The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-05-10
Killlsn nf ". si.niA.
letter fran Mr.. rrdk Coohfell Owing
Particulars of tho Tragedy.

letter fran Mr. Iafdk Cookfeii Owing |
Particulars of tho Tragedy.
Mr.. Mitch Gray, Of Todd Mills, received
he following letter from Mr.. +, NJ Cock
fell dated Clinton, Missouri, concerning the
Killing Of Mr.. William Nichols, who gas
accompanying him to 81, Louis 10 select
new machinery for the mills. The letter
gives graphic description Of the terrible
affair and Is reproduced:
CLINToE Mo-, May 6-DEAR MITCH
Doubtless you have ere this, received my
telegram, stating the bloody tragedy ID
wh ch our Mr.. Nichols was the victim. The
details are about as follows: At Denton we
we're unable to get sleeper, and remained
in the ladies' passenger car till the next
evening about $3.50 O'Clock, when we ar
rived at Nevada. There we purchased
couple of berths to st. Louis. AT Shell
City one station east OF Nevada, we stop
ped for supper. After supper; we III com
nany with n gentleman from Fort Worth,
took seats in the Pullman car. We had been
talking some ten minutes when Mr.. Mich
oils said he would 60 to the smoking car.
These are the last words he is known to
have ever uttered. We shortly arrived NJ
Montrose, the first station east of Shell City
We had hardly stopped, when gentleman
came into the sleeper and said that men
was dying in the front car. L hurried lOr-
a few moments before had left my side, the
the embodiment of health, What lesson
Death is certain, the hour unseen" We
know not when the reaper will come around
How l trembled and quaked as
gaZed upon the only remains OF good
and noble man. The maraha! OF Montrose,
Mr.. Mcdowell, took charge OF The prisoner,
who had been seized and bound by the pas
sengers. Judge Lynch professionally
would have claimed his victim but Ter the
timely interference of the officers. His re-
mains were carried to Clinton, Henly
county, Missouri, where Coroner b. Is.
Green held an inquest. The testimony
given in was about as follows: That TIE
prisoner had attracted the at
iention of the passengers during
the day by his peculiar actions, and
was thought to be under the influence
of liquor. That he had picked up the va
Uses of several during the evening, when
The owners would request him to return it.
1t also appeared that he was noticed to
have been examining and scrutlnlzing
closely each passenger that came into the
car, as if looking for some one. That Mr..
Nichole came in, unnoticed, and took seat
about the centre ofthe car by himself; that
prisoner advanced from front OF the car
reaching the middle of The aisle, and within
a few feet OF Mr.. Nichols. Here, the pris-
oner, in middle of aisle, with pistol in hand
pointing at Mr.. Nichols, was first noticed.
He fired single shot from 32-calibre,
striking Mr.. Nichols in the neck, killing
MIN instantly. He was then caught and
secured until the marshal of Montrose ar
rived. The prevailing opinion is that he
had a grudge against deceased for some
purpose or other, and, excited with whisky,
shot him on sight, without the least provo
cation. Prisoner states that heis originally
from Carlton, Green county, Illinois, and
his name is Charles Adams; that he has
brother, B; f. Adams, in Kane, Green
on his way to Merrysville, Nor
gan county, Illinois; that he took
the train at Carrolton, Dallas county, Texas.
That he has brother-in-law there by the
name of VIM. Hoffman, and knows DR.. Roy
Scott.
| ind out from investigation that he
lived here at Clinton about one year ago
That he and his brother-in-law left here
and located some where near Dallas; that
he was looked on as perfectly sane man,
and is so considered yet by those who have
interviewed with him; and that liquor and |
some grudge caused the shooting. asked
him when and where he first met
Mr.. Nichols. He said at Carrolton at the
mill. l asked him, why he shot
Carrollton, on the Wichita railroad land he
wouldn't allow any man to do so. lie
stated further that he had drawn his pistol
twice to shoot him, but each time put it
back. He stated further that his attending
physician at CarrOllton was Dr.Crumm, land
,ince he left his home in Illinois he mad
suffered with pain in his head, and that 1t
was not MIN that killed deceased, but dis
Draered mind. Beyond doubt he killed
Mr.. Nichols, mlstaking him for some
one else, or for some cause
as yet unknown. The feeling here is
intense, and many a savage look and scowl
was cast at him when had him taken out
his morning to have his photograph taken.
He seems to be uneasy lest he be lyrched,
out there is no danger at present.
To day the last remains OF good and
man, whose absence Will be ielt
by the whole milling fraternity, was laid in
he village church-yard, amongst strangers,
md yet in a Christian and feeling commu-
lity, who followed him to his grave. |
yesterday the embodiment OF health,
md with the brightest prospects, ,
o-day sleeping beneath the cold sod
With no one TO shed a tear or utter prayer
n his behalf, but myself Rev. j. I.
Noetler, Presbyterian minister, performed !
tie burial rites. As the sods closed over :
lis mortal remains, at the hands of the \
Ulcers and citizens of Clinton, / thought
lie is short, we know not when we shall be
allied upon to render our final accounts. ]
ave him a Christian burial, and placed at
lis head a marble slab with these few lines :
s an epitaph: {
Death is certain; the hour unseen
leave for st. Louis tonight,
Yours, +. NJ. CocKRELL. !