Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-25

In the Gazettes Austin dispatches
this morning may be found news Of
the affirmation by the court Of criminal
appeals OF Judge Grcene's decision In
passing sentence OF death upon Jim
Toots, convicted OF the murder OF ON
Ger @, u. waller on the night Of June
2s, 1899. This Is one Of the most widely
known cases ever tried IN Torrnnt
county. For over two years II has
been before the court OF appeals. Fort
Worthana who longed to see the negro
hang had grown tired OF waiting for
a decision and when the news came
last night were ready TO shout for Joy.
Everybody who has been In Fort
Worth three years remembers the kill
Ing OF Lee Waller. II WAS and Is de-
BcrIbed as cOld-blOuded heartlesa
murder, one that threw the whole city
into tine greatest excitement ana caused
angry mobs 10 hunt for Tuots Tor ten
days and nights Waller was shot
just before midnight, at the corner OF
Rusk and Thirteenth streets. lie fell
doing his duty, shot through and
through with n big revolver He died
IN great agony about thirty-aiN hours
later. Touts had az uccompllccs In his
work Horace Bell and George Camp
bell, both negroes. They were arrested
Mt once Both fired at waller from the
opposite side OF Rusk street Neither,
however. hit him. They were tried and
convicted, Bell getting fourteen years
In the pcnltentlary and Campbell life
sentence.
Directly the shooting was done
Toots escaped The city, the county
and all north Texas was secured for
him. The people OF Fort Worth were
almost In a frenzy and not an official In
TArraut county slept for n week, 80
eager were they to capture him. TootH
was arrested about ten days later by
sheriff John Bifdwcll Of Big Springs,
who received n considerable reward,
Marshal Maddox and Sheriff Richard
son went TO BIZ SprlnB7 TO got hin. II
was all dozens OF officers could do ~
avert u lyuching bee when they re-
turned They fooled the crowd 10y
going 10 DALLAS vim Cicburne, thence to
Fort worth, getting here on a late
train, Tout5 was placed In jail, Even
inside there, he was not entirely safe.
Several mohg TO take him out were
talked or He was nrralgncd for muir
der In the Furty-cighth district court
the last day OF February, 1893 ON
March . the jury brought In "A verdict
OF murder IN tho first degree. Judge
Greene passed sentence of death upul
him, ilXluE the day OF his execution
several months later.
TuDtf attorneys, Hon. James W
SwHyne and Judge Shropshire, H. NJ.
Furmnn and Ross Bnwlln, got an app
peal. and Il has been before the Grim
mai court ever since. Circuit Clerk
McNatt says Judge Hurt affirmed
judge Grccno'g decision fow months
gfior the case was appealed. He says
Judge Hurt asked clerk Hudson 90 lilo
the Affirmation away TN TuntH' uttor.
neys had argued the ease, This was
done. If this be truG no ono knows
why the decision was not made public
long ago Aa stated above, the police
force, from Marshal Maddox down.
were glad to hear OF the news-nud all
others to whom IL was mentioned
Marshal Maddox, when asked about the
cusc. snid. II am glad TO know thnt
Jim Tuots IN to hnnE ut last. IIc
should have oNplatoi hla crime long
ago hope Judge Groouc viii hN the
date OF the hanging soon, Deputy
MhrHhll Malkn reiterated what tho
chief had said. Some think MpgsrH.
Swuynr and shropshire VIII try tn grt
a rchuarlng. others think the law Will
be allowed 10 take It's course.
ono thing IN certain, there ig a atronlr
probability of "A hanging In Fort Worth
soon with sheriff llulogs officiating.
II VIII have been three ycara June ~
since Iolts committed the crime for
which he II under sentence of death
More Than one has suggested the up-
pfnprNtrncHA Of Judge Greene nxinr
the day pf his execution ON tho amt
Ncrsary Of the murder he did. II may
be added that June 81 falls on Friday.