Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-10-21
MAJOR ECELES MURDER.
THE NEW CASTLE MAN WAS SHOT
down. FROM HIS HORSE.

Ranchman skaggs Cnts Down Eckles'
Fence-The Two Meet Each Other on
Horseback, An Alteration Ensues.
skaRgs Foliows the msJor aud shoots
Him Several Times-A Brave DauRh-
ter's Thrilling Deed.
Special Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
NEW CASTLE, October 81.
Elk Representative George w Eckles
of this city has ust received the mar.
ticulars Of the murder OF his brother
Major J. Wesley Eckles, formerly a
prominent resident OF this city. having
been born and raised on his fathers farm
within the northern city limits. The
dead man was well known, his indus
trious and skillful attention to his
chosen vocation, farming, while a resi-.
dent of this community and many hearts
have been panied to hear Of his tragic
death while yet in the prime Of life and
in prosperous circumstances
Major Eckles entered the army as q
private and came ont Of the war a major
and one Of the most popular officers ia
his battalion. He continued as an off.
Ger after the reorganization in 1857. He
served with distinction on the frontier
until 1877. when he was dismissed for
some violation of a rigid army regula-
ton. The greatest sympathy was ex-
pressed for him by the army, as 1t was
believed that the sentence was entirely
too severe General Stanley said Of him
last month The major was a good
soldier, and II Is the general belief that
the sentence was too hard for his OF
Tense.
He married q daughter Of General ]
s Mason, formerly colonel OF the Ninth
infantry He has lived for number Of
years on his three thousand acre ranch
near Boerne, Texas, He had a large
family.
The murderer, James O Skaggs,
rented portion OF General Mason
land, then In possession of the major.
Skaggs used his land for sheep and as
Eckless wire fence kept his sheep out OF
the clear waters Of Csbola creek, he cut
the fence several times and propped the
wire up 80 that his sheep could pass.
This was not only cowardly but a
direct violation of the state laws. and
Major Eckles objected strongly. The
men met each other on horse back
soon after the fence was cut. Eckles
asked skaggs II he cut the fence Instead
Of receiving a reply he was insulted, and
he slapped Skaggs In the face. Skaggs
was no physical match for Eckles, who
was tall and powerful. Skaggs drew his
revolver and struck the major on the
head with IT, They came to an amioable
adjustment before any further blows
were struck, and both rode on together
Suddenly Skaggs whipped out his re-
volver and cursing loudly said Il have /
kept this loaded for you for some time. |
am going TO kill you and may as well do /
il now He then fred several shots at /
the Major (who was unarmed and had re-
peatedly refused to carry weapons. aI-
though nearly all his neighbors Travelled
about armed to the teeth)
Two shots took effect. one passing
through the Majors groiu. The fatal
injury to the bowels caused him to fall
from his horse. skaggs burriedly dis
and went 10 see ii Eckles was
dead The major told him that he was
helpless and asked 70 be taken home but
Skaggs refused and left him lying on
the road
Skaggs, however, rode on to Eckles |
house and informed his daughter Bessie |
Of her fathers serious condition The |
faithful daughter, without a moments
mounted half broken mus
tang. The animal was without saddle or
bride, and with only loop moose on his
nose TO guide him, she started In the d.
rection indicated by sksggs
The mustang, mad with fright, reared
and pitched and then fed wildly across
the prairie with the brave girl on his /
back. Being a fine horsewoman she |
finally got him under control, and after |
ride OF lightning speed across the prairie, |
she found her father lying In a thicket. |
conscious, and still holding the rope of
his horse. he was suffering intensely,
and the blood was pouring from his
wounds
Help was soon obtained. the wounded
man was removed to his house, and sur.
gical aid despatched for Everything
was done 20 reduce the wounded mans
agony until surgeons arrived, hut with
little success The operation OF laparot.
omy was performed, the abdomen was
opened and the internal wounds searched
FIR. Five holes we're found in the intes
tines, and one large artery was cut and
bleeding, all caused by one ball
THIS was on Friday, September 25.
Skaggs kept free from arrest during that
DAY and night. but rode into Boerne at
daybreak on Saturday morning and gave
himself up 10 the sheriff Of Kendall
county.
Major Eekles's friends OF twenty years
ago did not forget him and there was q
very large attendance at his funeral.
This was q very impressive military cere-
mony. Dean Richardson also conducted
services at st. Marks Church, San An
tonic, and he was buried In the cemetery
there The pall.bearers were Colonel
Withers, Major Cresson, Jessie NJ Bell,
Captain G. p Smith, O. Sehasse and DR..
Hammer.
The county Judge commenced the pre-
liminary exsmination Of Skaggs on Sat
urday, October 8, and concluded it on
Monday. Gerald Griffin, ESQ, and
August Altgelt, Esq, represented the
state, and Mr.. Digges appeared for the
defendant. The testimony was as above,
except that the dying statement of Msior
Eckles was introduced Other witnesses
testified TO the finding Of Eckles In
dying condition. The county Judge re
fused Sksggs bail and ordered him re-
manded to jail until the grand jury meets
in COrnsl county, TO which it was trans
ferred.
Read and Reflect