San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-06-02
The Killing Of william Melton and .....
Baker atEyle On the ssth Instant

The Killing Of william Melton and .....
Baker a Kyle On the s7th Instant.
NErlross FEEs Pass: '~'~ ..
lu justice TO lsplsjS Martin ] make
this stateuent, i6asmueh ~ hud many
erroneous impressions, us Tell as u pub
lie he'd statement taken from sn Austin
paper, which Is only replele with errors,
ln February last | learned that Billy
Melton, (whU hnd run sway from this
county tor 'heii). was 10 Hunt county
under su assumed name. u -
On tho 2Uth instant | received u letter
irvm the snerin Of Hunt county saying
that QUO Billy Jones sud - Baker
had stolen horses aud saddles, giving
descriptions Of property aud also Of the
men. aud added that they would prob
bly, b, iouud about Mr. Tom Martin,
Lying at Kyle.
y ny putting the above together ! was
fully satisfied that blly Melton was
Que Of the Hunt County men. sont
Deputies Maol0ve ahd DAVIS to Kyle to
look gu, tor the.e men GU May % They
did not lud either VI the inca since
killed, but did fud two Of the Hunt
county u,ddl6s IN podsttsi0n OF the
Martin Brothers, who will cheerfully
explain to, anyone how they came III
their possession. .,
From Mr., Tom Martin we learned
that lNlol,Uu was in Sreuiu only lew
days previous undthatthry woulu prob
ably be stopping with Mrs. Oliver liz
ing four miles below Seguin ON the wes,
bauk OF the Guadalupe river. Two Ut
the Messrs. Martin, Deputy sheriff Da-
Wis aud myself rode all. night, arriving
lat Mrs.aU.s y little alter sunrise last
4 ThulsdaymOrniug. ioro7h b haa 'r,.
E'g W. learned HAT Melton aud friend.
oalling himself Charley HUT. had come
to Mrs. divers on FRIDAY morning, aud
rcmaiuc.l over, until Sunday evening.
tThey' here claimed to he l,uttncrs-wlth
MIR. Martin iu extensive stock ranches
to,r the \ ueces rlyerrtope OF horses anu
Que 1oiacattie, and prctendcd to write u
letter vi Instruction, 10 come employe
Ion SAID ranches. 10, ',,ioq ugosg ~.
Deputy sheriff Davis aud 9Mr: Lon
Maria went IN thu directions Vi Sulphur
Springs, WI syn couu,y, while y lni Mar
.lia aud, myself raid Ensd l0scsxniu Where
IiRs iearuru OF the robborylJ u okrause d
Cumpauy, four mics wesf - or Ncw
tIruun els. Twas then evident that
they would ~ IN The direction Ut fish
err store Url BtaIuo;GaMGa reached San
Mmcus late III ulxht ON Thursday. Oh
Fr,Loy morning Mr.. Ellie George came
10 my Office To tell me OF he rooUery vi
Mr.. nsrnion Fisher. l told MIR. Man
love to 70 at once to Kyle that night or
next day, and for him. (Martin), TO Ms
sist as in his judgment he could depend.
on, n Deputy -lNnnlovcviny tho 'irtllnt.,
was togst Mr.. lin Martin Land proceed
in the direction Of Dripping Springs.
or Mr.. Chuudler'so store, as circumstan-
ces might develop. Il
CAPTAIN Martin selected WIN. Curtis
to accompanybi they concealed Them
selves near the house Of Mr.. Lon Mar.
tin, where was stopping temporarily the
guiding star in young Walters destiny
ii The person Of a young lady related to-
this family. .sG1d fyiR5H gnas-l.
.,iSoGh uark utter Melton and, Baker
rode boldlysuh whcreupond Martin ana
Curtis presented -lhenselves. and we've,
instantly covered By lie robbers with
arms IN hand. Mr.. Martin asked, Is.
that you, boys ?" No answer. Again;
he ais, Id that you, Billy ?o An.
swered by, Ii that you, Tom ~ sCapt.'
Martin tncn pleasantly abu ~ them Tor
surprising That he wanted 10 arrest Them.
lie told the robbers that the officers
were in pursuit, tha;kwc knew them ~
divldualiy, suggesting saier Place ior
themselves and horses. This mad IN
part the desired effect, viz to throw
the robbers off their guard, tut On'y 10
part, since Mellon uuu Baker never laid
aside their arms, but continued hold
Ing ut least one rcvt liver Or Winchester
rifle III their bands during The whole VI,
cay the next loar hours. Melton vowed
aIe must see this young laty, and a.
th0ugn they strongly urged on him the
dangers uf dsfny, especially here, all to
no effect, and the young lady was sent
,ior. who came TO the party accompanied
Sin The congregation fh,t followed,
'CrDtaiu n. ind lii. friend hAd aarpppor.
tub,ty to. ,dstcrnIiifea IL s. pisnr OF action,
Their conclusion was thus that Melton
and Baker would never give up alive.
I, both were together, but II tie robbers
could in any way be separated. Captain
NJ. believed he could make Melton sur
render to hiul.sAs stated alter nesrly four
hours effort under the pretsnse Of deliv.
eriug MeItona mare, these'men sHid to
Curtis and Baker, you stay there while
We 60 TO the house and get this animal.
This was agreed to and they projected,
each watching the other ,dpring this one
halt mile walk with pistol in hand, when
near, the house Captain Martin thought
the time hud como and sprany upon
Melton, endeavoring to knock Lin
d dt, isyisshh ltisa . revolyerA .s .his he
The contest WAS now warm and ear.
nest each "A ,determined, uiap, ,holuiug
his ,ownb pistol M Que baud, aud tile
muzzle OF his opponent III the other,
Aloue in the miuu.gh lit d irkueSs the men
strovetur the mastery -uUth The Captain
felt his strength iailIDY,s he resolved IT,
try the -sub.eriuge Of calling Tor Jim.
Tins ouly brought Captain Martin wife
who almost crazed with fright told her
husband Jim was not there. 10 the
meantime Martin had gotten. behihu
Melton aud literally pushed him inrot
his (Mariin's) housc. ut thcsaiLe time
cilling tor Lvn and Dur, IA brother aud
b other in.law that he knew were alb
sent, fortunately his little boy waking
up, answered, aud Melton surrendered.
10 a moment alter this, bOwever,
Melton sprang fiercely upon Martin, seiz-
ing him under the arm, and threw him
to the floor, himself on top. The sirug