, 1935-04-25

In the brush for five or ten minutes
He heard more shooting. he said. but
later there was silence. He crawled
back TO the automobile and found
his parents dead.
He said he attempted TO drag Jus
tice and Mrs. Pierson into the auto
mobile. but because OF his wounI
arm was unable 10 do 80. Then he
decided to drive to Austin and OBJ
tain assistance.
Officers found both bodies on
their backs, the hands stretched be-
hind them. An examination disclos-
ed that both had been shot by q 80
caliber pistol bullets.
Rancher Heard Screams
Justice Pierson had been shot in
the lett hand, the right shoulder, the
right temple and the left thigh.
Mrs. P1erson, in the right temple,
the right side Of the neck and the
left thigh.
T.. o. Linden. an ambulanced riv-
er. said there was evidence Of a scuf-
lie about the car. and 1t appeared
the bodies had been dragged a short
distance. Justice Persons hat was
about 40 feet away. and Mrs. Pier
sons glasses were at her feet.
Will Phillips. a rancher living
about a quarter Of q mile away,
said he heard two shots. the scream
OF a woman and then two more
shots. sounding as III they came
l"from up the road" Phillips son APP
parently found the bodies first and
reported 10 his father who notified
the sheriff's department.
Young PierSon was questioned for
hours by District Attorney James
III. Hart, Sheriff Lee Allen and other
officers al the courthouse and ac-
companied them TO the morgue.
Governor Alfred had gone to the
morgue from the executive mansion
across the street and actively partic-
ipated in organizing the case, or
dering Adjutant General Carl Mes
bitt and the Texas Rangers to rem
tCA al POoctblt dccAobdAiIt. IC Mdo
In the room when young Pierson
viewed the bodies.
NewSmen barred from the
room, but officers reported the
young man patted his fathers head
and said ITS too bad" They SAID
he touched his mothers head and
made similar comment. He was calm
az he left the mOrtuary with Sheriff
Allen and went to the courthouse
tc give further details of the shoot
ing. Survivors OF Justice and Mr.
PlerSon included two sons. Howard
Person Of Austin and William j
PierSon. student in the University
o. Chicago, and a daughter, Mrs
Harvey Thomas OF Salina. KaS.
Surviving Justice PierSon alSC
we're a step-mother. Mrs. NJ. 8
FierSon OF Abilene. Texas. five
brothers. nj. PierSon OF Austin. .. 3
Pierson of R~opeSvile, Texas: Lee
PlerSon Of Haskell and Cleveland
Pierson of Big Spring. four sisters
Mrs. ID. r.. Couch OF Lubbock. Mrs
G. w. Walrep OF Abilene. Mrs. Oil
yer Cunningham OF Abilene anc
Miss Mary Pierson OF Abilene.
Led Active Life
Born In Gilmer, UpShur county
Texas. March IL. 1871. Justice Pier
son was educated at Baylor Uni.
VrSlty and the University Of Texas
He was married July 3, 1901, X
Miss Lena Haskell oil Evansville
Illinois. and Liberty county, Texas
After graduating from the Univ
crSity Of Texas law school, he prac'
llCed law in Greenville, lYeer Serv'
ing IN the Texas House OF Repre-
~sentatiyeS from 1901 10 1905. From
1918 I'd 1921. he vas judge OF TIT
eight judicial district. when he wa.
elected an associate justice Of tn
supreme court.
He was author OF the Legislative
bill creating the College Of Indus
uial Arts at Denton. AT n tim
lie was a member OF the executive
board Of the Baptist general con
vention Of Texas and a trustee o
BurleSon College, a Baptist school,
J He was a member OF the knight
remplar. Odd Fellows. Knights o
J Pythias and Woodmen Of the Worlc
Governor Alfred. Chief Justice c
Nj Cureton OF the supreme cout
: and other intimate frienus recalle,
Justice Persons CHEEKY disposition
ia the face Of physical ailments.
For the past several years IN
had been troubled with rheumatism
and once IL was feared he might b
forced to resign. The justice perse
yered. however. and was back al hi
office at the first opportunity, shut
: fling painfully TO the elevators Wit
the aid OF a secretary. In recen
] months. he had shown steady i'm
provement.
! Justice Pierson participated II
some OF the most important case
ever to face the court. including tn
; California oil Company cases In
7 volving millions OF dollars and thou
sands OF acres OF the most valuabl
land in the world. PecoS county o
vest Texas.
He was an advocate OF the theor
OF practical Justice which he Wrot
into the Texas law reports in vigor
Gus language. No case was 20 Smal
but that, having reached his court
ii was worthy OF minute scrutin.
and exhaustive consideration. Hi
fidelity to the state constitution
was unbounded and his trust In |
found a way into his decisions.
Criticized Laws Delays"