The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-01-23
TERRY EXPIRES ON THE STAIRWAY
LEADING TO THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT
COURT ROOM AMIDST THE
Widest CONFUSION.
JAYBIRDS AND WO0DPEOKERS
Judge Parker Pulls His Pistol but DID
Not Shoot-Even the Prisoners
We're Armed.

GALVESTON, January 21.-This day was
set for the trial in the criminal district
court of the case of Kyle Terry, charged
with the killing of Edward Gibson in Whar-
ton, last May, and the case of ex-County
Judge ]. w. Parker, of Richmond, on a
charge of murder alleged to have been
committed in Fort Bend county last fall.
Both of these cases had been brought to
this county on a change of venue, on &C
count of the intense feeling that prevailed
in Wharton and Fort Bend counties against
the defendants.
The cases were set down for to-day and
witnesses for both the prosecution and de-
fense had brought to the city large num-
ber of the adherents of what is known as
the Jaybird and Woodpecker factions of
Ft. Bend county.
A large special venire of citizens had been
summoned for jury service in these cases to
appear at the court house at 10 O'Clock.
A little before the time set for trial Vol
ney Gibson, ]. R. Mitchell VIM. Little,
William Andine, Calvin Blakely, VIM. Nc
Farland and Daniel Ragsdale, attached
Parker case, accompanied by Sheriff Aten,
of Fort Bend county, entered the court
house and passed into the sheriff's Office
on the south side of the hall near the main
entrance. Gibson spoke to Chief Deputy
Tiernan
REQUESTING PROTECTION.
for himself and party, and intimating that
he feared trouble if he and Terry should
Tlo nrnnoicad
with his wishes and said he would lock
them up in a separate room adjoining the
criminal district court room, so there would
be no possible chance of contact by the op-
posing factions.
This was satisfactory to Gibson and his
friends, and as Deputy Tiernan stepped to
the door with the party on the way to the
room, he was met by Lawyer Campbell who
requested his endorsement to paper he
was going to file in the county court.
Deputy Tiernan, with the remark: "Gen-
tlemen, / will be with you in moment, "
stepped back to the Office to endorse the
paper, leaving Gibson and his party stand.
KYLE Terry, Judge Parker, Judge Weston,
John Lovejoy, DR.. Gale. and several
friends walked in. Terry, Loveioy, his at
torney, Judge o. J. NJ. Weston, and DIR.
Gale were the first to enter.
Some of the members OF the party
stopped to greet some people about tne
door. Terry, however, turned to the left,
toward the stairway leading to the criminal
court room, and had reached the third step
when Gibson, who was standing in the cor
ner of the hall next to the sherif's office,
fred. This shot struck Terry under the
RIGHT arm, passed through his heart, frac.
tured the fifth rib and passed out the iefl
hands and knees on the step, drew his pis-
toI hut was unable to pull it, and
DIED WITH THE WEAPON IN HIS HANDS
after few gasps. Another shot rang out
almost instantly after the first, then briei
mil when regular tusilade began.
Denuty Sheriff Herman had just raised
his men to sign the document i'll his hano
when he was startled by the first shot, in
stantlv followed by the second. He dashed
to the door and seeing Gibson with re-
volver in his hand seized him, but GlDsoI
broke loose. when the deputy caught hold
q of him again andwas rushing Gibson dowr
the hall towards the county clerks office
when he heard some one say:
"Turn him loose, damn you, or Ill drol
you" o, % confront this dan
Ger. when Gibson broke loose and ran dowi
fhe hall. The deputy, thinking he ha'
gone into the county court room, dashed
In there and out through the back door, u
fnd Gibson in the custody of Detective ga
hill. who had run down the BACK stair
from the criminal court room Where I'll
Aided by the detective and Policeman
Pierce, Deputy Tiernan took Gibson INTO tn
vault Of the 1o county ftasSy es5S SSe 6aGed whede anG
Italian dagger were taken from nun. IN
lower lower story Of the court room was by tbi
fine filled with smoke and bare OF CLERK
and other occupants except cSne the officer hs et,
IN the sheriff's office, except Ragsdale, ant
Two splendid navy revolyers were take
from j. r. Mitchell two from d NJ: NJ rag . =
dale and one each from W. E. Andrews an an
w. r. Little. After being disarme;d m IN
party m: " with Gibson were taken to jail. jli Rt
tective Williamson who was with L DetectlE de ~
Cahill in the criminal clerks once on III 1n
third floor ran down the front stalrwa
while Cahill ran down the rear IS stair!
Williamson was the first to, reach Terry
side and when he reached him he foun