San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-07
The Killing Of Warren Allen.
Synopsis OF THE TESTIMONY.

of Warren Allen by deputy sheriff Davis,
while acting as town marshal. II is the
first case of the knd-in fact the first kill
ing or bloodshed of any kind We believe
which has occurred within our corporation
limits-during the nine years of our resi-
dence here, and we had hoped San Marcos
would have continued to maintain her en-
viable reputation in this regard.
BY the politeness of Justice Grooms, be-
fore whom the inquest was held, We have be-
fore us all the testimony in the case We
find it too long for insertion in full in our
columns, so we shall have to be content
with synopsis of the evidence.
The jury of inquest was summoned on
Sunday, and after viewing the body of the
deceased, adjourned till Monday. Il. Nj.
Prince, town Marshal, was then called and
testified substantially rs follows, as to the
material points He said he had asked Davis
to assist Robinson to preserve order that
evening (Sept 2,) while he went to church.
That prior to Aliens being shot he saw one
resembling him standing near Watkins cor
ner, saw him fire one shot, and heard two
others from the same party, Us he supposed.
When the first shot was fired, jumped up
and started from his home near by to see
who it was. Found the man at the foot of
q tree near j. E. Morriss blacksmith shop
and that it was Warren Allen. Saw pistol
discharged by some one near Allen, whom
he found to be Springer Davis. Saw the
pistol in Davis hand before firing. Davis
was running down the street towards Allen.
Allen was squatting down behind tree with
his back towards Davis. AS Davis APP
preached, Allen rose and turned towards
Davis, with his hands in the attitude of
presenting pistol. Did not see any pistol
in Aliens hands, his hands were behind the
tree from witness. After the pistol fred
Allen asked, SIS that you Springer?"
Davis answered him that it was, and asked
him what in the world he was acting in that
manner for, 'Do you mean to kill me ~
Allen answered 81 was just doing that for
the boys" and some more was said by Allen
which failed to hear. Davis asked Allen
| if he had hit him, and if he blamed him for
shooting him ? Allen did not reply, that 1
know of. Davis and led Allen around to
the drug store of Reynolds & Daniel.
Allen remarked that his pistol was at the
root Of the tree, and Davis said that he had
picked it up. Allen asked me to telegraph
to his wife that he was murdered This
was about the time we were near johnson
& Johusons store. Saw pistol wound in
Aliens body after reaching the drug store.
The ball entered his body about two inches
below the right nipple and came out on his
right side near the left kidney. The shoot
ing of Allen was about 8 o'clock P. M.
T6ere was no one present at the time but
witness. Allen and Davis. I saw that Allen
WAS crouched behind the tree in the direc-
which Davis was coming. The pistol pick
ed ND had four barrels, There were three
empty shells in it it was picked up at the
root of tree. I was some eighteen feet
from Alien when he was shot. A ball was
picked out of q post about three feet from
the ground. Don't know if it was the same
ball that struck Allen Davis was about ten
feet from Allen when he DAVIS fired. L,
was BRIGHT moonlight. Davis could have
seen pistol in Aliens hands. Allen died
on the evening of the 3rd inst.
/ DIR. Woods testified as to the nature of the
wound about the same as Mr.. Prince. Sale
he told Allen he could live but short time
Allen stated he had brought the thing OF
himself by his own foolery.
J.E. Morris testified that he saw pisto
fired near his shop on Saturday evening last
Was standing in his door at the time, abou
40 feet distant; Saw some one crouchet
behind tree. Did not see MIR. Prince.
was tolerably dark. Heard some one sa!
"what did you draw that pistol on me for! Z
Saw but two parties walk of after the firing
Opened my door as the man walked by to
wards the tree. Another man passed as
closed my door. This was just after tn
other two men had started OH around tn
corner. Heard the first shooting on thu
SQUARE. This was not long before the mai
passed my door, A man came running
down the street soon after this in anothe
direction from that of the man that stop
ned at the tree. Twas this man that hree
the shot think
w. s. Jones testified that he heard tn
shots on the square. Saw some one rui
down the alley west of his home and turi
the corner going east. The next thing saw
the same person shoot Immediately afte
the shooting heard some one say, "War
rem. did | hit YOU ?" Saw a person coming
from the east Just after this; forming
party of three. Did not know any OF thu
narties. The one at the tree made sort o
exclamation and raised up. This was afte
the shooting.
THE VERDICT
We the jury of inquest find that the de
ceased Warren Allen, came to his death iron
a pistol shot, fired by Springer Davis Of
Sept. 2, 1882, in the County OF Hays an
State of Texas.
Nv. HUrcHrSs. GEo. A. HENSE,
RI Wu,,.xaox GIN G. JOHNSON,
E. w. KYLE, ). HAYS.
c. w. GRooMs, ]. P. Hays Co., Tel
Mr.. Davis was recognized to appear q
J the next term of the District Court in th
sum of $1,000 90.
MARRIAGE licenses issued in Hays Count
5 during the months of June, July, and Au'
Andrew Phillips and Sallie Jones
Cbas w Gilmore, Della Barnet