The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-02-24

who re was-Ihe CcrSner's Inquest
Resnosse or Conscience Drove
Him fO the f1<ssh Acf.

Saturday night last, mas been esthDlHheu ~
suicide instead Of murder, q, II was at first
generally believed 70 be. Tho testimony Of
tho witnesses before tho coron er's jury re-
leved Dallas from tho stain and imputation
of what At first appeared TO be mostfou
and cold-blooded crime.
Everything on Saturday night tended to
demonstrate that Strother's life had been
taken by an enemy for revenge, or by some
fend for the purpose Of robbery, as
the victim being stock man
it would be generally supposed that he was
possessed Of large amount OF money. The
reports of the four pistol shots, each of
vnish sent bullet into his person, were in
few minutes followed by similar number
Of shots in the vicinity of Patterson avenue,
and the general Interpretation was that they
wore pre-arranged responses from confed-
crates Of the supposed criminals. 1t is more
shan probable however, th,t they vera fred
BY persons hearing the shots at the T.,x~- q
Pacific depot, and who, concluding
that they were for an alarm of
fire, wanted 70 extend the alarm.
It was found impossible to properly con-
duct the inquest Saturday night, and Stroth-
er's body was removed to the county Jail,
and theinquest postponed till Sunday morn
ing. Examination showed that ali the shots
bad taken effect, three in the right side of
tho head and one in the left breast. The
exact nature of each is fully described in the
appended testimony taken before the
ycorOner's jury.
After the removal of the body TO the jail,
Sheriff Jones telegraphed friends of the
deceased at Ennis, notifying them of Strothers
death. A number Of them arrived in
the city and attended the inquest Sunday
morning. They engaged the medical SER
vices of Drs. Garter and Crowdus to make a
post mortem examination if it should be
deemed advisable to establish the cause of
death should there be any material disa-
greement on the point rs to whether it
WIS suicide or murder. If it was decided
that Strother was murdered, then they were
prepared TO spend sufficient money to ferret
out and bring the criminal TO justice. They
examined the wounds and think it suicide.
Strother was identified by many persons
who had known hin, intimately, particularly
several business men from his old home
Of Ennis, and all spoke of him as man of
tho best OF qualities aud principles, and re-
GREETED bis tragic end.
About midnight q man named @. c. Holt
called at the Jail 10 SIS tho desd body, and
was arrested aud inosrcerated on suspicion OF
having killed Strothsr, rs his statements
were contradictory. He had been seen in
company with Strother at a saloon or res.
taurant IN East Dallas only short time be-
fore the shooting. They left and started To
taxa a train 10 coma down town Holt. Of
course. protested his Innocence Auother
suspicious circumstance WAS against him -
his boots exactly flted tracks found in soma
mud near where Strothers body lay at the
Pacific depot, and similar mud was on them.
These tracks were leading from the vicinity
of tbetragedy. Holt was kept ia iaii uni
Sunday afternoon. when the jury Of inquest
.aettlrned their verdict. He was then 70.
Wased as the evidence and verdict esieb-
lshed his perfect innocence of any conuec-
ZION with Struther's taking off. a large
number of witnesses wer exa mined at the
inquest, and the substance Of their testimony
and the verdict of The Jury will be f,uad
herewith, which will fully xolain 10 the
reader how tho tragedy is established rs sui
eide. although at first appearing rs a clear
case Of mnrder One point seems unan-
swerable, however. 20 all. Tho empty pistol
found near S.rother is an old fashion one.
10 be Tired IL has to be cooked every time
that is. it is not a self cocker. 1t il reason
able to presume that any one of the three
shots Ia the head would shock or sun an
ordinary man 40 that he would not Gre s,ain
for minute or two at least. But All who
heard the shots ayreo that the fret three
were in about the regular intervals that
would be required m cooking and tlischareing
The weapon. Then there was a lapse of ne han.
a minute before the fourth shot which il 4
presumed was me only one ip the breast and
which oroyed fatal. Strotbsr was certsinly
J, remarlfably nervv man. with = rood deal
Of moral force. det.rmIns,ion And self-con.
III 10 suicide In 80 remarkable a manner.
JSundsv afternoon Mr.. ID Bsnuch ann. a
Fort WORM cattle man. arrived Ia tbr I'll,
and was intervioved bv HERAIp
ren,rter. Hs said ia had known him
;ni;mstelv Far ten wears. and Ina, he consid.
arsj n;rn a mo.t com ,e,ent and str.ichtfor.
wsri buzine.s man. he n.a ss,e< ranch
near Rell plain and l.rye be,a of e-t.le
thara Strothrr !, All bee1 AT the ranch the
creator osrt ~ the nssl year stonning ~ The
55ou.a az n br.ther.,n- .,.honyh he com
';dsred Enni. NJ. homs NJ ieanchsmo
met strofher IN Dsl,.. Last Sstnrig,.
S,r@thar told him Thai ,vss hi. last dav Thai