The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-10
srnRY an rnE cRlME.

The crime for which Prean Deon paid
the highest penalty prescribed by law was
perhaps the most brutally hcnlous ever
committed in this section. Margaret peol
was employed In the family Of i)r. ID. &.
Hewson as domestic and made her home
on the place, living In a little mouse 10
herself out in the yard. she had neon
separated from her husband, prean Doom
for some time. but he often came TO Gee
her and had been heard to make threh's
against her life. on Sunday morning.
April l. 1896, Mag, as she was always
called failed to put In an appearance At
her usual time, but nothing was thought
OF IT at the time, as it was supposed she
was out with some OF her people she
did not show up at all that day aud me
next morning. being still missing, search
was hcgun FOR her. AS she could not pc
fou1d foul play began 10 be susplcioned
and while a search for the missing woman
went on the officers had an eye upon Prchh
Deon and others upon whom suspicion
rested. Mag Deon was witness against
Prcnn for attempting to burn nor parenls
home and also a witness against Proans
mistress. Hannah Merritt. for malicious
mischief.
Monday evening, after Mag Doon diaap-
peared Saturday night, Prean Deon was
seen making preparations TO leave town,
and he was promptly placed under arrest.
ucd all day Monday and Tuesday and Tues
day until late Tuesday afternoon, April d,
her dead body was found about -four miles
west of Orange. hid in n clump Of briors,
the forepart of her head beaten off and her
throat cut. The body was brought TO town
and fully identified, and Levi Ablcton
Lizzie johnson and Hannah Merritt were
placed under arrest with Prean Deon.
At the examining trial of Deon he was
rcmandcd to Jail without bail Lizzie John
son and Levi Ableton were discharged
from custody, aud Hannah Merritt waived
an examination shortly afterward both
Prcan Dcon and Hannah Merritt told the
story bf the horrible crime. which had been
committed about ms follows Prean Sc
cured buggy and induced his wife. Mar |
gnret. TO go with him out to the rhce |
track to make trade with jockey They |
started and Hannah Merritt met them and |
climbed up on the back part OF the buggy. |
Arrived at the scene OF tho crime. prean |
told his wife 10 get out and they would |
walk across the track. She evidently sus-
piclOned something and demurred. when he |
dragged her out OF The buggy and struck
her over the head with an axe. This flew
off the handle, when he began beating
her over the head with hts pistol, bending
II so it WAS useless Then to make sure
OF his work, he cut her throat from ear to
ear and then with the assistance OF Han
nah Merritt, dragged the body into the
bushes and left il. He and Hannah then |
drove back Ia town. The pistol and axe
were wrapped in the bloody lap robe OF
the buggy and thrown into the river near
the Thompson wharf. Several weeks after
the trial both the lap robe and the pistol
were fished out Of tho river at tho point I
named.
Hannah Merritt was placed on tria!
first and sentenced to life term in the
expressing herself afterwards
as being satisfied Nith her penalty and not
desiring new trial az she might get
worse next lime. Prean's case went to
trial, and after the states evidence was all
in he pleaded guilty TO the crime and
threw himself upon the mercy of the court.
He was sentenced TO death by hanging.
His case was appealed. the decision OF the
lower court was affirmed. and today. more
than a year after he was convicted of the
crime. he paid the penalty,