Evening star., 1937-09-19
BLANTON MYSTERY
BATTLES TEXANS
Ten Months Old and Still Un.
solved, the Plot Has Stirred
Many Rumors.
Ey the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
RAYMONDvILLE. Tex, September
18.-The Blanton case, Texas nonstop
mystery, is 10 months old today-and
still unsolved
What became of the Blantons?"
This question was on every lip after
the two men disappeared. Today con-
lecture is: will the case ever be
solved?" Many say it will not. A few
insist it will.
Here's the mystery plot. briefly:
On November 18, 1886, Luther
Blanton. 81, and his son John, "a,
vanished shortly after they left their
farm near San Perlita to hunt ducks
on lagoon. not far from their home.
They were respected men, without
known enemies
Rumors are many as to their fate.
From an official standpoint, Capt. Bill
McMurrey of the Texas Rangers, after
weeks of investigation, concluded
The men were either killed near the
lagoon or taken away and killed"
. The scene is the colorful Southwest
Texas cattle country Nearby are the
great properties of the former King
Ranch, owned by the Kleberg family.
and once called the worlds largest
cattle domain.
Bitter Strife Involved.
The lake to which the Blantons were
supposed to have gone is located on a
section of the Kleberg ranch set of as
a State game preserve. A State Official
said residents had been warned by
the State game warden in this vicinity
not to hunt on the preserve without
permit
The enigma called to the scene many
peace officers, including two-gun,
hard-riding Texas Rangers. .Chaparral
thickets and sand dunes for miles
about we're combed to no avail.
The case engendered bitter strife
because the men vanished on the Kle-
berg ranch. Some citizens openly ac-
cused officers OF laxity in their in
vestigation. They threatened to start
an investigation of their own. Pistol
toting and officer r-impersonatinp
charges were filed in two cases. -Four
officers instrumental in filing charges
in one case were held in contempt of
court
Recently court of inquiry, ordered
by Gov. James v. Alfred, recessed, sub
ject to call without announcing
whether definite progress had been
made. The court itself had difficultv
in functioning because of legalities.
It's presiding officer was changed
thrice.
Widow Heard Three Shots.
Mrs. Blanton, witness at the in
quiry, said she was sure her husband
ana son were dead She said she
heard three shots fired in the direction
OF the lagoon shortly after the men
left home.
have no doubt Luther and John
are dead" she told reporters. Il
never expect them to return alive.
nut thnk the men 1 believe killed
them will be known and I hope pun
ished."
lhere are a few officials and resi-
dents who believe there are those who
could clear up the case but are
afraid to talk. w. E. McCharen.
county Judge of Willacy County, is
among those of this belief.
That there is no intention of let
ting up in the investigation was seen
IN the following statement from Col.
H. H. Carmichael, chief of the Texas
Public Safety Department:
Hopeful of Solution.
While no tangible evidence has
ever been uncovered, we are hopeful
o. sowing the case, and will never
stop the investigation. One great
olihculty was that fellow farmers
trampled the ranch country in search
ing Tor the bodies and might have
destroyed any signs left by the Blan-
IONS. Then, too, heavy rain inter-
Vened before rangers began their
search"
Granted that it was murder. the
bodies must be found before a con-
vlction could be obtained under Texas
laws. Scott Gaines. first assistant
attorney general, says it is his under
standing that the State has no case
II 1t cannot establish corpus delicti.
And SO the story, its many ramifica-
tlons making it almost weekly head
liner, continues. ebbing and flowing
as rumors and developments pitch il
to new heights when it appears to be
dropping into the doldrums.