The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-30
A TEXAS HORROR.
Colored People Assaulted While ASleep-Two
Killed and Third Mortally Hurt.
Are cordially invited to
visit the


was enacted last night in which a negro man and
three negro women were brutally murdered by
having their skulls crushed with an AK. They were
servants in the family of Mr.. w. B. Durham,
editor of the Texas Court Reporter, and occu
pied shanty in the rear of his premises; on
Guadaloupe street. The names of the victims
are Orange Washington, his wife, know as Ger
tie Vance, Patsy Gibson and Lucinda Boldly.
From the testimony and surrounding circum
stances it appears that the assassins entered
the room of the sleeping occupants through
window, and before any of them awoke succeeded
in striking all four of them the head
with an ak Selling Gertie Vance, they
dragged her through a window, threw her
over fence, and then pulled her through the
weeds across a vacant lot to a rear stable At
this place she must have recovered conscious
ness, as evidences of death struggle are abund-
ant. She was, however, overpowered, her head
battered to jelly with brick, and apparently
while she was struggling between life and death,
outraged. While the fends were committing
this horror, Lucinda Boldly, recovering some
what from the blow she had received, regained
sufficient strength to get up and lighted lamp
in the shanty. One of the assassins, seeing the
light. returned, and, sticking his head in the
window, cursed the woman and ordered her to
put out the light. On seeing him she screamed
and ran from the building. He leaped
through the window, put the light out.
followed and overlook the fleeing woman lust
as she got to the front gate. There was another
desperate struggle, during which Mr.. Durham,
who was awakened by the woman's screams,
threw open his front door. Not knowing that
murder had been committed. and thinking the
disturbance was simple row. he levelled his
gun without intention of shooting, and ordered
them to cease their noise. The woman, by des-
perate struggles, freed herself from the assassin
and running to Mr.. Dunham threw her arms
cv1 Il -
the man had murdered every one in the shanty.
The murderer ran away as soon as
the woman ran to Mr.. Durham, who
at once called his neighbors to
assist in capturing the murderer, who was now
running through thicket few blocks back of
the house. He was followed by several persons,
and several shots were fired at him without APP
parent effect, as he gained the thicket and made
his escape. The officers, however. think they
will capture the murderer, as they have several
clews and description obtained from Lucinda
Boldly. If caught, he will be lynched Gerte
Vance was dead when found. Orange Washing
ton died at an early hour yesterday morning.
Patsy Gibson and Lucinda Boldly are in the
but no hope for Patsy. All the victims were
terribly gashed in the head and face. The
entire details of the crime resemble
closely that of the murder of Mary Raiuey and
daughter, few weeks ago, and it is generally
believed that the same fends committed both
crimes.
Two negroes are under arrest on suspicion, and
officers are in pursuit of third who answered
the description given by Lucinda Boldly. In
tense excitement prevails among both whites
and blacks at repeated occurrences of this ma
ture in the capital city, which seem to be di-
rected against white and colored servants. The
authorities are using every effort to ferret out
the fiends,
LATE At the coroner's inquest the jury
rendered a verdict against a negro named Doc
Wood. He was captured last night by officers in
Baird's cotton fields, eight miles from town.
Blood was found On the lower part of his shirt
and on his sleeves.
Patsy Gibson and Lucinda Boldly. the surviv-
ing victims of the tragedy, are very low. the
latter being unconscious. Her condition is
watched with great interest, as she is the
one who stated that Doc Woods did the
killing. Woods is in custody, and it is hoped
that she will recover sufficiently to verify her
statement, or otherwise. The officers are con-
fident that Woods is the guilty man. Two
negroes, supposed to be implicated in the crime,
or having knowledge of the perpetrators, are in
custody.