The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-01-31
PROF. GEO. L. BRYANT.
Life Sentence For Numbering Ellis
Affirmed by the Texas SuIrsme
Court Re Hearing Asked


1t will be remembered that Prof.
Bryant and Prof. Ellis were both
teaching in the Interstate College,
aud they had many windy meetings
and passed notes to each other.
Ellis found Bryant SO severe
taskmaster that he quit this col
lege and opened a school in the city
on his own account. Bryant set to
work to "do him up" as the saying
goes, and he wrote letters over the
country where he knew Ellis had
taught before and received replies
which showed that Ellis had not
conducted himself al all times as a
teacher should.
These letters the Professor car
ried to the parents patronizing El-
lis, and finally broke up his school,
or at least Ellis had only four pu-
pills at the time he was killed by
Bryant
Bryant did all that he could 10
aggravate Ellis, by sending him
word of his shortcomings aud even
made threats that he would do him
up,
On the evening of the killing the
two men met at Ragland's book
store, and Prof. Bryant asked Ellis
to 90 with him to the Cosmopolitan
Hotel and they would talk their
troubles over,
The two men left and held their
meeting at the hotel, and agreed to
90 to the woods and fghtit out with
their fists. They reached dplace
in the railroad yard and stopped to
parley. Here Bryant drew his pis-
tol and presented it. Ellis said: 81
am not armed. You can search
me; if you don't lay down your pis-
tol and fight me as you promised, |
will brand as a coward when | go
back to town At this Bryant fir
ed and Ellis fell mortally wounded,
and died several days afterwards.
The case was tried at Boston, be-
fore Judge Sheppard, and the Jury
gave Bryant life sentence.
He has been ID Jail about one
year and will now be taken to the
Texas penitentiary to serve for life.
Below we give the rulings of the
court in this case:
&c. L. Bryant, from Bowie coun-
ty-Convicted of murder in the first
degree, life sentence: Affirmed.
The statement of facts does not ap-
pear to have been filed, hence it
cannot be considered. In the abb
sence of the statement OF facts, we
can not pass upon the action of the
court in refusing to continue or
postpone the case, nor can we con
slider the supposed errors in the
charge. 1t appears from bill of ex-
ception that after deceased was
shot an operation was performed
upon him, Before the operation,
he made a statement as to the diff
ticulty, which was introduced as his
dying declaration. The objection
was that deceased was not consci-
Gus Of approaching death; that
there was lingering hope of re-
covery with him. This is assigned
as error. We hold that bill of ex-
ception in the absence of the state.
ment of fact must show upon its
face that it contains all the evil
dennce introduced on the trial in
regard to the matter complained
of; that while this written state
ment may not have been admissi-
BILE, the deceased may have, when
conscious of approaching death,
referred to and approved it as a
correct statement, The court
promptly instructed the jury not to
regard the improper remarks of the
States counsel Opinion by Hurt,
P. j."
Prof, Bryant had many friends
here, as he had enemies, his eccen-
tricities making the latter, He had
a penchant Of prodding his enemies
when he found one, but was kind to
his friends. He has a wife and lit
tie boy here who are loved by all
who know them, even the enemies
of the Professor feel a deep interest
in their welfare, and share their
sorrow at the courts decree.
Since putting the above in tpye
we met Mr.. Lee Estes Zone of Bry-
ants attorneys on the street, aud
he informs us that the Clerk of the
District court made the error COM
planned ofin the decision, that of
failing to show in transcript that
the original statement Of facts had
been made according to law. On
account of this error attorneys will
ask for a re-hearing Of the case,