The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-14
PAST THE LAWS REACH.
Ceorle King Attempts Murder and Then
Suicides.
SLABS HIMSELF IN THROAT KNIFE
Dies Instsntly-His Victim in q Pre-
carious Condition and
May Die.

thinking he had killed Lee Shepherd yes
terday morning at the International COM
press In the Fifth ward. Both were negro
and Shepherd trucker. The trouble that
caused the attempted murder and which
may prove fatal, and the subsequent sui
eide. grew out OF quarrel between them
regarding the loading of Shepherds truck
by King. The story of the trouble that
lead up to the difficulty as gathered by
Post reporter from eyewitnesses is as
follows
Wednesday afternoon Shepherd remon-
strated with King about the careless way
he threw the bales upon his truck, telling
him that he was too old to be jerked
the cotton SO heavily. King paid no at
tention TO Shepherd however, and con-
tnued to use him roughly. which caused
some words. but trouble was averted at
that time by other negroes who we're
standing near. Yesterday morning about
$50 o'clock. however, the quarrel was
again taken up. when King continued to
persecute Shepherd, and King who was of
Vicious nature, without the least PROVO
cation or warning jerked UP a piece Of
gas pipe about three feet long, and, before
bystanders could interfere. dealt Shepherd
a heavy blow over the right temple. which
felled him TO the ground. Thinking he
had killed him, King at once broke and
ran out of the building and down the In
ternational and Great Northern track. and
made good his escape for the tlme being,
though in the meantime a telephone mess-
age had been sent to police headquarters
and to Sheriff Anderson. Police Officers
King and Anthony were at once dispatched
to the scene of the tragedy, being fol-
lowed soon afterward by Sheriff Anderson
When they arrived no trace OF King could
be had and after short search without
results the officers procured the services
OF Mat Toole and his dogs, who soon
struck the trail OF King and followed him
down the international and Great Northern
track.
King evidently intended to catch a train
which was about due at this time, but
failing TO do SO left the track and started
across the country. Changing his mind he
came back TO the track and again started
north, and had proceeded to within 200
yards OF the Houston East and West Texas
road crossing when he heard the dogs In
pursuit. and realizing that the officers
would be upon him in a few minutes, drew
small pocket knife and plunged 1t into
his neck, just above the cola. bone, sew
ering che jugular vein, preferrng TO die
by his own hand rather than be arrested
The dogs came upon him and began hayins
loudly. and in few minutes Mat Toole
arrived. closely followed by Officers King
and Anthony and later by Sheriff Ander-
son. They found the negro dead with the
blood squirting from the CHASTITY wound.
The remains were carried to Ross q
Wright's undertaking establishment on
Texas avenue. where they were prepared
for burial at the expense of the county
During the afternoon hundreds OF negroes
through idle curiosity, crowded around the
body OF the deceased, who had preferred
10 die by his own hand rather than be
arrested.
Shepherd was carried to his home at the
foot of Hill street on the La Porte road
in an unconscious condition, his skull hav-
ing been crushed in just above the left
temple. City Health officer Masse and
Or. Brumby were summoned at once and
removed several pieces of the crushed
skull and did all they could for the wound
ed man, who, while in precarlous condi-
ton, has small chance to recover,
A jury of inquest was empannelled BY
Justice Malsch and the following testimony
ELECTED from Mat Tooe, which was in sub
stance the same as that of the other wit.
nesses.
II took my dogs to assist the officers
IN the capture OF deceased. and was abou
300 yards ahead OF the officers. when
drove up on the body OF deceased. | wait.
ed for the officers to come up and TOLD
them that this was the man they wer,
looking for, This is about all know, eX
THAT ] saw that the deceased wa
prs in the throat. just above the col
the s.
specIai'iet rendered was that the de
enou., I'm a knife wound dealt h
ou' she knife was found witt
u war betwecnbut closed up.
iIised powers over suears old and ha
preponderance OF inausssons'1ernatn,oo .s
would be unspeakably ridAcu,oseen /,
not SO serious and even appalling.
While we can not exactly attribute
present complications In Samoa 10 the
policy OF Imperialism, or expausion
their origin is of years standing, vet
dangers OF a conflict with other nail
arising from our presence as control
power in remote territories, are strilti
emphasized in this Samoan lmhros
Wherever We come In contact with sn
PEOPLE who can look for trouble OF !
kind at any time. And this trouble
Grow In seriousness in. proportion as
interests Of other civilized nations al
~ the same quarter. II Is hoped by
good people. and possibly hy the gov
ments, OF Germany. Great Britain and
United States that the Samoan ques
viii be amicably and satisfactorily set,
but there Il the fear that It may not
~ would look like the irony OF fate
great International conhict should re
from so insignificant cause as the a
ZION OF the succession to South Sea
land chieftaIncy,
In the Philippines. In the meantime
outlook Is for long ana bloody sirius
with another lot Of half sayages. An a,
OF from $4,000 to 100000 men, military
perts say, will be required even TO res
order and hold the limited territory
have so far occupied II is becomin
question whether the present genera,