There are numerous surmises a
to how Ruckor got the the knife. Bowen
testimony is believed. Bowen is nov
also under indictment for perjury in tn,
Rucker trial. The jury of inquest rendetet
y verdict that Rutker came to his death iron
wound inflicted in his left wrist by his owl
hand: The town is thronged with peopl,
and the
Widest EXCITEMENT
prevails. The dead body was delivered b,
Sheriff Davis to relatives of the deceased
Rucker made no confession of his crime. Ii
answer to questions propounded yesterday b,
your reporter he said he knew nothing tina
would benefit the public. The law adjudget
that he had forfeited his life and he va
ready to die.
SKETCH OF RUCKER.
Roland Rucker was born in 1857, in An
derson county, Texas. He was heavy bull
man and weighed near two hundred pounds
when in good health. His eyes we're black
and he was five feet ten inches high. He wa
of quiet temperament. People who knew
him when a boy say he was calm, dis
passionate youth, always quick to resent al
insult. He had, up to the day and time o
his death, many warm and devoted
friends, who stood close to him through nj
long and weary trial, and we're ever watchfu
for his welfare. His father, Calvin Rucker
was among the early settlers of this country
and up to the time of bis death in 1873, hat
amassed considerable fortuner The Rucke
family have ever been regarded rs honorabl
people, and it was said that Young Rucke
was decoyed from the paths of his earl
training by wicked associates, who learne,
him to drink whisky and pa
well his part in street row:
Notwithstanding the sympatbies o
friends, mingled with the tears of lovin
mother and devoted young wife and limo
cent little child, his soul has departed an,
gone to the judgment bar of heaven.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
On the night of the 23d of April, 1878, R
P. Grayson and his wife were most FOUL
murdered at their homes, in this couaty. DR.
Grayson's body was pierced with some fifty
two bullets, and his wife, Mrs. Marion Gray
son, received wound just over the eye, whicl
proved fatal, she living only a few minutes
On the day after the murder suspicion resteC
upon Roland and Reuben Rue er, Mellvill
Qusenberry, Charles Key, Hugh Dupey AM
Fayctte Bowen, as being the guilty parties
All Of them were arrested, and on the ex
amining trial Roland and Reuben Rucke
were refused bail by the magistrate. The,
secured the services of some of the ables
attorneys at the bar in Palestine, amonl
whom were Messrs. Gammage and Greg!
and Hon. R. A. Reeves. From the iudgmen
refusing them bail they prosecuted thei
cases to the court of appeals by habeas cor
pus. This court granted bail as to Reubel
Rucker, but refused bail to bis brother Ro
land. District court convened at Palestn
in May, A. D. 1873, and the grand jury re
turned an indictment against Roland an
Reuben Rucker, Melville Quisenberry
Charles Key, Hugh Dupey and James Outs
enberry, charging them with the murder o
Or. r. P. Grayson and wife, in Anderso
county, on the 23d day of April, A. D. 1875
AT this time
PUBLIC EXCITEMENT
ran high. The whole country was throw
into state of wild excitement, and there wa
much talk Of lynching the prisoners. This
however, subsidized to some degree, and at th
May term of the district court Rolan
Rucker went to trial upon the overriding G
an application for continuance by Judge
S. Walter, then Judge of the third judici,
district. The evidence against RucEer Wa
purely circumstantial. The evidence fir:
showed him in the city of Palestine, irwin
to get Others to assist him in going down I
DR.. Grayson's to run him and some negrot
Grayson had bonded out of Jail, out Of III
country, and further showed Rucker wt
about to be indicted in the federal court .
Tyler
BcR KuKLuxINd
these same negroes, and that Grayson wa
urging the negroes up to indict Rucker; ais
that Rucker had declared his intentio
of "getting away" with Grayson and tn
negroes. He, Rucker, was seen /
Palestine nquiring for Henry rifle, an,
afterwards had the rifle at gun-store havin
it carefully loaded, and on the night appoin,
ed, DR.. Grayson was called for at his gat,
His wife went to the door and was told tina
DR.. Grayson was wanted to go and see tn
sick wife of a traveller camped near the Ior
bridge. The doctor then went TO the doc
and asked "What is wanted ?" The repl
was three successive volleys of shot fror
armed men. He staggered and crieC
81 AN DEAD"
His wife alarmed, ran to his rescue AMI she
too, fell from silent, stray messenger o
death.
Unimpeached witnesses testified to hearin
the shooting, the cries Of the dying mar
and described the horses upo
which Rucker and others were see
10 be riding and going in the direction Q