The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-02-25
MURDER WILL OUT.


An old-time citizen of Texas, in talking
10 a HERALD reporter yesterday, incident
ally mentisned the only hanging he ever
witnessed and then went on to recount all
the circumstances. He said that in the
spring of 1915 three men, named Jett, Bate
man and Schultz, left Gonzales county to-
gether on tour of business. Horseback
was the only means of, travel in those days
and the three had to travel together,
camping out at night, until they
reached Virginia Point, on Calves
ION bay, where the Galveston, Houston
4 Henderson aud Gulf, Colorado & Santa
he railroad bridges now span the bay from
the mainland to Galveston Island. They
camped at the point, intending to proceed
on their wayto Galveston next day
That night, awhile before day, Schultz,
who was sleeping in the middle between
lett and Bateman, arose and taking n
pistol in each hand shot his two COM
panions in the head, while they were still
sleeping. Jowett was killed outright, but
Bateman was only slightly wounded the ball
glancing OF his forehead. Although an ell
DERBY man he was large and powerfully
built, and, jumping up closed in with
Schultz and desperate struggle ems HI
Schultz being about overpowered, when,Iy
an accidental stroke of his knife, he cnt
Bateman through the spine and he fell, un-
able to cope longer. Schultz hastily rob
bed the persons and Saddle bags of his late
companions, and left them lying, Jet dead
In his bed, and Bateman MORALLY wounded
and apparently dead on the prairie. The three
horses they had ridden he left hobbled
near by the camp, and hurried off up the
bay TO the ferry kept by Colonel John
Sydnor, who, byc-the-bye, has some grand
daughters living in this city.
When Schultz reached Colonel Sydnor's
house that gentleman and his family were
at breakfast, and he invited him in to
table, but Schultz declined, preCerring to re-
man outdoors, although quite stiff,
cold nOrther was blowing. Alter the break
fast was over, Colonel Sydnor had Schultz
set across the bay, distance of five miles Ia
Galveston. Texas was then but sparsely
settled, and people were always glad to see
strangers, having hospitable welcome, n
bed and tue best they had in the larder for
them to eat therefore Schultz refusing TO
eat breakfast or to enter the house when
pressed to do so, attracted special attention
to himself, and made Colonel Sydnor and
all his family remember the man.
mat evening, late some of the residents
on the Brazos being on their way to Calves
ton, found the three hobbled horses ON the
prairie, and the bodies of Jett and
Bateman, the latter being still alive though
unconscious and within but a few minutes
Of death They hurried en to Colonel Syd.
nor's, the nearest house, ard reported the
awful discovery Colonel Sydnor said AZ
once that the man he had sent across the
pay IN the morning was the guilty party,
and Mt once, after sending men To take
charge OF the dead bodies, he and the men
from the BRACES proceeded to Galveston IN
notify the authorities and to find the
suspected murderer if possible, but thew
arrived too late, us Schultz was then on the
bounding waves OF the gulf sailin., for New
Orleans.
When Schultz landed in Galveston from
Colohei Sydnors ferry boat he went straight
TO hotel, and the first man he met there
was Mr.. Charles Rossignal, then n vounp
man, and now district clerk of Galveston
county. Accosting Mr.. Rossignol, he asked
nm some questions as to when u vessel
would leave for New Orleans, and learned
that one would sail in few hours,
and that he, Mr., Rossignol, would be pas
senger on it. He then asked Mr. Rossignol
to take drink with him, and in this way
That gentleman's attention was specially
directed to Schultz. On the way over to
hew orleans Schultz again attracted atten.
tloh to himself by obtruding upon party
OF gentlemen who were playing poker, and
insisting upon getting into the game.
Having reached New Orleans the murderer
remained there a few days and then went
over to Mobile.
In the meantime news of
the murder of Jett and Batemsn
had reached Gonzales, and son of Bate.
man, a powerful and determined Young
man, set out to hunt down the murderer
and bring him back to justice Getting the
clue to his trail at Sydnor's ferry, he follow
ed 1t to Galveston, thence to New Orleans.
and from there on to Mobile, where he LOST
IT, and all his efforts to find further trace of
the murderous wretch were in vain, and he
had to return home without him,
The bill of indictment that had been
found against Schultz in Calves
on county for the murder of Jett and Old
man Bateman had to be filed, as ever
c,apias was returned mot found,n and The
direlnl deed had begun to fade from the
minds OF mon. But tate, the terrible
Nemesis that pursues all men, that keens
forever above their heads sword ot
Damocles, and that is sleepless and relent.
less, was casting its spell about the red.
handed wretch, and was opening the way 10
just retribution.
Judge Ballinger was chief Justice of
Noiildlcs county, lie was an ey-
ceedlnsly tall, straight, slender
man, dignitied in manner aud so marked In
his appearance that when once seen bis
person would always be remembered, IIe
was from South Carolina and some seven or
eight years after the murder, in 1852 or
lS)3, lie was in Columbia South Carolina ON
aVlsu to relatives and his visit having
drawn to close, he had fixed the afternoon
OIL certain day to start on his return Ia
Texas. That day the relative with whom
ne was stopping gave farewell din
her to him, ut which all the rela.
yves in Columbia and a number
Of old friends were present. During
he conversation at dinner, number of
questions were asked about Texas and the
Judge was telling all about the state, when
anephew of his-a little boy-spoke up and
sad: Uncle, there is man that lives in
this town who says he is from Texas. and
live "'N'' w"
rms attracted the attention of the Judge
NM NM he asked his nephew the mans name
Nhen told that IL was Schultz, the name
sounded so familiar that it put him to
nlhklng, and the recollection of the mur.
ser OF Jett and Biteman flashed upon his
mind at once. us
Atler dinner he told his relative of tho
murler aud ms suspicious, and postponinp
sHulparture until the next day he had his
N'a'ye Introduce him to the mayor of the
Wv, and tn that mnclionary he gave n iull
account of thp n,ur,lnr aud hts ,la.l.. 4 -