The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-04-16

4
counties with the same result. This was a
good while before he came down to Childress
county and got to be sheriff, but there were
those who had not forgotten, and among them
was Capt. Bill Mcdonald, then stopping at
Wichita Fails Matthews, or Pierce as he was
called frequently came down to the Falls for
a spree, and on one such visit made application
to join a secret society. Mcdonald was a prom
inont member of that society and Matthews did
not get in. This stirred the animosty of
Matthews and he began to clean his siX-shooter
daily and to practice sudden and accurate fir
ing, which he knew would be necessary In
case of a show down,
Matthews also had another enemy, one Joe
Beckham, sheriff of Motley county, an officer OF
his own kind. who presently got as short as
possible In his accounts, absCOnded, and set
out for Indian Territory. Matthews had no
right to go outside of his own county after
fugitive and no business In this matter any
way. but he had an itch for Beckham on his
own account so he picked up another enemy
Of Beckham named Cook citizen of Motley
with an ambition for Beckham's office, and
the two came with peaceful attitude and fair
words to Quanah where Capt. Bill was then
stopping requesting the loan OF a Ranger TO
go ove~ into the Territory after the detauit1ng
officer. Mcdonald refused, but said he would
send q man as far as the TERRITORY line
Ranger authority not extending beyond that
border He did send one Ranger Mcclure, who
being strongly persuaded, overstepped at the
same instant his authority and the state line;
captured Reekham whom he lost through a
writ of habeas corpus: fell into plot devised
by Matthews and Cook to get rid OF him, and
was finally brought back to Quanah by capt
Bin who drove 100 miles on bad night TO
get him out of the mess; after which Mcclure
was wiser and better Ranger
Deckham, meanwhile had fallen victim 10
remorsc or more likely had been promised
immunity. and now hurried over to Quanah
and gave himself up again to Ranger Mcclure
Cant Bin being absent from Quanah at the
time De,tham asked to be taken to Matador,
county seat Of Motley, for trial and begged
Mcclure to see him through Chldress where
he expected to be killed by Matthews and
Cook.
Mcclure assured Bockham that he would
see him hafely to Matador and they set out
by rail for Childress. at which point they
would take the stage for the Motley county
seat
Matthews was on hand at Childress lie de-
mando3 Deckham of Mcclure who refused to
deliver lis prisoner
II Matthews wanted to commit suicide he
began nrerarfng for it, now in the right way
He gave il out openly that he was going TO
wander over to Quauah some day and Kill hi.l
Mcdonald lust as a matter Of paSume, ana ne
sent word 70 the same effect by any of Capt
Burs friends that he found going that way
1t was in December 1925. at last that Mat
thews and his pals came down to Quanah tor
the declared purpose Of killing a RANGER cap
tain. il was a cold, droary day and they WIS.,
tied one saloon after another, setting q supply
or courage for the job. ana eNplaininE "41t
thcy we're going 10 do Then they took 70 If,
l,o.irs Mcdonald always in q group. evidently
waiting the proper opportunity. confident
epoueh that Mcdonald would not take tile ~
fensi,e. Finally. however they pressed him
so close that he suddenly turned and told
them to quit following him or trouble would
ensue Perhaps it did not seem aood place
to do the job-there being no sort of protec
ton; perhaps there was something dSQaetDE
in tile manner Of Capt RMS warning They
dropped away tor the aUlc and Mcdonald