The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-06-03
THE PASSING
OF MURDOCH
By AINSWORTH RHODES
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

Il have taken my life in my hands,"
said the western sheriff. when there
vas every chance against me- | have
shot down men in fight or when
had them on the run. but the hardest
job ever had to do. the job against
which my sensibilities most revoted.
was 10 the killing of John Murdoch.
desperate. Murdoch was far superior
TO the general run OF outlaws. don't
know what made him such. but | al
ways fancied he got started in by some
unfortunate circumstance. such as kill
ing some enemy Illegally or being
wrongfully accused. Be this as 1t may.
he was physically a splendid specimen
Of man. and always thought that
his distaste for the life he lived. to say
nothing Of his conscience, made him
choose at last a speedy death In pref
erence TO prison walls But the true
cause he gave himself.
d After train robbery in Texas by
single masked man it was my duty 70
follow indications that he had left be
hind him and go in search of him \
man named ellison told me that In
passing through the chaparrals he had
picked up articles TO indicate that the
robber had dropped them. There were
pieces of torn letters and a gold chain
/ fpif from rhaea EpdS hor ,h
robber after leaving the train had
passed over this ground and that |
could track him.
/ started with ellison. each of Us
being armed with a pair of revolvers
and Winchester. he took me to the
place where be had picked up the
chain and bits Of letters. and we fol.
lowed the trail 1t consisted Of bent
grass through open ground and an oc.
casional BIT of paper dropped by the
way. 1t seemed TO me then and II
seems strange now that the man should
have been so careless. ellison seemed
10 know insdnctively the direction
taken by the man we were following
and led the way. He simply agreed 70
pilot me and forewarned me that he
would do no shooting to kill unless il
should be necessary In our defense
We travelled about six miles when we
suddenly came upon a man with his
back 70 us sorting out valuables II
was evident he was the man we were
after We had proceeded so silently
that we had made no sound TO indicate
our approach We got within easy
shooting distance Of him when W.
stopped. and |. ORA wing a bead on him
with my Winchester. shouted:
Hands up
The man turned, rose and stood erect
before us He did not throw up his
hands. bur folded his arms White
turning he bad seized a revolver IN .
each hand aud they were now pointed I.
IN Opposite directions sidowise. He f.
was six tr", hgh and admirably pro 1
norfinned He lou6rd mp IN the eye .
and said
Il don't wish to add murder 10 NV
,ther crimes They are many enough
ne them. They began by my bein-
mistaken for another man. and they
ire TO end on account of letter 70
emily received from my mother. who
lOeSn'r know what kind Of life I
ave been leading II die now she
nay never know If | am Jailed for .
ERIN Of years she will likely know and
| kill one of you men il will do me
n good am not 10 be taken alive
therefore, would prefer that you
hould shoot me down here aS I stand
Dnlv ask you Ia finish me with one
hot | am known aS John Mur1ock
hairs not nay name. bur my real maine
o man in the state knows. I'm ready
ire al either my heart or nv fore
cad and aim true"
As stood there looking at this splen
i'd specimen OF man calling on me
} shoot him that his mother might
OF know what he was | realized
lore fully than ever before THAI man
superior animal only In herejity +,
nd influence. This man VITO haG
cen contemplate enough 10 rob de
useless men and women could stan"
p to be killed that he might save his
other the distress of knowing that ,
ie child she had borne and reared ,
as robber Whatever Of influence .
IT good be had received as a child ;
as telling now In trumpet tones :
ad luck not been against him doubt .
IS this influence would have been :
Efficient to make fne man OF him. a
You had better surrender" | saiu
him. AT any rate. | wish you
ould. I'm sheriff. but I don't like
e role OF executioner." :
No. have made my peace. Sew :
al times since was wrongfully |,
ade felon | have exposed myself ;
at my career would be finished By :
bullet. have no desire to live. =
mt undo the past. | can't live re- \
,ectable life. can't be comfort TO =
ose who have loved me. You will 3
. doing me a favor to kill me But =
mt let your sympatties cause you t. a
,unia VA, Ipnu fna,p 10 ohNnt