San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-05-31
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
A GOOD WOMAN KILLED BY A
BAD MAN. ,.,=eii s4.
Ulysses S. Franks Closes a Career Of
Worthlessness In Redhanded De-
moniac Manner Yesterday. ~.

A, SoiipieI anu ,e8-cOnVlct, was
ended yesterday afternoon shortly af-
ter o'clock at his home at No. 10
Probandt street, near the Arkansas Pass
railway round house. His wife, who
until lately had shared his life for the
past 22 years, gave up her life at the
same time. His own hand did both
bloody deeds and the witness to it was
d. A. Buel, a hostler at the Arkansas
Pass round house. .r.,.. IS n.
Franks had been drinking heavily
since last Friday and, on account of his
i'll treatment, and continued quarrels
his wife was afraid of him. When he
went to her house last Saturday night.
he began abusing her in his usual
drunken way and the police were sum-.
moned and Officer Brown arrested him.,
On the way to the police station
Franks brother-in-law Hamp Scruggs
promised to take care of him until
Monday morning and the officer allow
ed him to make bond and he was re-,
leased. He was not heard of around
his home then until yesterday evening
just before he came home, killed his
wife and then himself, though he was
seen in several saloons on the west side
of the city very drunk and during yes
terday he secured revolver and went
to his home. He found his wife in the
kitchen in her stocking feet. She ran
out of the house into the street, as she
saw him have his pistol in his hand
He fired as she ran and wounded her.
Then he fired again and she fell. He
deliberately walked up and with a
third shot ended her life and walked
away looking at his pistol. AS he re-
treated about ten steps he raised the
pistol to his head ana the remaining
chamber ended his life. The bodies
lay in the street until the arrival of
Coroner Jones, and the police officers,
who were summoned Immediately by
the neighbors. The inquest began by
Judge Jones will be contineud today.
Ulysses S. Franks was a native of
Caldwell county, near Lockhart, where
his father was a we'll to do farmer.
The family moved to Lockhart where
the father kept an hotel, Bud was his
faVorite son, was rather wild and
learned no trade. He married the
daughter of George Sims, of Lockhart,
in Luling about 1875. At the time of
her death she was about 80 years of
age and he was nearly 40. Four chill
dren survive them, two daughters, one
of whom, Mrs. Murphy, of Goliad, is
married and two sons and the remain
ing daughter are in this city. He
leaves one brother and three sisters,
living near Lockhart.
Franks had lived in San Antonio for
about fifteen years, but had not done
much work of any kind while here.
He was convicted and sent to the pen
itentiary for two years for passing
fifty cent counterfeit coin, and had
himself by turning states evidence. He
was in Jail in Lockhart once for assault
with intent to rape.
The remains of the husband and wife
were removed to Sloan e. Shelley's
morgue on st. Mary's street. They
will be shipped tomorrow to Lockhart.
The case against Franks before the
recorder this morning was dismissed
on account of his death.
Following is the testimony of B.. A.
Buell., hostler on the Arkansas Pass
railroad, at the inquest on the death
of Bud Franks and Minnie Franks, be-
fore Connor Shook:
Il have known Bud Franks about
four years. 1 left the Arkansas Pass
round house about ten minutes after
six on the evening of May 80. 1 was
on my way to the passenger depot and
deceased was walking along Probandt
street in the same direction. / was
about fifty yards behind him when
first saw him. When he got
to his home on Probandt
street he entered the front door. 1
walked on until 1 was nearly opposite
his house. 1 then heard a woman
scream and l stopped and looked around
the house and saw a woman running,
dragging little boy. She stepped up
on the back gallery and then ran out
of the front door. While she was in
the hall heard the first shot fired.
| then walked uD in front of the house
and stopped. She ran out into the
street, screaming, and down Probandt
| street toward the round house. Bud
| Franks was about twenty feet behind
| her when she ran out of the gate. He
| had a pistol in his hand at the time.
Just after he got out of the gate he.
| fired another shot at the fleeing woman
but 1 don't think it struck her. After
this shot I cried to him: Bud, for
Gods sake don't shoot the woman! He
paid no attention to me, but cooked the
pistol and fired at her again. At this
third shot the woman fell forward on
her face. He then walked up to her
Frustrated figure and fired another
shot. l then ran up toward the rail-
way track toward the depot to summon
the police. 1 did not see deceased
shoot himself. My opinion is that de-
| ceased was drunk at the time of the
shooting, as he staggered oil the time.
About three-quarters of an hour after
the shooting 1 returned 20 where the
| shooting took place and found the
Il woman living where / had seen her