Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-20
SWORN TO COMMIT MURDER
A Secret League Plots the Death of IL
Men a Texas Town.

Men IN a IeXAS AVN
The following dispatch to the Dallas
Texas Herald, from Wichita Falls,
Texas. gives ad ditional particulars rela-
tive to an assassination society, an ac-
count OF which was published in the NEWS
several days ago:
Three citizens have been killed here
since Jan. l. They were W. r. Morrison,
Hills Jones and Heck Garrison. Garrison
was killed by John Davidson. lmme-
diatelv after the killing Of Morrison this
notice was found posted on the court
house door.
No one wanted to investigate this case. The
man who does will go TO -. 30 law wanted
in this case. CIfI<kEs
Sinca that time rangers and other
parties have been at work trying to dis
cover the murderers. After obtaining
what information they could, Capt.
Schmidt, OF the rangers, called on Gov.
Ireland, at Austin, and informed him what
had been done, Capt. Schmidt said the
Governor ordered him here with his COM
pany of rangers.
The result is that twenty-three citizens
are now here under arrest. Five or six
of them are charged with killing MOrri-
son and the remainder as being accom-
plices. Capt. Schmidt says the State eX-
meets TO prove thai there was regular
6rpanizatIon formed by the defendants
for the purpose Of killing certain persons.
Ne furnished the following documents,
SAVING that they were exact copies or the
ORIGINALS furnished him by one of the wit
nasses who has turned States evidence,
and who belonged u the organization:
We the members OF this committee, bind
ourseives to kill all bad men whose names
NAV be given By any OF our members, WITH
out some cause can DC given, anu & tneh II ~ sIlaII
Fhn
,,IedTe ourselves to assist any OF our brother
members in All undertakings, even 20 the eX-
tent OF our lives. Any Of the members who
give any of our transaetiops ShSy W sl&h OF
action we bind ourselves TO take his tlte.
Signed T. p. Wilson. A. 7. Bogg, John
Davidson. G. t. Douglas, q. G. Forbe-, x; D.
Rector. E. b. Klnsey, Z. q. hlnSey, M d; ;.n John-
son. = Duncan, j. A. Creage, Is. " E9geh'
Joseph schmidt. John Bland, Jim Laugham.
Tom Gibson Newton Gibson. Joan StGagald,
j. F. Moody. Paul Halhe, W II. Ierry, James
Bland. - SIaytoB. ". IL. Ney.
The following is a list Of the men whom
the band condemned to death;
c. NJ. Byarns, 6. Mills, DR.. johnson, Judge
DOan, Tom Clay. r. c, Spencer, h: ). Bays
Bob Sanmen, Hollis Jones killed, Ray Nor
risOn killed, Heck Garrison killed.
All of the persons whose names appear
to the oath have been arrested except one.
Among the number arrested are the Sher-
III of Willbarger county and seven of his
deputies, and the editor and proprietor of
the Vernon Guard newspaper. The Guard
came out on Saturday denOuncing in
strong terms the Rangers, and accusing
them OF being the tool in the hands OF the
toughest and most disreputable class, to
crush good citizens aEd the civil authOri-
ties in their efforts to rid the country OF
COW thieves, horse thieves and incen-
diaries.
The expose Of the gang was brought
about by friend of Hick Garrison and
the murdered men going Vernon, joining
the band as a detective, taking the oath,
learning all the secrets, securing the doc
uments, and then betra ying the criminals.
He has, tor the time being, fed from that
part Of the country, but will appear at
the proper time.