The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-01-03
A Terrible Tragedy at Graham...The
Notorious Mcdonald Brothers
Escape While ut Break.
fast After Des.
perate Fight.
killing Two Deputy SheriGS and Sc.
riOusly Wounding Another.
Graphic Description of
the Scene.
Capture Of Three Stage Robbers Near
San Antonio, Formerly Of the
State Rangers.
Destructive fire Mt MARSHALL. Complete
List Of Losers and Amounts
OF Insurance.
A Fire at Galyestou...A Negro Murder
Another nj Houston.
A Systematic Gang Of Burglars 0per
ating in Houston.
Other Interesting State News
Graham.
UTatias
Special to the Herald

Graham
Special to the Herald
GRAHAM, January IA terrible tragedy
took place here this morning, which result
ed in the instant death of four men and the
wounding of two or three Others, one of
them perhaps fatally. The three murderers
of Martin, at Belknap, named Mcdonald.
are all killed. A deputy Sheriff named
Muriee was shot through the heart, another
deputy named Davis Melton, brother of the
Sheriff, was shot three times. perhaps ia
tally. Another man was seriously wounded
in the leg and it is reported an old man
named Woods is wounded in the thigh.
The affair occurred about 10 O'Clock. The
two deputies named were giving the prison
ers their breakfast. For this purpose the
two Mcdonald boys were let out
of the steel cage, as usual, into an
other room, which is called caaboosc,
and which is separated from the steel CAGE
by two iron doors and heavy oak door.
An oak cell also opens into this calaboose.
There were two other prisoners, named
James Boone and Jack Baldwin, eating with
the McDonalds. Davis Melton stood in the
door of the wooden cell with
two revolyers in his hands.
guarding them while they ate, but
it seems the prisoners were carefully watch
ing him. The other deputy was in the
steel cell with hatchet, testing it, Watch.
ing their opportunity, when Melton un-
guardedly transferred both pistols to one
hand to put his hand in his pocket to get
match, the McDonalds suddenly jumped on
him, seized his weapons and held him as
their prisoner. In his struggles to escape
he was shot through the hand He called
to Murfee, the other deputy for assistance.
Muriee came Immediately, but was
shot and instantly killed by the prisoners.
They'then tore . hole in the floor of the
calaboose and let themselves through into
the room below. Taking Melton with them.
they went out the back door of the iail,
avoiding q fierce bloodhound iieu
IN the back yard, and proceeded as fast
as their shackles would permit in
southwesterly direction from the iail,
TWO OF the prisoners held Melton, while the
third walked backwards with bis back to
Meltons back, and threatened the citizens
who had copgrcgated near the iail with
guns; that he would kill the Deputy, Mel
ton, in case they fired on him. They pro
ceeded IN this manner some three hundred
yards, no one daring to open fire on
them, fearing that they would alsn
shoot Melton. At last citizen more dar-
ing than the rest, took careful aim and shot
the right hand prisoner, who Tell mortally
wounded. Melton seized the opportunity
ana broke loose. and ran il the direction of
the public square, The firing now became
general. All the citizens fired in turn on
the the prisoners who PROMPTLY returned
Melton in the face and ieg
as he retreated. The prisoners soon fell
to the earth,, but continued firing at the
as they lay expiring among the
weeds and stumps where they fell, which
formed masked battery as long as they
had breath in them. 1t was sometime altcr
all the shooting had ceased before any one
ventnred near the place, thinking they
might be ieigning death in order to get an
other opportunity to shoot. At length citi-
zens approached and ascertained
that, although two of them still
Dreamed, they were past doing
any, harm. The town is scene of the
widest excitement A Sundav-school in
session III church near the place of mas
sacre was place of terror Some of the
children hid away from the doors and win
tuows, while others, more curious than eau
tlous, gaZed ont on the whole tragedy. One
lady in the church, sister to
Lhe murdered Deputy, when the
DEATH gave scream Of agony and tainted
away. Mrs. Murfce. mother Of the nur.
dered man, is lying in a precarions condi.
ton, and her life is despalred of by some.
Young Melton, the deputy who escann1
from the hands Of the prisoners, notwith.
standing his three terrible wounds. pro-
cured gun and came back to take part in
me ailray. He lies in hotel, where phy.
slcianss are now dressing his wounds. The
wound in the face is the only
dangerous one he received. 4
young man. waiter at the hotel. chilled
Joe, had the bone Of his leg shattered So
'hat amputation is necessary. Mr., Woods
received a flesh wound in the thigh and is
dong. well. Services in the different
churches were abandoned, Sunday-schoois
were closed in the utter confusion. and it is
thought no ladies will venture ont
% ,church. tonight, so great IS the terror. |
IL IS but Just to say that the other two pris-
oners, baldwin and Boon, took no part in
inc shooting. Indeed, it is said one of tbem
hterposed to save the life of young Melton
az one of the McDonalds was about to shoot
nm. y coroner's jury was summoned and
rendered verdict in accordance with tho