Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-09
HOW A PLUCKY WOMAN DROVE
OFF BLACKCAPS.
Sent Cold Lead Into Three of the Mob
and the Others Flee. Leaving Their
Wounded Companions.
Special to the Gazette.

NEWTON, No, July S-A report comes
from across the Arkansas line OF q case
wherein band of regulators got decidedly
the worst of an attempt to reform one Of
their neighbor5. The old Bald KnObber
element, which so long dominated this sec
ton Of the country, now remains under the
guiSe OF an organization known rs "BlaCh
Caps" There people take upon themselves
the task of reforming all who tranSgress
the moral code, but do not stop at this work,
for they also wreak vengeance upon those
who have given members of the band trou-
bic IN any way.
Charles Lawson has been living about
eight miles from Newton, in the Ozark
range, across the state line for the past two
years, and all those who know MIN best
speak highly Of Lawson and his wife. He
came to this country with the intention Of
settling upon government land anu selected
piece and entered upon upon it with the
intention OF proving up on II as early as
possible. He was unfortunate enough to
incur the illwill Of a mcgber of the band Of
Black Caps by selecting piece of timber
land that had been occupied by the said
member as q Squdtter. This Squatter.
James Dagget, had his full amount of land
from the government, but wished to hold
the piece of timber for his brother, who
was expected to cOple from Indiana and
take up the land. Lawson made his entry,
anu dlltI q ttulOuS NOuttSl, SuCtttuGu Ill
getting his patent. During the whole time
from the day he first made the claim he has
been subjected to petty annoyanCes, and in
some instances, grieyous wrong, but he has
born them mildly as he said he wanted no
trouble with his neighbOrs. He and his
wife were well liked by all with the eycep-
tion OF the clan that was backing Dagget in
his miSdeedS. Mrs. Lawson is 4 small wo-
man but she is q brave woman ami
is us nervy as her husband in fight for
home. On June %, Lawson received let
ter warning him that as he would not leave
the country where he was not wanted,
when he saw that his neighuorS did not
like him, he would be given forty-eight
hours to get away in, and If he was not
cone then he would have TO take the cOnse-
quenCes. Lawson was not scared and went
about his business.
On the night of the 90tL, as he was enter
ing his yard, having been to town, he was
suddenly confronted by about ten men
wearing black GOWNS and their heads GOV
cred with black caps. He was grasped and
tied, and the band started off to tae timber
with him. Mrs. Lawson heard the dis
turbance and quickly OWNED what was go
ing on. She 5rasped her husbands Win
chester rife and followed in the dusk until
the band with its captive stopped and pro
ceeded to strip the victim preparatory TO
administering whip ing. Just as the lash
was raised to give the first blow, q shot
rang cut and the whipper dropped. In
quick succession came two more shots, and
two more fell. while tie remainder of the
black-caps fled panic stricken as the brave
little woman pumped lead after them.
While Mrs. LAWSON was cutting her hus-
bands bonds the last two VINO fell crawled
away in the darkness and escaped, but the
whipper lay with a broken thigh. When
his black raiment was stripped from him it
was found that be was Dagget, and he was
sent home by the man who was about to be
his victim. When the matter became
known. the indignation of the neighbors
Iras so great tAat they set in TO hunt down
the band, and succeeded in placing five of
them in Jail, where hey now lay awaiting
trial