The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-14
THE SHERlFFS OF TEXAS.
Two Hundred Members of the Assoc
citation Are at Dallas.
INTEREST IN CuNNlNGHAAS CASE.
Liberal Defense Fund Has Bccn Sub
STANDARDIZATION Made Tor In
jo,ment by the ofhccrs.

Dallas. Texas. July lS.-Dallas is largely
In the hands OF the sherifis. Everybody
is wearing badges to prove it. Tho state
association CT the chief peace officers of
the numerous counties Of Texas opened its
nineteenth annual convention here today.
Nearly 200 members and large contingent
Of non members arrived last night and this
morning
President Beckett, who has been here
since last Friday arranging details with
Vice President Cabell. who is sheriff OF
Dallas had everything in shape for both
business and pleasure when the time TO
cali the convention TO order arrived at .
u. m The old flag of the Republic Of
Texas the Stars and Stripes and big pic
ture OF General Sam Houston were among
the decorations that caught the eye in the
convention hall.
The meeting was opened with prayer ny
Rev. Anderson OF the First Presbyterian
church.
Mayor Bryan T Barry followed vita an
address Of welcome OH the part of the city.
III. Colonel W. l. Crawford made one
Of his Enthusiastically eloquent speeches
On behalf Of the Dallas Bar association.
Mr.. T.. II. Muse OF the Yong Mems
Christian association extended the use oi
The parlors library committee rooms, gym
nasium and bathing facilities of that or
ganizatiOn TO the sheTifiS. President Bick-
EFT. IN behalf Of the association, responded
to the various welcomes. He spoke extern
poraneously and without special prepare
tlon. but his address wus full OF bright
points and sensible suggestions. which e.ic-
| itod hearty applause from his hearers.
After The roll call had been completed
ty Secretary Kirk, thirty-seyen new names
We're added 20 the list Of members and
number o the honorary list.
At the afternoon session. which lasted
only from till O'clock, the only matter
aside from preliminary routine to engage
the attention OF the association Was the
case of eNSheriH John V, Cunningham of
Taylcr county. pending in the criminal
court Of Kansas at Wichita Kan, for the
| killing Of the circus man Joseph 3. Me
M1hcu. last winter. Cunningham killed
| Mcmahon, he claims, In self-defeike while
! he was at Wichita on an official mission to
| bring back 10 Abilene. Texas. Steve purdy,
! an employe OF McMahon's, charged with
setting fire 10 the Windsor hotel II Abilene
| His case is set for trial in September next
! He is out on bond and attending to his Of
| fetal duties as deputy United States mar
| shall at Abilene The sherifis OF Texas have
| interested themselves in Cuuningham's be-
/ half. and today individual members sub
! sUrtbed to a defense fund to aid their old
| friend and comrade. Secretary Kirk an
nouucod tonight that approximately $3.50
| was raised today. which he expects to be
J Increased to $1,000. rs he has sent letters TO
all absent members. asking for contribu-
| tons.
At O'Clock the sheriffs showed their
! dead game sporting blood by adJourning TO
attend the horse races at the matinee meet
| ing at the State fair grounds track. After
| in ka n. ~
bal Park adjoining he race track and wit
messed he closing innings Of the game in
which the Austin club walloped the Dallas
| club as If they We're playing TO keep out Of
| jail
The sheriffs will get down to the real
business Of the association at tomorrow
mornings session, which opens al a. m.
| Tonight many of the sheriffs from Tho
| Panhandle and West Texas particularly,
are having just tho kind OF fun they have
h"'o 0'arr'"e for in their remote home
counties these many days. Some cnt
| Iiis4n- inlls uUul ioCated shooting gal
lerv directly across the street from the
| sherirfs' headquarters. He had one target
with bull's-oye about the size of pea.
IT, this target is at ached fun brass band
that works automatically when the bulls
eve is hi Tho ordinary shooter is lucky
10 hit the little black spot one shot In ten.
When he does hit II he gets a lot Of extra
/ shots thrown III free The sherifls from
the plains Of Texas are likely to break The
gallery owner M In business before morn
ing They arc hitting the bnll's-eye al
most every crack Of the gun ard the band
Is kent playing almost necessarily. II is
Just the kind 81 a hair trigger picnic shoot
ing music combined that charms theiI
souls.
The Shcriffs' association was organized
in Austin in January, 1879 with a member
ship of thirty-four The following are tn,
nt,., afsHN, ttat,N Mt AFn.NF