The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-02-22
sFROTHER SUICIDED
Xvho ne was-The CorOner's Inquest
RemOrse of Conscience DFOVe
Him to thu Rash AcG.


suicide instead of murder, as it wss at first
GENERALLY believed to be. The testimony Of
the witnesses before the coron er's jury re-
leyei Dallas from the stain aud imputstion
of what ut first appeared to be u most foul
and cold-b looded crime.
Everything on Saturday night tended to
demonstrate that Strother's life had been
taken by On enemy for revenge, or by some
fend for the purpose of robbery, rs
! the victim being stock man
\ it would BIZ generally supposed that be was
possessed OF large smount OF money. The
reports of the four pistol shots, each of
q which sent a bulle, into his person, were In "a
few minutes followed by n similar number
of shots in the vicinity OF Patterson avenue,
and the general Interpretation was that they
we're pre-arrsnged responses from conted-
crates of the supposed criminals. 1t is more
than probable, however, tn i they were fired
by persons hearing the shots at the Texas "
Pacific depot, and who, concluding
that they were for an alarm of
fire, wanted to extend the alarm.
II was found impossible to properly con-
duct the iuqle Saturday night and Stroth-
er's body was removed to the county Jail,
and theinquest postponed till Sunday morn
ing. Examination showed that sll the shots
had taken effect three in the right side of
the head and one in the left breast. The
exact nature of each is fully described in the
appended testimony taken before the
coroner's jury.
After the removal of the body TO the jail,
Sheriff Jones telegraphcd friends Of the
deceased NJ Ennis notifying them of Strother's
death A number Of them arrived in
the city and attended the inquest Sunday
morning. They engaged the medical SER
vices of Drs. Carter and Orowdus to make =
post norton examination if it should be
deemed advisable to establish the cause Of
death should there be any material disa-
greement on the point IS to whether 1t
was suicide or murder. If it WAS decided
\ that Strother was murdered, then they were
prepared to spend sutlicidnt money to ferret
out and bring the criminal 10 justice. They
examined the wounds and think it suicide,
Strother was identified by many persons
who mad known him intimately, particularly
several business men from his old home
at Ennis, and all spoke of him as man of
the best OF qualities and principles, ana r0-
GREETED his tragic end.
About midnight man named G. @. Holt
called at the jail to see the dead body, and
was arrested and incsrcerated ON suspicion Of
having killed Strother, as his statements
were contradictory. He had been seen in
company with Stroiher at a saloon or res.
taurant IN East Dallas only short time be-
fore the shooting, They left and started t.
take train to ome'down town. Holt, Of
course, protested his innocence. Another
suspicious circumstance WAS sgainst him
his boots exactly fitted tracks found in some
mud near where StrOther's boiy lay at the
Pacific depot, aud similar mud was on them.
These tracks were leading from the vicinity
of the tragedy. Holt was KEEP. in Jail until
Sunday afternoon, when the JUICY Of inquest
returned their verdict. His was then re-
leased, as the evidence and verdict estsb-
lished his perfect innocence of any conneo-
ton with s,rother's taking of A large
number OF witnesses wer oxa nined AZ the
inquest, and the substance of their testimony
and the verdict of the jury will DO found
herewith which will fully explain TO tho
reader how the tragedy is established as sui
eide, although at first appearing IS clear
case of mnrder One point seems unau-
swerable, however, to all. The empty pistol
found near S.rother is an old fashion one.
To be fred Il has to be cooked every time
that is, it is not q self-cOcker II i. reason
able TO presume that any one of the three
shots in tue head'would shock or stun an
ordinary man so tnat he would not fire a. in
Tor minute or two at least. But all who
heard the shots agree that the first three
were 10 about the regular intervals that
would 30 required in cooking and dischsrgiug
the weapon. Then there was al lapse ofperhaps
minute before the fourth shot, which it is
presumed was the only one in the breast and
which proved fatal. Stroth was certainly
remarkably nervy man, with good deal
of moral force, determination and self-con
troll to suicide In so remarkable \ manner.
Sunday afternoon Mr.. j. D. Beauchamp, q
Fort WORT cattle man, arrived in the city
and was interviewed by HERALD
reporter. He said no had known him
intimately for ton years, and that he consid'
cred him most com etent and strlighttor
ward business man. He had stock ranch
near Bell Plain and a large herd of cattle
there, Strother had been at the ranch the
greater part of the past year, stopping at the
house Of n brcther-in-law, although he con-
sidered Ennis his home Mr.. Beauchsmp
met Strother in Dallas last Saturday.
Strother told him that was his last day, that
they would never see each other sfterward.
Mr.. Beauchsmp WAS surprised at his talk,
and inquired for its meaning. Strother
was reluctant to explain-appeared to
be afraid to do so, but after
much persuasion said he would tell
q part of them; said if he should tell that
Beanchamp would have him arrested. Being
assured 10 the contrary, he SAID he had made
himself villain ofthe deepest dye. That he
had swindled and wronged his best friends
and relatives and did no! deserve their re-
spect or to be spoken TO by them. He said
sometime ago he borrowed $4,000 from
James Il. Farrar, Of Ennis. He gave Farrar
deed of trust on 1000 head Of cattle, which
no represented to him no owned on his
ranch in Callahan county. He said, now
settlement time had come and he still owed
Farrar 81, 1000 and had no means with which
10 pay, except to sell his stock, and instead OF
having 1000 head he had hardly 600, and did
not have when he made the deed Of trust
He had agreed upon terms of sale OF sll he
had to northern man named Draper, but
could not close the bargain without Farrar's
consent When he should NEE. him and be
confronted by his fraudulent transactions, he
said he was certain Fsrrsr woul have him
arrested and sent to the penitentiary. MIR.
Beauchsmp aeked him il he had made clear
breast of il and told him ALL to which
STROLLER replied that he had told him the
,,rinrinal mart but thera were other things