The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-05-25
LAW IN CACHAHOULA
COUNTY
[Originall


by his honor Judge Lynch. The few
scattered people who dwclt In those
parts consequently suffered from the
loss Of horses, mules and other proper.
~, besides being murdered in open day
whenever some desperate took fancy
to kill any one One of these, called
Rcdhcaded Pete, would come into the
principal town at intervals and usually
departed with good deal of cash,
leaving behind him one or more
corpses. At last he killed Bill Mattuck,
Il man much beloved In the community,
and Bits brother sam, who was not n
fighting man, but was willing to pay
literally to have his fighting done for
him, made up his mind that Pete must
die. He thcrcupon remarked one day
openly that he would be glad to assist
any man financially" who would do the
job.
Now, there happened to be in the
crowd at the time Josh Scull, one of the
very men who were so Objectionable.
"Whatll " glve?" he asked.
"Three hundred dollars" said Sam.
MAKE II $500 and I'll go y"
There was Il consultation between
| MattuCl; and the others. All agreed
that 1t was n practical way of getting
rid of Redhcaded Pete, and possibly In
the fray Josh Soul might also be elm
| mated. Sam Mnttuck had offered his
ALL but It was agreed that his fellow
citizens should support him In so
praiseworthy n matter and one In
which all were interested, so they de.
clded to furnish the remaining 5000.
As soon as this was settled Soul was
commissioned to seek Redhended Pete,
pick quarrel with him and shoot him,
but II was not obligatory on Scull to
use such honorable warfare. These
werc Ut, /" Structions, but he might use
any mnthrl he pleased without forfeit
ir; his pay the full amount Of which
was given him in advance In lieu Of
"cxpers'.."
Scull pockctcd the money and started
on his mission He was gone Just long
enough to reach his man and return,
when one evening while the citizens
were sitting on the store porch smok
ing their pipes and wondering II their
enemy had fallen the man who had
gone to STAY and the man to be Stayed
rode into town side by side and stop
ped in front Of the party.
"M' friends" said Pete, "thcrc hes
been disregard fer the majesty o the
law In this place truly remarkable.
Josh Scull here hes Informed me that
he hes been paid $500 to murder me, n
proceeding which in any court would
send all of v to states prison fer n
good term o. years. I'm on my way TO
G., whar court Is now In session, and
every man of " who paid Soul money
to murder me may look out fer arrest"
He paused, and the citizens looked
not only disappointed, but much trou'
bled.
"Now, I'll play v far game" con
tlnued the desperate. "I'll raise yer
$500 list 81, 900, which think II freeze
y all out and I'll give y twenty'four
hours to put up. If the moneys in my
hands by this time tomorrer night I'll
let y off; If not, in another twenty-fouT
hours yll all be jagged"
During this harangue Soul made nc
comment, and Mt Its close he and Pete
rode Off short distance, leaving the
citizens to confer as to the acceptance
or rejection Of the terms. 1t was I'm
possible to raise so much ready money
In so short time, and other means OF
getting out of the difficulty must b'
devised. Finally Mattuck, whose blood
had been slowly rising since the shoot
Ing Of his brother and was now boiling
at the swindle perpetrated by Scull
declared he would risk his carcass
against that rascal II any one would
do the same by Pete. A young fellow
. named Scott volunteered, and the mat
! ter was settled.
, Scott informed the two self consti
: tuted protectors of law and order tina
, the money would be paid the next day
J This was to disarm suspicion, and /
had the desired effect. The dcspera
/ does returned to the hamlet and pu
} up at one OF its six or eight houses
7 the saloon.
! They were invited to take "Just on
, more" by one of the contributors to tn
fund and a dozen men We're lined u
at the bar, Mattuck and Scott being Il
the rear rank, Mattuck behind Sou
: and Scott behind Pete, when two shot
8 rang out. A little round hole Appcare
G In the head of each desperate, an
! they fell on the floor,
o The next day the citizens reasseH
o bled, organized one OF Judge Lynch
n courts and proceeded to try Mattuc
and Scott for murder. The accuse
pleaded that the Victims had robbie
them of the affections of their wive
but since neither of them was mai
rIed the Judge would not allow tn
plea. They then pleaded that the me
had played foul at poker, but sine
no gambling had been done they weT
! obliged TO find some other justification
r Scott, who had furnished the horse o
which Soul had ridden to kill Rec
headed Pete, finally pleaded to hay
acted for the public safety In punIshin
horse stealing. The plea was allowed
Then Mattuck pleaded justification
Furnishing completely with horse stea
ing, and his plea was also allowe'
Witnesses We're duly sworn and e.