The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-08
A BUDGET FROM BEAUMONT
A Truck Farmer Foullv Murdered
Near Port Arthur.
THE COuNlY'S MOST BRUTAL CRIME
A Conductor ON Log Train Fell
between the Cars and Met
u Horrible Death.

Beaumont, Texas. June 7--Lucian Harris a
truck farmer and dairyman who liyes near
the Port Arthur public road. about mile and
a halt south OF the city. waa found murdered
in tho kitchen If his home between and
O'Clock this morning. Johnnie Rexes, .
0-yeai old boy who came to the house to dis
play vegetables his parents had raised, made
tho discovery. The boy Immediately reported
tie CHASTITY end to his parents and they sum
moiiad officers.
Harris had been murdered with an AK,
which. covered with blood, lay on the ground
near the entranes~to the kitchen He had
been twice struck in the head--oncc with the
blsdo and again with the blunt end. The lat
tee blow crushed the skull and scattered the
murdered mans brains on the floor. When
found his body was lying on the kitchen floor.
his head being in large pool OF blood and
brains
Robbery was doubtless tho incentive for the
murder. but there was nothing to indicate
that the house had been sacked, Harris lived
alone. daily peddliug milk, butter and vege-
tables. and. as he was decidedly economical in
his habits it is believed his assassin thought
he had n large sum OF money hidden about the
promises but people who knew him intimately
say that such was not the case as he invested
his money in stocking and otherwise lmprov-
ine his dairy and truck farm Circumstances
indicate that tho crime was committed be-
tween 7 and $ o'clock last night, just after
Harris had returned from the COW pen ana
vas preparing TO eat his supper.
There Is no clew to the murderers. In re-
Spouse to a telegram, Deputy Sherin Bland
arrived from Orange at 1890 this afternoon
with two boodhouuds, but after going to TIVE
scerc of the murder he refused to turn the
docs loose, explaining that there had been so
muny people about the promises they might
run down an innocent man.
Lucien Harris, the deceased, was between 81
and " years OF age. He was born on . plantn
ton il louisiana where his father owned 5000
acteS of land. His home was Il palatial resi-
deuco called Villavista, which was known for
miles around because OF the hospitality OF the
owner. The war came on and tho wealthy
ploutrr's fields were devastated and he be-
came poor man. The deceased who had In
her.ted considerable money from his mother,
gave the larger portion OF 1t to his father,
auc In loss than fifteen years ago he had S21,-
900 IN sad in New Orleans hank which he
had placed there to provide for his father IN
his declining years Reserving nothing for
himself. he came to Beaumont about thirteed
years ago and for two or three years resided
With his cousin. Mrs. Hal Greer He was In
dustrous, thrifty. and during these two or
Three years succeeded in purchasing the place
winch has since been his home and whore he
was this morning found dead.
The deceased was n cultured Southern gen
tlenian, having received military education
In Virginia. He had never married, and,
| though he was competent to fill any position
in the business or professional world, he seem
cd to rrefer farm and dairy work In man
ncrs he vas unAsst mIny. avoided rather than
sought social frirndshlp7 but he was blessed
| with II Kind heart, inolfensVe in demoanor,
aud no one ever heard him Utter 4 harsh or
| url ind word, no matter what the provUcu-
| ton. and he was much loved by all who knew
| him His social visits were confined almost
entirely to calls Mt the home Of his cousin,
| Mrs Greer, where he was fnvdritc, ospe-
/ oially with the children.
| Tic remains were taken charge Of by Mt.
| Hal Greer and turned over to Undertaken
! S,coe for burial the funeral taking place
from the Episcopal church al 2:3o o'clock this
| Afternoon.
This crime ia the most brutal ever commit
| ted III this county, and 1t would doubtless 20
| nard with the murderer II he could be apprc-
| bonded.