Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-10-10
TROUBLES OF A TEXAN.
He, with Two Companions, Is Charged
with Triple Murder Committed
In the Nation.
He Is Acquitted After Lying In JAN Mt Fort
Smith for Thirteen Months-other
Charges.

Special TO the Gazette.
FORT SMITH, ARK, Oct. ga murder
trial has just closed In the United
States court here that possesses
some interesting circumstances, es-
pecislly to readers Of THE GA
zETTR, Notwithstanding the defendants
In the case came clear. II is that Of
James Alberson, Ira Mckee and Tom
jackson, who were all indicted Jointly for
the murder of Robert Reams, John Bar
low and Bud Jackson, on September 23,
1884, on Mud creek, In the Chickasaw
nation, seven miles from the Texas line
1t seems that Alberson was living with
old man Thomas Jackson, at whose house
the killing occurred, and about a month
previous to the tragedy had become in
volved in difficulty with old man Bar
low father Of John Barlow, one Of the
men killed. The old man seems to have
placed the settlement of the difficulty in
the hands of his son, and thus feud was
engendered into which others were
drawn. Young Barlow had endeavored
on one or two occasions to get chance
at Alberson, and had secured Reams,
Jackson and one Tom Williams to aid
him. On the morning OF September 23,
Just at sun up, Barlow and his three COM
panions swooped down on Alberson and
his two companions and opened fire on
them. A lively battle ensued, both par
ties using Winchester rifles, and when
the smoke cleared up Barlow aud Bud
jackson lay dead on the field
and Reams waslmortally wounded, while
Williams was behind tree, fearing to
break cover IN the face of Alberson's
CHI aNl.A ,, 1.a
allowed to depart without being tired on.
Alberson was wounded in the leg, and
Mckee had severe wound also, but
fearing another attack, they mounted their
horses and left. Alberson went into the
Choctaw nation and began farming near
Lake West, while Mckee and jackson
went back to Texas, where they originally
came from. Tom Williams also left the
country, and although he was wanted
here as witness in the case, he has never
been found. Old man Barlow and his
friends came here and succeeded In hav-
| ing Alberson and his companions in
dlcted. On September |, 1885, Alberson
was arrested at Lake West, brought here
and lodged in Jail, where he has since re-
NAMED. Mckee and Jackson were ar
rested In Hill county, Tex, where they
now live, about two months ago, and
were sent here by United States Marshal
Cabell of Dallas. Alberson's father, II.
b. Alberson, lives near Fort Worth. At
the time of his arrest he had a wife aud
three children, but after he had been in
jail here some three months fourth one
was added to his family. Nearly three
months ago his wife came here with her
children, and has since been living IN a
tent just outside the jail enclosure, and
has been daily visitor at the jail. On
the second of last month their baby, nine
months old, died and was buried here.
Alberson is still in jail, as there are
some other small matters standing against
him, but his friends hope to have him re-
leased ere long. He is fine specimen
of physical manhood, very intelligent, and
brave as lion, standing up wonderfully
well under his long confinement and null
tiplicity of troubles. In the case just
closed the district attorney submitted II
to the jury without argument, discover.
ing by the time the evidence was all IN
that he had ITO case.