The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-06-08
Two Men Killed Instantly and Two Others
Wounded, One Seriously
THos. PAYNE AND L. c. EcHoLs THE VICTIMS.
Both Lived at HumbIe-Jm Perkins, Well Known
in Houston Shot Through the Lung-The
Trouble Grew Out Of Case in Court.

rumor created much alarm among the
friends Of the supposed dead man until It
was corrected. a
The tragedy and the causes leading M 10
| It have been discussed on every street cor
ner in Houston since II occurred 1t win
take the courts to decide whose fault it
was.
/ A reporter for The Post talked to many
! who witnessed the tragedy and 20 otheFa
I who protested familiarity with the causes
thereof
/ The Echols and the Paynes are nslghbors
/ both residing IN the vicinity Of Humble, a
! small station In Harris county on the line
Of the Houston East and West Texas rail-
road and which has lately been much in
/ The public eye on account Of gas discov
cries there The land now owned by the
Echols was purchased from Mr.. Payne.
| There had been no trouble between them
until about month ago. The bad feeling
I which eliminated IN the shocking tragedy
/ which the city Of Houston has just Wit
Z messed u alleged 70 have been caused 10y
an indictment which was returned against
/ young Payne 10 the criminal district court
/ la which he WIS charged With the theft
/ of hogs from Z farmer who resides across
/ San dnclnio river In Montgomery county.
J II is claimed hy the Paynes that this in.
dlctment was returned BY the grand Jury
/ ~ evidence irnished by l.. G. Echols
| The Echols claim that Mr. Echols was
/ simply a witness before the grand jury
! and had nothing TO do with the prosetii
mann, who had been employed 20 represent
/ Young Payne In the criminal district court
I states thar the Indictment grew out OF
similarity Of marks used by Mr. Payne
/ nnd the farmer referred 10. Mr. paynr's
! marx was two swallow forks In ono Tar
aud crop lu the other, while the other
q OF q aNp fl1
/ a crop IN the other.
All Of the parties came 10 Houston yes.
| terdaY morning as Witnesses and spectators
| n the rial Of Young Payne After talk
] ing with the witnesses, District Attorney
/ La mol pressed the case.
! Ihe parties iett the court room 70 meet
tailed
Dave Echols. who was wounded IN the
left arm, was occupying a cot at tho
police station when reporter called 20
see him. Mr.. Echois stated that he Is &c
years old and that never before has nc
been In trouble Of any kind. Asked to
mako a statement Of the tragic death Of
his father aud the wounding of himself,
Mr.. Eehols said;
The trouble started about the hog busl
ness Ny father was a witness 10 the case.
but had nothing to do with the prosecu
ton. Father had no bad feeling on tho
subject He spoke to Slr Payne this
morning, Mr. Payne said, c. d. YOU. /
don want 20 speak to You Father re,
%So 10 A excuse gsn'h MT PSsSns aud asked 6
missed In the court and came Ia town
iS,ket q palr OF pants Pa was talking TO
bullS Singleton and Ben Kegans Tom
rayne, Bulge Isaacs Jim Perkins George
iuiHe. fQst lsaacs George, John ana Wal
f VT nnsn came w lsaaos began abusing
ir9uhle Jim Perkins said, ''You ~ -,-,
u XII some Of YOU, and pulled his gun
M NJ keFlns caught him ana said, FOR
Yea sake. JIM don't cnuse any trouhe !
He threw his hand over Kegaus shoulder
qnd shot father in the haRd Father
lrGhmpea 70 one side and was fired on by
lhomas Payne, who was IN turn fred on
by father Both foil nj about thp sams
ume turned on Perkins who had fred
three SHOTS AT me, the FIRST TWO missing
nrcd on him NJ the same time ana he fpl
may have shot NJ Mr., Payne while he
ana rather We're shooting al cach other
~ THIS time my pistol was empty and /
tnthed " over to the officer who arrested
me- When father was shot down NV
brother, Asa Echols ran TO him on tho
Sidewalk and while he was kneeIlng down
! over inc body crying, another PARTY wnlkcd
mp and Kicked him in The Jaw saving, Oh
you you ought to be dead too
ulun see my brother Gre a shot and 10
ee mad pstol was. not aware Of the
been res rlsnfr Yqf % Years old and lad
years, lie had never had any trouble
lie leaves wife and ten children Four
OF whom are married. | nsed a ntstoi ~
, 4l chliher and | think fnthnr'a nis,o} .. W
q rs cRliherI" f''' ""'
/ MIR. Echols conctndod nv tai,tn,. mr. 49,,
man thar he had stated the ruin t6ron"6
out 70 the best Of his knowledge aud he
) made H. "'s s'''epe"t appear Just as he
~
Mr., George Payne, SON or rhonos povce
WIS senn Mt the undertaking estnhi,sh
ment OF Ross & Wright He was too murb
! overcome by tho awful memories AZ the
! tragedy he had SO recently witnessed IN ~
able 20 make a statemen, eoncerninr n
! number OF the relatives wrrc II, 81.
undertaking parlors, md their rrlef was
pathetic In tho extreme.
Mr. W r. Payne, It was learned from,
! one Of the relatives. was 81 wears Of age
He was horn I'm this county. hui Ind uycs
in other sections of tho state nrd rccen,l,.
fof a fine 4, no I,it,, sr.,,t. ~
- '.,'V ~ 'nV inU"n territory. He
lo'h'n toe Masonlc fraternity at Cedar
RaNou and affiliated with the lodge white
q resident OF BrownwOOd, but had ree"nfi,
I Identified. He Is survived hy a Nlfc INA
lhrce children an OF whom nre crown
He cwped small place Ia the Adams SIN.
NeY, near Humble The dead man H. hi~h
y ep9ken OF by his neighhors Referring