The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-04-01
A MURDER LEAGUE.
Three Marked Men Assassinated
in Texas.
Victims Of Grimes Growing Out Of
Cattle Stealing.

A dispatch from Vernon, Wilbarger coun-
ty, Texas, says there is a terrible state OF
affairs existing between tho officers AMI citi-
zens of that county over the killing OF three
citizens there since the 1st Of January, two
of whom-W. h. Morrison AM Hills Jones
were assassinated, an Hick Garrison was
killei by John Davidson while in q difficulty.
Immediately after the killing Of Morrison the
following notice, signed "Citizcn," was posted
up in the courthouse:
"No man wanted to investigate this case;
the mar who does will 60, too; no law wanted
in this case"
Since that time the rangers and other
parties have been working on the case and
endeavoring to find out who did the killing.
After obtaining what information they could
get, Captain Schmitt, Of the State Ranger
force, and prominent citizens called on Gov
ernor Ireland, at Austin, and in
formed him Of what had been done.
Captain Schmitt says the governor ordered
him to Vernon with his company Of rangers
to enforce the law. The result was, twenty
three citizens were put under arrest. Five
killing of Morrison, and the remainder as be.
ing accomplices to the murder. Cap
tain Schmitt says the State expects
to prove that there was a regular organiza-
ton formed by the defendants for the purpose
of killing certain parties. He furnished q
correspondent with the following, saying they
were exact copies Of the originals furnished
him by one of the witnesses who has turned
States evidence and claims to have belonged
to tho organization: ,
1--WE, the members Of this committee, bind
l. TN Ill Nd ,raar xuh~co rorno0
may be given by any Of our members with
out some cause can be given, and then it shall
be left to the majority. We furthermore
pledge ourselves to assist any Of u brother
members in all undertakings and regardless
of the case, aver to the extent Of our lives,
and if any one Of the members who give any
Of our transactions away by sign or action
we bind ourselves to take his life.
The following men were condemned to
death by the board: C. N. Ryan, George
Mills, DR.. johnson, Judge Doan, Tom Clay,
R. C. Spencer, n. s. Hayes. Bob Sanmen,
Hills Jones, killed; Ray Morrison, killed;
Heck Garrison, killed.
Ali Of the persons whose names appear to
the oath have been arrested except one.
Among the number arrested are the sheriff
Of Wilibarger county and seven Of his dep
uties, and the editor and pro.
prietor Of tho 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 and
the civil authorities in their efforts to rid the
country OF cow thieves, horse thieves and in
cendiaries.
w. H. Ney, a detective, came to Vernon
about the time of the killing Of Morri'
son. He Joined the CITIZENS organiza.
ton and took the oath, when be OBJ
tanned all the documents and the N OF
all the parties connected with this so-called
law and order party. The terrible ARRAY all
grew out of cattle stealing, in which there
were two factions, the officers Of the county
being at the head Of one, and the victims be-
ing the leaders Of the other.