The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-06-03
killed. was one of four charged with the

near fredericksburg; that ne hau Deeh
pursued by civil officers and state ran
gers for some time; that Aten had ex-
changed shots with him some two months
ago, having been specially detailed
to effect Golfers arrest. The
facts connected with the pursuit
and killing of Collier may be
best told in the language of Mr.. Aten
himself:
The public" sad Aten, "are familiar
with the facts concerning the horrible
murder of old man Brantigan. and it is
not necessary that l should repeat them
here. | had been tracing up Collier for
months and only three or four wet ks be-
fore the killing l
UNEXPECTEDLY CAME UPON HIM
and fired at him while he was resisting
arrest, the ball from my pistol carrying
away the handle of his, and wounding the
middle finger of his pistol hand. He
dropped the pistol and knife, which
secured at the time. On May 22d learned
that he had been seen in the neighbor-
hood of Liberty Hill, and, knowing the
desperate character of my man, summon
ed to my aid a citizen l could depend
upon-Mr. John Hughes. From the 23d
to the 25th OF May was spent in recon
nOitering the house, so that we might
reach it without giving an alarm. About
sunrise on the morning of the 25th we
approached the house, Hughes going TO
he front and | to the rear, l knew
COLLIER WAS IN THE HOUSE,
but could not be sure of his room. / first
entered the kitchen. where | found little
girl of the family beginning prepare
tions for breakfast. l went to another
room opened the door and found it to be
the family room, and they all sound
asleep. | passed rapidly to the next room.
feeling certain that this was the one &C.
cupied by Collier. 1 opened the door
quickly, finding my man sitting on the
bedside, his pants, vest and coat on, and
then in the act of
PULLING ON HIS LEFT BOOT.
The recognition of each by the other was
instantaneous.
DREW MY sIX-sHOoTER ON HIM,
a I'd said: Hold, Wesley but he paid no
attention to my summons to surrender.
He quickly drew his pistol from under
pillow, glasping it i'll both hands. At
I his instant, knowing that the game was
death for one of us, fired. Not Knowing
the effect of my shot, as Collier still held
to his pistol, l was cooking my own TO fire
again, when he called out in faint tone:
oh! OH! DON'T SHOOT NO MORE. I'M DEAD'
He fell back in the bed and uttered |
something which | did not under |
stand; although l went around to
the head of the bed and tried to catch it,
Hughes, 1 have omitted to say, had been
all this time delayed at the front door,
which was being opened by young lad,
who supposed it to be his sister. But he
finally got in, and entered the room Just
as Collier was breathing his last.
The family were, of course, greatly |
at the noise of the firing,
the females, and it required re-
Deated assurance from Hughes, whom they
Knew, to convince them that was an Of
icer of the law, and not desperate. Col
Ter Lad been passing with this family
lnder the name of Martin, claiming to be
brother of a highly respectable gentle
nan of that name at Blanco City. Mr.
Dayton, the head of that family, assured
ne, that he had no idea that Collier, alias
dartin, was other than he represented
himself to be, and believe he spoke the
ruth.
l Immediately sent note by Hughes to
he wife and brother of Collier, apprising
hem of the time, cause and manner of
is DEATH l, myself, went into the town
Liberty Hill and telegraphed the oc-
lrrence to Adjutant- General King, and
$50 to Golfers father at Kerrville, and
so, notified justice of the peace who,
18th jury went out and held an inquest,
lie verdict in which cleared me of blame.
Ollier had about his bed three six shoot
s, two of which he usually carried about
it'll him in scabbards concealed under his
'st. This is about the entire facts of
e case"
In concluding, it is added that one of
e four murderers of Brantigan is still
large; another is now in Jail at Fred
icksburg, awaiting trial; another was :.
emated alive in Jail, the fire having been
t by his paniOns in crime, as is be-
wed, to seal his life in death, so that it :
'uld be impossible for him to weaken =
id turn states evidence.