The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-05
A SENSATIONAL TR AL.
JOHN GAFFonD no ANSWER 4
CHARGE OF MURDER.
HIS Victim Was ..Rnfus sanders
(Francis Hnrfow Lloyd, Georgia
Writcr--Story Of the Case.

. p
Greenyile Ala. February 4.-Thc mot
sensational murder trial in the history OF
the South began here today. a. Gaiford,
known as an outlaw but the member OF
n rich and influential family, is before the
bar of Justice to answer for the murder
Of Hon. Francis Barlow Lloyd, n mem
Der of the legislature at the time of his
death, and known to the literary ycrld as
| Rufus Sanders writer OF Cracker
dialect
| Gafford pleads that the homicide was
! justifable, and alleges that his victim
! was on intimate terms with his sister.
a talented young married woman OF this
| section. At the commitment trial his sis
ter Indignantly denied the charge, and
no evidence was produced to prove 1t.
Since that time she has repudiated IL, and
no man has attempted to challenge her
statement. 1t is stated, however that she
viii attempt TO save her brother-that she
will sacrifice her honor to sustain his
story What course she will pursue the
trial alone can develop. Upon her testi-
moay alone hangs the fate or her brother.
john Gaiford is known as "OutlaW
John" 1t is alleged that at no time
since the days of the notorious RUDE
Burrows, who died in his boots after a
career of crime seldom equalled in the
history of outawry, has the South deyel-
oped Il more desperate character than The
defendant in this case. His father was
a state legislator, and aspired TO be 4
congressman. He educated his tive sons
III Ia
the defendant in this case, is q man OF
unusual intelligence. Regardless of his
training and his mental endowments, now
ever, he counts the victims OF his ready
rifle on the tips of his fingers, and for The
first time he Ia in CLOSE quarters" de-
spite the eft repeated boast that he would
die defending his body with the blood
stained weapons that have for years been
his constant companions.
Galiord shot and killed Lloyd on the pub
lie road three miles from Greenvilie, on
Wednesday afternoon, August %. 1896. ana
surrendered himself 10 the sheriff OF Butler
county on the following Frilay night, aud
was placed IA Jail al Gfeenville at mid
night. on Tuesday thereafter rumors of
lynching reached the sheriff, and in the
abundance of caution for .he protection Of
| his prisoner Gafford was carried to Mont
| gomery and incarcerated in the county jail.
| Lloyd and the Gaffords were neiehbcrs.
| from HIS wanderings but a short time be-
| fere the homicide, and Lloyd had seen but
| little OF him. On the afternoon Of August
| - Lloyd was in his buggy returning to his
| Zone sfrom Greenvilie aud met Gafford
| What passed between them, II anything
| VIII perhaps never be known. AT o'clock
| that evening Gafford appeared at the home
| OF near nelghbor and informed him that
| he had Killed Lloyd In the road and exhlh-
| tied the rifle with which he had committed
| the crime,
y his preliminary trial he pleaded justi-
iiable homicide on the ground that he had
| defended the honor oi his sister Mrs.
Llllr Miller Tho defense is basing lie
| tor's unon this plea and this Will be the
| most Sensational feature of the trial.
Gaiiord today made statement.
| ut all grew out of Lloyd's attentions
to my sister he said. There are good
many little things about their conduct
that | don't care TO talk about When
he was IN Montgomery last winter she
went there too. claiming that he had So
cured for her clerkship. He was lend
lug her his buggy and hiring bnggies for
her at the stables IN Creenvile and
things of that kind. until the neighborhood
began TO talk about her conduct. Be
sides this, my brother reported to me
that he came upon them in the woods
together and Lloyd drew his pistol on
him and threatened to KIN him. That.
SIR. preclpitatGd- die Tragedy.
There is not man, woman or child In
Alabama who believes this story. DR. C..
G. Lloyd, the father Of the murdered man
attributes the crime to an old feud, began
eighteen years or more Rgo. Others at
tribute It TO Gaiford's unnatural thirst for
blood and an unhealthy appetite for no.
toriety.
Gafford Is an ex-convict from the Ar
kansas penitentlary and this is the third
murder fastened upon him He was in
the employ of the State psniieutiary OF
Arkansas as guard, when by brutal and
inhuinan treatment to some OF the couyicts
one death resulted, for which he was tried
and sentenced To five years In the peni-
tentiary, whore he served three and n half
years and escaped. Returning lmmedieteIv
to this State. he located with his family
IN the settlement where he was reared and
where he eluded all efforts to recapturo
him.
About this time he claims to have had
information 10 the effect that his brother
lh-law. MI. X. Golson, who resided In
Louisiana had ill-treated his (Gaftord's)
sister, aud he went at once TO their home
and killed Golson in cold blood for .he
alleged ill-ireatment OF his sister, another
ana an older one than the one about whom,
he claims to have killed Lloyd, For this
murder be escaped punishment Other
murders have been charged to him. but
indictments were never found.
Tho Hon Francis Barlow Lloyd. whom
ne Killed. WIS famous throughout :he
country as lecturer journalist humor-
ist and author and as a legislator stood
prominent in the democratic ranks In aI.-
bama. He was % years OF age and ire |
he'd Of promising and happy family.
fhe trial viii br the hardest fought |
legal battle in the history OF the state. |
Among Gafferd's attorneys are Congress |
man Jesse stalltngs, Hon Terry Richard |
son and host Of local talent
FOREIGN BRIEFS.