The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-03-15
THE DALLAS HERALD WEDNESDAY, MORNING MARcH Isl 1ssa

state, will hardly be considered NAL
apropos here. lie was born in
Davis county, kentucky, some forty
five years ago, and was reared in
Owensboro, in that county. While he was
not possessed Of finished education, he
was fairly web cultured and had avigorous,
robust intellect, mind well adapted to the
practice of criminal law, the branch of his
profession in which he was, perhaps, most
proficient, and OF which he certainly was
tOndest.
During the late war he was for the union
and perhaps bore arms short time
before the close of the war in
behalf OF the union cause. Directly
after the war, being then ybung
lawyer, he went 10 Idaho territory where he
pracuced his profession short WHILE when
he went TO Montana, and first became
known to the public there rs an advocate
on the hustings in congressional cam
paign in behalf of the democratic caudi-
date.
After this he got into trouble with the
vigilance committee. aud was forced by this
committee to tee FROM Montana. The cause
of his trouble with the vigilance committee
was his persistent attempt to defend, in the
course of his profession, the road agents.
These road agents had become SO outrage
Gus in their depredations that the
citizens, in selideiense, had taken the law
into their own hands, and were trying
through this vigilance committee these road
agents, and because Judge Thurmond and
another lawyer, named Smith, at
tempted TO defend these road
agents when they were put on
trial they were warned to leave the country.
Judge Thurmond went down TO Salt
Lake City, whore he
CHANGED ms POLITICS,
becoming a republican. While at Salt
Lake City he sued several of the prominent
citizens of Montana, who were members of
the vigilance committee that,expelled him
from Montana, and obtained judgment
against them for 5000 This judg-
meht ne however compromised
satisfactorily with all the persons concerned
afterwards.
In 1870 or 1871 he
CANE TO TEXAS,
Governor Il. j. Davis then being chief mag
istrate OF the state. He first settled at Bryan,
and was made mayor of that place by Gov
ernor Davis, which position he filed for
some time, when he was made a
DISTRICT JUDGE
! by Governor Davis. 1t was sand that when
he was appointed district judge by
Governor Davis that he signed
! his resignation in blank as to date, which
' nv pla'tu III OONCihOE bhNlS uulus, W VI
dated by that gentlemen whenever he failed
to give satisfaction as district Judge. Thi.
Judge Thurmond always denied and de.
nounced as falsehood and SANDER. III,
at any rate, resigned before his term o
office expired.
He followed the Houston 4
Texas Central railroad up prett,
closely, and after he hat
resigned his judgeship he edited paper n
Groesbeeck for short time. He
,, CAME TO DALLAS
little while after il became railroad
point, and commenced the practice of Law
here. In his practice here he met with fin,
success, and accumulated Il comfortable
amount Of property. He was extremel,
fond of the excitement and contention o
politics, and always took an active part il
the local affairs of the city.
In 1879 he was elected mayor of Dallas
as an independent candidate, by plurality
vote, but was removed by the city council
in few months. He sought reelection I,
vindicate himself, but was defeated by
Judge John J. Good.
He was lightning to interest himsel
most actively in the pending city election
and had announced that he would max,
several speech IS during the canvass.
He was in character Of sanguin,
nature. Having strong combativeness
he delighted in contention and opposition
and was never happier than when in TIN
midst of strong opposition. He wa
possessed of bitter preiudices and he wa
warmly attached to his friends
MACHIAvELLIAN IN HIS NATURE,
he reasoned that the end justife,
tine means, and being shrewd
and having strong intellectually
he was power in I
certain sense as leader an,
in planning. He had great many friend
in this city who mourn his loss and VIII,
will ever be loyal to his memory,
The verdict Of the coroner's Jury is
A VIGOROUS yINDICATIoN
Of Mr.. Cowart for his action in slayin,
Judge Thurmond, and it doubtless bu
voices the prompt action of tria
jury on the evidence before it, bu
1t seems that the ends of iustic,
would be best subserved if the grand jur,
should returna bill of indictment agains
him. The majesty of the law can only b,
vindicated in the courtroom, and IL is du,
TO the state, due to the majesty of the Law
and due to the accused himself that Their
should be an indictment that there may b,
a trial by jury, and every fact that can b.
obtained brought to light.
The grand jury is now IN session, ant
yesterday examined a part, If not all, thu
witnesses to the shooting, and it may b.
that they have determined on their action