The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-01
THEIR FORTUNE 4 CURSE.
Murder Followed the Reception of an
Inheritance.

SHERMAN, TEN, August 2i.-W. Il.
Gaines is on trial here for the killing OF
c. X. Koch in the public square on
July Sth. The case has excited nIch at
tention. Nut II all the incidents leading
up to il had been fiction instead OF mere
reality, they would have attracted
great deal more notice than they have.
II they had been published as fiction
the only appropriate color for the cover
would have been yellow, and the aq-
propriate price ten cents. The scenes IN
the story would be scattered all the way
from New York TO Texas, and the cir
comstanccs would range all the way
from poverty 10 great wealth, from
idyllic domestic happiness ~ violent
family lrOils, and fatal ieud. good
title would be THE Curse OF the hoch
Fortune
In the spring Of 1915 middle-aged
man named Koch came 10 this part Of
Texas with his family. He claimed TO
have come originally from New York.
but 10 have spent several years In Ten
nessee on the way. His family con-
sisted OF LOula. little girl, aged nine,
Charley, a boy. two years younger. and
the stcp-mother Z the two children.
alrs. Koch was in poor health. and In
a few months after arriving In Texas
she died. Tie husband and father took
his loss very hard. indeed, and seemed
never to recover from IT, \ few days
after the death OF his wife be took the
cmliron to the house OF neighbor
named Wilson.
Mr.. Wilson," he sail II am going of
TO sherman for few days 10 look Tor
work. / need work. and am obliged 10
20. / wish you would take care Of the
children till l get back again. Remem-
her that they have no mother. and for
Gods sake be Kind to them"
Mr. Wilson promised 10 take care OF
them, and the father left. This was the
last time any human being is known 70
have seen him. either alive or dad
From that time on he disappeared as
completely as IL the broad prllries OF
Texas had swallowed him NJ. Some
thought ii was a case CT suic de; others,
OF mere voluntary abandonment OF lis
children. and still others Of attempted
murder and robbery After weeks and
months Of watching and waiting the
children and their guardian gradually
settled down 10 the realization that
their father had disappeared for good.
As to how he disappeared, that was an
other matter. That part OF IL has never
been settled 20 this day
Mr.. Wilson was poor man and had
large family or MS OWL, out Lt seemed
to have done his best TO carry out his
promise to be good TO his two orphans
left In his charge. IL was necessary
for them TO work hard. but they had
at least as many advantages as Mr..
Wilson's own children. on the LIST day
of April, 1889, Loula Koch was married
to w X. Gaines, a young farmer OF the
neightoraood. Neither OF the young
folks had any property. but they had
love in their hearts and they seemed
i'm a fair way TO life OF contentment
and happiness Charley Koch, the
Younger brother OF the bride lived with
them, and the two men and the woman
had many a day OF honest earnest
toll In the cotton patch together The
story OF this part OF their lives would
be worthy a place among the bucolics
of Virgil.
In the early spring OF 1890 new
element began TO come into the lives
OF the young folks. A well-dressed but
rct.cent man came into GraySon county.
Texas. and began TO make inquiries as
10 a family named Koch. He was re-
ferred 10 Mrs. Gaines and her brother.
II soon developed that he was looking
for a man named Koch. who. when last
heard from. had been in this part Of the