Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-14
The Supreme Court Of the
Country Dismisses His Plea.
IT HAS NO JURISDICTION.
Davis viii Be Re-Sentenced When the Mandate
Is Received From Washington.
A History of the Murder For Which He is
to Pay the Penalty of His Life-The
Gazette Account at the Time.

SColtlA4tiH iIbU4 w OSllLLt9 tblI, u - 'ill-
nounciug that the supreme court of the
United States had granted the petition Of
the state Of Texas and dismissed the petit
ton of. W. Davis on the ground that the
court had no jurisdiction whatever in
the case. Davis has now been tried in our
district court. found guilty and the death
penalty assessed. He has twice been heard
by the highest court Of Texas, and his
execution then stayed by the supreme court
OF the land until yesterday, when they dis
missed his petition. When the mandate
from Washington is received Judge Beck
ham will sentence him a second time, ana
he viii be deprived of his life by hanging,
Davis heard the news calmly; he has al
ways been calm when spoken to on this
subject. lie Is constant reader of the
Bible, and IS seeking Divine support ana
comfort.
Why is j. ". Davis to be hung2
The following account printed i'll THE
GAZETTE July q, 1889, viii tell.
The most woeful occurrence ever chroni-
cled in the city of Fort Worth is that which
took place ut $40 Yesterday afternoon in
which B. c. Evans lost his life, and whole
city is plunged in grief. The blow stuns,
it paralyzes, men stand aghast with horror,
grief and rage while the poor, heart
broken widow weepS and the fatherless
children gather about the sacred dust of
the once loving parent. Better had Fort
Worth been laid in ashes than that 3. e.
Evans should have been robbed of life in
the way he was for Fort Worth would have
risen from her ashes more beautiful than
ever. but the taking of of the good man,
the LOYAL cit'z.n. the fond husband and
father. the great merchant and the pro
moter of public affairs cannot be undone.
At $40 yesterday evening ]. ". Davis
shot and killed B. C. Evans. Hundreds
who We're within 4 few blocks of the B. &.
lie, on, NT1ip
street heard the sharp ring Of . pistol
fired five times with remarkable regu-
lality, and from the interval between the
shots, with apparent great delibcration.
Men standing block away could see
the smoke from the pistol curling
out through the entrance TO the
carpet department of the house and carried
away by the gulf breeze. AT the first shot
hundreds started to the place, and when the
last shot had been fired and Davis was put
ting the pistol in the inside breast pocket
of his coat scores OF men We're at the store.
Marshal Farmer was there, and at once
took the pistol from Davis and took him in
custody Charles l. White, an en-
ploye of the company, ran to Mr..
Evans, who lay on the floor of the little
office in the carpet room. his head and
shoulders projecting under the baize cur
tain. and partially lifted him up. Ply
sicians were summoned at once, but moth
ing could be done and in ten minutes the
soul of 3. c. Evans was with the Creator.
A scene of wild confusion was witnessed
both in the house and on the streets. As if
on the wings of the electric current the
news hat Gown down the streets, B. c.
Evans is dead"
''B. c. Evans has been murderedv' flew
from lip TO lip and passed from house to
house.
MEN PALE AND EXCITED
came running from every direction-the
laborer, the mechanic the banker the
forward to the point where the
mortal remains of B. c. Evans
lay. The clerks in the house
came from every point and floor, and
from every counter and gathered about the
remains. The doors We're closed hastily to
keep out the crowd and hide from those
without the body of the dead and the weep
ing employees. Yes, many wept, as there
was cause, for the best friend many man
and woman in that house had would never
again speak a kind word or lend q helping
hand.
BREAKING THE NEWS
to the widow was a heart-rending task.
Two lady relatives went at once to the
family residence on Lamar street and told
the wife with choking sobs that Mr.. Evans
was badly hurt. Then Mr.. Whit Dryden, a
brother of Mrs. Evans, came AMI told her
that the injuries We're severe; that the
doctors had little hope; that DR.. Burts
said there was no hope. And then came
frit.nds bearing the corpse of him who
had been so much to her, and who
but few hours before had kissed her and
his children goodbye, stopping at the
threshold to take little Ethel, his two-and-
one-half-years old baby girl in his arms and
mbraced her for the last time on earth.
They bore the form into the parlor and laid
il gently down, and even then the widow
could not believe him dead and the agonized
children called for him and to him.
In another home friends came and told a
stately old lady of sixty-fve that her son
was in jailland why he had been placed
there. That boy was her all, he was her son
and she wept for him. He had supported
her and been kind in her old age and she
grieved, she would have given her own life
to have undone that days work, but too late
and the memorable laws of time and God
went on with their work
THE FACTS OF THE CASE.
As far as careful and rigid investigation
could arrive at the facts, they are these:
Six years ago j. W. Davis entered the en-
ploy of B. c. Evans. Previous to that
time he had been with the St. Louis dry
goods company. He was a trusted en-
very kind and lenient TO him on
many occasions. When sick the employer
had gone to see him and saw that he wanted
for nothing. Davis was addicted to drink
ing, and MIR. Evans had repeatedly spoken
to him about the evil effects of the habit
and its damage to his business prospects
Davis was in the clothing depar .ment.
and some time ago, his drinking continu-
ing. Mr.. Evans placed James Johnson in
charge OF the department making him su-
perior in rank to Davis and at the same re-
ducing his salary. Yesterday morning
Davis came to the store and it is said had
been drinking. Mr.. Evans had con-
versation with him in the morning
and told Davis ne could stand his drinking
no longer; he must stop drinking or quit
his employ; he must begin new Monday or
get another place About noon Davis went
to A J. Anderson's and bought a 41-caliber
pistol, saving the wanted ittokill dogs. He re-
turned to the store and it is evidence that he
abused Mr. Evans to the other clerks and
made threats against his life. About 3:15
the conduct of Davis and the threats made,
induced Robert Sandidge, one of the clerks,
to go to Mr.. Hollingsworth, the treasurer
of the company, and tell him that Mr. Ev-
ans should be warned. Not believing that
Davis intended harm but feeling that if Mr.. |
Evans were told of Davis actions the |
threats of Davis would be executed, moth |
ing was said to him and he was
utterly unconscious of his danger.
Mr.. Fleming, who was in the store about |
$50 talking. to Mr.. Evans, noticed Davis |
walking up and down the carpet room while |
he was there, but thought nothing of it. |
He left about 3:35 and Mr.. Evans seated |
himself IN . chair at the desk in the Of |