The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-25
A BURGLAR OR AN ENEMY?
A Citizen Of Waco Murdered by an
Unknown Man.
CHASED A MAN FROM HIS HOUSE
the Intruder, Who HIS So
Far Eiudcd Arrest.

Waco, Texas. July al. B. Daniels. u
we'll known citizen Of this city, was shot
and instantly killed this morning at 2
o'clock by an unknown man. Daniels lived
In what is known as the Happy Hollow
suburb, near College Heights. two miles
from the center of the city. Just before
O'Clock this morning he was awakened by
n noise in the kitchen ara went In to see
what It was Just as he entered the Kitchen
he heard somebody jump through the WIN
dow ,o the ground. He returned to his
room and told his wife that he heard
burglar Jump out of the kitchen window
his pistol from the bureau drawer aud slip
ping on his pants started out to the wood
shed. Mrs Daniels tried TO detap him, but
he said there was no danger and his wife
then got up aud started with him. but an
invalid sister OF MIR. Daniels who occupied
another room had heard the commotlon
and Mrs. Daniels stopped to explain to her,
Daniels golng on alone. He walked straight
to the woodshed, about 100 feet from the
back door OF his house. The plank walk
ran up beside the she'd the door opening
on the side Of the walk. The burglar stood
inside the shed until Mir, Daniels reached
the door. when he TANNED a 4i-calber
pistol almost against M Daniels lott
breast and fred. Daniels fired almost at the
same time. but his shot went Wild OF
course II is believed that he was holding
the pistol cooked. and It's discharge Was
due to involuntary contraction OF the
muscles as the ball entered the inside
corner OF the shed, striking he wall only
about eighteen inches above the floor.
The murdered man fell with groan to
the walk and the murderer Jumped through
window into the alley and fed
Mrs. Daniels saw the flash OF the pistols
and saw her husband fan and. without
thought Of danger 10 herself ran TO him.
She called 10 him, but he did not speak and
she caught hold of his pistol which he
graspcd tightly in his right hand, and
wrenchins IT from him, threw it aside and
tried to raise Kim up.
The horrible truth dawned upon her when
she raised his head and saw that he was
lifoless and she swooned. falling across the
PROSTATE body Of her dead husband.
Neighbors had been aroused by the
shooting and soon there were dozen mon
and women on the scene. Word was I'M
medately conveyed to Sheriff Baker.
In the meantime tender hands lifted the
dead man and his almost hfeless widow
and carried them into the house,
Sheriff Baker arrived in short time with
bloodhound and starting at the woodshed
window the Jog Immediately took the trail
OF the fleeing murderer and ran swiftly to-
ward the cedar brakes, milo away. Be
fore the timber was reached, however. tho
trail turned sharply and circlIns around tho
beast was soon headed for the city Upon
reaching the first denscly populated dis
trict the trail was lost and the chase
was necessarily abandoned
While first reports were made On the
theory that Mr. Daniels was killed by
burglar. cho. coTrered IN the woodshed
had fired the fatal shot to save his own
life or 10 eyade capture. the theory now is
that IL a deliberately planned assas-
sinaton. Mra, Daniels AYERS that she heard
the man making a noise Ia the woodshcd
Just as hcr husband stepped out OF the
house and she believes that the man did
1t to lure Daniels TO his death. The man
wore mack Of black cloth lie dropped
the mask outside the woodshed in the
alley and his psto! he also dropped just
inside The woodShed. Bath wers found By
the officers this morning.
Thcre Is one circumstance. however, that
discredits the theory Of deliberate murder.
and that is the man retrected from the
kitchen when he had a better chance 20
get IN his work. This ls explained by the
probability iha; tho murderer might have
been afraid ~ Killing Mrs. Daniels or some
one other than Daniels himself If he tlrod
in the house but after retreating 20 the
woodshcd he had ample opportunity to
mako sure OF his victim. The officers are
working on the theory that II WAS assas-
sinatiop deliberately planned and executed
and sensational Developments are con-
fdently expected
The combined efforts OF sherins and 70.
lIce department have failed to capture the
murderer OF j. u. Daniels. They are still
working on the case, but with little hone