Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-08
NO RANGERS WANTED,
a kevtew OF the Lawlessness In
Madison County Which Led 70 the
Uprising OF the Cisiz ans.
H"o Rad Characters Lynched. . Third
FIRED Upos, but Escaped Others
Warned to Obey the Laws
Correspondence of the Gazette.

Correspondence Of the Gazette.
MADIsoNvILLK, TEX, jan. 5.-For
many months the people of this county
have been in quite state Of excitement
over the numerous crimes that have been
committed and the Intellectually OF the
law in reaching the criminals. Theft,
arson, robbery and murder have been
committed. Men have been murdered
because they were witnesses for the state
in prosecutions for theft and the like.
The finger Of suspicion has been for
months pointed to some FIVE or six per-
sons as being the guilty ones. Not longer
than the 9Th day OF November lsst, the
hrss day OF our District court, two
men. Dutchman by the nsme
OF Keller and gentleman By the
name OF F. M. Gefford, were murdered
Near here in cold blood at night. Gaftord
was citizen of Williamson county and
was brought here by attachment to testi.
" for the state in q cow stealing case.
Several arrests were made for the murder
OF these men and some others have been
suspected as being connected with the
same. Peacher, brother-in Jaw of CAT
foro's, and against whom Gafford was an
Important witness In COW stealing case,
was on examining trial before the Justice
OF the peace here for over week, and oil
the evidence against him being circum-
stantlal, WAS admitted to bond in
the sum OF $500. Bis wife, who was
GAford's sister and who WIGS constantly
In attendance upon the trial, from the
htst TO the last Of the eXtmination, went
home, and during the frat night OF her
stay At home committed suicide, and 1t is
believed that from her knowledge Of the
parties and 1.-the evidence she was firmly
convince d that her husband had murdered
her brother. The people have been at
fever heat over the case, and public preju-
Gice has been running very high against
Peecher and others who are suspected SIS
being implicated in Gaford's murder.
Toe people have grown furious over
other crimes. A number of citizens
some months ago organized law and Or
der society, aud have met and resoluted
1 time and again, to no avail. 1t has
Rbeen difficult IL is claimed to secure con-
Eictlons. Juries have often disagreed,
Esnd many times the guilty ones have
I gone scot free. The lawless element de-
| lied those who would epfefce the law,
and have even threatened the lives OF men
who have always lived peaceably, ana
simply because they wanted the laws en-
fOyced. Tuesday the whole thing came
TO head. The G. Fl ord and Keller muir
! ders were fresh on the minds Of the peos
pie. Some parties fired Into the dwaA-
! ing houee of ALI Written, NOTORIOUS
person, las. Friday night, and he
Was swearing vengeance afterwards
| against certain parties whom he suSs
pscsed as having dore the arlA&i
Many Of his friends, most OF whnin
are known to be toaghs, were in town
Saturday buying up sill the ammunition
and cartridges. Some 200 or mole citi-
eng, composed Of the best element Of
the county, held meeting few miles
distant from here Tuesdsy and organizs ed
| in squads of about thirty men each and
came to this place armed with shOtguns
and Winchester rifles. Here they found
William BJbo, man OF desperate Char
ecter and the one who has furnished the
backbone to most all our lswless element
and who has frequently INDUCED In
threats against good citizans Of this
county, and killed him on the streets In
open daylight in the presesce Of
the public. From here THY went
20 Whitien's and made war upon
him. He wes on horseback and made
| for the bushes. They fred some twenty
shots st him, and IL is believed wounded
him, but nothing definite has been learned.
Written wos reg .rded es leader OF the
| awless. They then went to the home OF
| Rsden S. Psge's and carried him to tree
IN the woods near Dy and hung him. Page
| was q notorious sneak thief and sbrewd
Wsll H..
kSsst, Clay Roberts of the west, Joice
IN ooiey OF the north and J L. Common ct
| he south par. CT the county, all
| this crowd. 1t is believed gen
orally that lewlessness in this county is
/ aow broken up Several other persons
ihan these named were visited and told
| what must be done. Public sentiment
sustaias the coEduc. of the citizens.
Saerif Block took time by the forelock
and on Monday n'got Rad ell the pri,-
overs in the county ISL tskep out and
sent to tae penltentisry for safe keeping.
| This WAS wise for had the prisoners oeeo
mere the crowd would have had them OF
rorn down the new $4,000 ISL.
Il is rumored everywhere that
1 rangers are to be brought
here, but row everything is quiet.
| Written has 60 doubt left the country
Page, the hanged m,n, was once County
tCommissioner of this county, aud 1t is
Essid made good ficer. Booo was shot
twice-oce shot in the heao, the other 10
the breast. He died without struggle,
aud Was buried in the town cemetery. Ali
those engaged In the killing, IN fact, all
those in the crowd, will NO doubt surren-
| der themselves to the officers OF the law
sud be tried for The killing OF Booo and
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