Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-11-23

home In Blossom P-airie by being called
to his door and shot BY unknown persons.
MAC Crook, the Incumbent sheriff
Of Lsusr county, WAS Sheriff Blacks op-
poneut in the race md short
time after the murder circumstances
disclosed led to the belief
that an escaped prisoner from the Lamar
county jail named John Middleton had
committed the teed st tue instigstion OF
Mack Crook ard bis deputy, Newt Hsrris.
| Mic dleton is known to hsve died short
inc afterwards, and N;ck Crook and
NeWt Harris were arrested ss parties to
the crime. They obtained q change Of
venue 10 this county, and Louis Holman,
charged with being an accomplish, was
also arrested ana turned states evidence.
Crook and Harris have hsd three trials IN
this city, resulting in hung dries.
| ABOUT twenty witnesses LOT tie prose-
cution have BEEN examined siIce Monday,
reproducing about toe same evidence With
one or two exceptions as thSt gwen on
previous occasions. A new witness
named Thomas Christopher WAS intro
duced to-day and test: fl ID as follows:
l reside in Paris, Tex and lived there
In 1884 and 1885. first knew John Mid
dleton number OF yesrs ago, and was in
prison with him in Paris in 1884, when
they had me charged with forgery, Of
which charge was cleared. While was
in jill Sheriff Mack Crook came to me
and asked mt II fellow would set 'em
up to $500 or $500 II would do up Mr..
Back, or something TO that effect
Middleton YVES in the cell with
me and smiled and said that
he would do it, Middleton
made his escape from jill sometime after
Tss released. The next night SITTER
Saeri7 Bilck Was killed met Middleton
on horseback on one OF the streets O.
Paris He told me- thst he had killed
Sheriff Black and asked me II would nc
help him kill man by the name of Mel
son. l told him that would which dc
in order to get chance TO capture him d
l knew there was big reward for him
told Sheriff Gum about it several day
afterward and We agreed to keep TIL
matter dark apd try t!
catch Middleton. 1 have neye
testified in this case before
The defense hSd me summoned, but neve
put me on the stand.
Louis Holman, the sccomplice Wit
turned states evidence testified this after
noon IS follows: Mack Crook and ar
on coed terms. Was Ills deputy unit
he went out Of flee. After thst l wen
70 work in store at Emberson's Prsirle
On the 18Th day CT February, 1885, Mr.
Yates who had also been one OF Crook
deputies came out and told me that Mr.
Crook wanted me to come to Paris.
went to Paris and found Mr.. Crook tend
Ing par IL his saloon. He and 1 wen
out to q wagon ysrd ant
had short talk. Tn
mex morning he and nnC
/; Newt Harris met at Morgan Crook
room. They wanted me- 10 GO to OsWego
Kas., and either get John Middleton :!
lesvs the country or ges him Of wheIt
they could kill bin They gave m,
l money and I wen 4 Oswse0 sud dropped
3 two letters IL fAa p1s:G tlice addressed Il
! John Howard, WEIGH s'rs tEG nsue Mid
dlefon wen: rnter. remained five o
six dcvs, SD falling 10 get an snswe
stzrtei fo r3'utl homv, snd ws5 met e
tie depo; b. Depu,T Slsr,f euTris OF Ii
mar ccuaty and M. Dunczn
de.ec.!ve. They arrested
me sad took &C 10 Paris where
entered iuIo wrl'S2a agreement @ tu:!
, Sts.e's evidence En1 ,all ABOUT the case
r 1t VIII pgobs5IY Tq lire another wee
) 70 conclude the Case and It is bein
! watched with great Gesl CT interest.