Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-14
A TEXAN FE0D,,
OR THE WAR OF SHELBY COUNTY.
ny J. LEVIN McLErsn.

In the year 1910 while Texas was yet O
republic, there lived an old man, Squire
Umphus by name, in Shelby county. The
old gentleman was OF a mean and misery
disposition ;he entered into plot with one
Thomas Boatwright, in which they pro-
posed to steal some horses belonging to
Peter Stockman,an old farmer living near
Shelbyville. IL was the 3lst Of January,
] 1910, when Boatwright, accompanied by his
pals, James Turner aud Henry Sylvester,
entered the pasture lands of Peter Stock
man. 1t was a stormy night and driz-
cling sleet fell upon the heads of the three
Adventures as they wendell their way,
conversing In whispers, to the place where
the horses were kept. Selecting thirty
two OF the best horses In the herd the
three adventures drove them into ArAan-
sas, Intending to sell them. The next
morning Stockman discovered the theft and
sent two OF his agents, Louis Henderson
and Henry Brown, in pursuit. The two
agents succeeded in capturing about
fifteen horses, and with these returned to
Stockman's ranch. Much indignation was
expressed at the theft. Charles w. Jack
son, prominent citizen of Shebyville,
formed little company which he called
the Regulators, and took Squire Umphus
out on the square and publicly whipped
him, an event Of which the Texans OF
those days called "Black Jackingn After
thls jackson informed Umphus that IL he
did not leave the republic within five DAYS
ne would have him shot. Three DAYS
after the squire fed TO Pamela county,
and there joined James Strickland and
William Mac Fadden, Familiarity known as
"Tiger jim" and "Buckskin Bill.n Ac-
companied by these willy rufflans Squire
umphus re-entered Shelby county, and
there waylaid Charles jackson, who was
riding with German, Sydney Lauer by
name. Without any warning "Tlger Jim''
and "Buckskin Bill' began merciless
hre upon their victims. jackson never
SAID word but fell to the ground shot
through the head But not so with Iauer.
Ihough mortally wounded he cried:
"Cowardly murderers-you haye-nn-
ished me-but beware Justice
will" At this period torrent OF
blood poured from the mouth of the
wounded man and choked his utterance.
With the word "mother'' on his lips
Lauer fell back dead. Even these har-
dened ruillans could not refrain from
shuddering as they saw the condition to
winch they had reduced the young man of
twenty. But Umphus with rough laugh
walked to the PROSTATE form of Jackson
ana Kicking the body said in a brutal
voice; "We've finished the-old fool
now and the buzzards will have banuuet
tonight lit for king" So saving he
handed his two accomplices each 500,
remarking as he did so: "Keep boys,
and wen get rid of the whole gang, of
arlstocrats." Squire Umphus now col
lected forty-hve of his friends all reckless
ana READY TO fight as long as it served
tneir purpose. These dare-devils called
themselves Moderators, and each member
OF the society swore
death TO THE REGULATORS,
Squire Umphus now feeling perfectly
safe while guarded by these intrepid vii
mans became careless, and on the 18th
vi Fepruary was surprised and captured
oy Henry, brother to Charles Jackson, and
small party OF Regulators. The poor
wretch made confession before some
tnree hundred men in which he said that
the three Mac Fadden boys, Frank, will
nam and Rufus, were the murderers of
JACKSON and lauer. Meanwhile stTiger
jim, "Buckskin Bill" and Crank Mac
fauden" proceeded to the house of
"BenJamin Mac Clurep a cousin of the
sources, called him to the door and shot
MN, al same time remarking as they
ulu SO; TAKE that you--old cuss for your
traitorous old cousin and remember that
Wen serve the--old traitor In tho Same
way Saying this the three men coolly
mounted their horses and fed into Mont
gomery county, where they were Joined nv
zone OF the boys James Bledsoe on
the 18th day OF March jackson with
large party OF Regulators entered Mont.
gomery county and after fierce scn0Ie
succeeded In capturing the ''three Mac
hau9eh boys" the terror Of many OF the
Inhabitants Of Shelby county. Tiger Inn
escaped and James Bledsoe was Killed I'm
the Tray. They were tried by lynch law
Dy 800 OF the citizens of Shelby comfy
Escorted by hooting crowd Frank and
Mhllam were led into the neighborin0
woods and hung. AS for Rufus owing 10
ule magnanimity of his Judges, he escaned
after receiving twenty licks from the
black jack. Three OF four wears now
elapsed. On the l4th, day Of Feb-
rnary, 1913, Henry Han, an Old farmer
was shot by James Seidenberg M M
ranch near Shelbyville. Judge Ronell, one
Oh Hall's enemies, openly expressed HE
appfovaii this angered Alberto Han. son
Oh tne murdered man, aud on the 18th of
feoruary he met Judge Roncll, and pre.
sentlne pistol at his head said: eyes
ser1ay you gave your approval to the COW
ardiy act committed by your friend James
oeidenOerg. To-day shall give my friends
an opportunity to express their approval
AZ the act about to be computed by mo u
AS be said this Alberto shot Ronell
through the heart, and then placing hls
pistol In his pocket he returned home
me next night Alberto and his brother
spencer We're camped at the Bayou Castor.
a small stream on the road to Shreveport
~ o'clock two men entered their camn'
Inc eldest a man OF about thirty who
gave nis name as Joe Williams accosted
Alberto as follows: NSNs'0o
nave yon seen any mules this
Wayf alberto answered Ia the nerafive
and the men than nsknd e. n s,----'.