St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-15
BLOOD FOR BLOOD.
An Episode of the Days When
Texas Was Renublic.

An Episode of the Days When
Texas Was Republic.
Paris (Texas) Cor. Philadel phia Times.
Perhaps the most deliberate lynching
that ever occurred took place in what is
now Hunt county, in this state. about
fourteen miles east of GreenyIlle. and
only short distance from the famous
town OF Black Jack Grove. This trial
took place In 1914, and its history has
never before been written up. There
was only one newspaper printed in $50
miles of the place, and it only made a
passing reference to local matters.
presuming that the people knew of
them, and its limited space was taken
up with foreign news.
There are very few persons now liv-
ing who were present on this unique oc-
casiOn. One of these WAS Henry Skid
more, of this city. who is DOW more than
three score and ten years. Although
the writer has heard of the trial all his
life and has played upon the spot where
it too place, Mr.. Skidmore is the only
man whom he ever met that was pres
ent and participated In it. Atthat time
this country was OIL the northwestern
frontier of the republic of Texas. The
policy of the Texas government toward
the Indians was humane and liberal.
The reason was obvious. There were
then on the frontier the Comanches and
other powerful tribes VINO were always
ready to wage war upon the slightest
preteXt.
Living among the whites were frag-
mentS of numerous bands of Indians,
who were inveterate enemies of the
COmancheS. They made an offensive
for mutual protection. If a white man
killed one of: these friendly Indians he
was to be turned over to them for trial,
and if an Indian should kill white
man the whites were to try him.
There was a band Of horse thieves
that had regular stations from the Mis-
sissippi river to the Sabine, on the
frontier. Near where the town of Lone
two members of the gang, named Ray
and Mitchell. In the Sabine bottom,
near by, some of the friendly tribes
struck camp for the winter of 1884.
Ray and Mitchell became quite intimate
with them.
The Indians were bountfully supplied
with provisions. blankets and pelts, be-
sides some horses and money. In April,
1874, two members of the gang of horse
thieves, named Andy Jones and Harry
White, arrived at Mitchell and Rays.
TIC lOuI COScISu tuC pUSScS-
stems of the Indians. and decided that
the best way to obtain their property
was to kill them. With very little de
lay they surprised and killed eleven of
the unSuSpecting Indians in the most
cruel and cold-blooded manner imagin'
able. The remainder of the Indians in
that vicinity saved themselves by flight.
Mitchell. Raw. Jones and White took
possession of their property and eXulted
in what they had done.
Little attic ntion was paid to the afro
ciOus affair by the whites, bnt it was
soon learned that the Indians intended
to revenge themselves upon all the set
tiers unless the murdererS were brought
to justice. Aroused to a sense of the
danger that confronted them. the whites
arrested Mitchell, Ray, Jones and
White, and offered to turn them over to
the Indians. but the Indians refused to
receive them. They insisted that all
the whites from the Arkansas line to
the frontier and from Red river to the
SABINE take part in the trial. COuriers
were sent all over the country summon
ing the people to meet at Merideth
Harris place in Sulphur OH the first
Monday in June.
people and 500 Indians were present.
The crowd chose one of its number to
preside over the deliberations OF the
meeting, Another citizen was chosen
to represent the people and the Indians
The accused were permitted to select
the citizens to represent them. A jury
was then selected, and no man was
allowed to sit upon it that was Objec-
tiOnable to the accused. John 3. Simp-
son. county judge of Fannin county,
who was present by request, swOre in
the Jury. Two days were then con-
sumed in hearing the testimony. The
prosecution made complete case, and
declined to argue it before the jury.
The defense made strong plea for
mercy. The jury retired. and after de-
liberating three hours returned YER
dict of guilty against all the men, and
fixed the date of their execution two
days from the hour of the finding of the
verdict.
There was still chance for the COLI
demned men. There was one appeal,
and that was to the people themselves.
Ii they approved the verdict the men
must die; if they did not, some other
course would have to be taken.
The presiding officer then called upon
all who agreed with the jury to walk to
the right, and those who did not to goto
the left. Every man except one went
to the right. He explained that his
reason for opposing the execution was
that he had conscientious scruples
against the infiiction of the death
penalty as punishment for crime.
On Saturday a heavy pole was
placed in the forks of two trees
that stood near each other. The
doomed men stood in a wagon. the
moose was adjusted, some words of
religious consolation were uttered. the
wagon was pulled away and the men
had eXpiated their crime.
After it was all over the Indians re-
newed their pledges of friendship and
expressed their satisfaction at what had
been done. The spot where this trial
took place was an opening or glade in
the edge of the bottom of small creek
that is one of the tributaries of the
Sulphur river. The judge, jury, ac-
cuSed and counsel sat under large oak
tree. Its limbs we're all cut off few
feet from the trunk to mark the spot.
There it stands yet, though dead: it
seems destined to remain until worn out
by the elements.
A Noble Dog.
IL IT,