The Green Forest tribune., 1910-04-15

man. somewhere mp in the northern uer oi counties, with the same result This was a good while before he came down to Chidress county and got to be sheriff, but there those who had not forgotten, and among them Capt. Bill Mcdonald then stopping at Wichita Falls Matthews, or Pierce as he was called, frequently came down to the Falls for spree, and on such visit made application to join a secret society. Mcdonald a prom inent member of that society and Matthews did not get in This stirred the animosity 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 of 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 county after fugitive and business in this matter any way, but he had an itch for Beckham on his account, so he picked up another enemy of Beclham, named Cook citizen of Motley with an ambition for Beckhams office, and the two came with peaceful attitude and fair words to Quanah where Capt Bill then stopping, requesting the loan of Ranger to go into the Territory after the defauting officer. Mcdonald refused, but said he would send as far 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 Beckham, whom he lost through writ of habeas corpus; fell into a plot devised by Matthews and Cook to ge: rid of him, and was finally brought back to Quanah by Capt Bill, who drove 100 miles on a bad night to get him out of the mess; after which Mcclure was a wiser and better Ranger.
 Beckham, meanwhile, had fallen victim to remorse, or more likely had been promised immunity and now hurried over to Quanah and gave himself up again to Ranger Mcclure Capt. Bill being absent from Quanah at the time Beckham asked to be taken to Matador county seat Of Motley. for trial, and begged Mcclure to see him through Childress, where he expected to be killed by Matthews and Cook.
 Mcclure assured Beckham 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 on hand at Childress. He de- handed Beckham of Mcclure, who refused to deliver his prisoner.
 If Matthews wanted to commit suicide he began preparing for it, now, in the right way. He gave it out openly that he was going to wander over to Quanah some day and kill Bill Mcdonald, just matter of pastime, and he sent word to the same effect by any of Capt. Bills friends that he found going that way.
 It was in December 1895, at last that Mat thews and his pals came down to Quanah for the declared purpose of killing a Ranger cap ta1n It was cold dreary day and they wis ited one saloon after another, getting a supply Of courage for the job. and explaining what they were going to do. Then they took to fol lowing Mcdonald, always in group, evidently waiting the proper opportunity, confident enough that Mcdonald would not take the of fensive. Finally, however, they pressed him so close that he suddenly turned and told them to quit following him trouble would ensue. Perhaps it did not seem good place to do the job-there being sort of protec- tion; perhaps there was something disquieting in the manner of Capt. Bills warning They dropped away for the time and Mcdonald