USA > Texas > Tarrant County > Fort Worth > History of Texas : Fort Worth and the Texas northwest edition, Volume II > Part 49
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Shortly thereafter two United States marshals came to Fort Worth and sent for Courtright, asking him to meet them at the Windsor Hotel to look over the photographs of some noted criminals, to see if he knew any of them and could be of assistance in effecting their arrest. Not suspecting anything, Courtright went to the hotel and to the room of the deputy marshals and, while he was looking over the photographs, they covered him with their guns, disarmed and arrested him.
He was taken to the county jail for safe-keeping, until the evening train should take them away. Some of Courtright's friends pre- vailed upon the marshals to allow them to give him a farewell dinner before leaving the city, and they repaired to a restaurant on Main Street on the corner of First, and the three occupied a table, sitting against the wall, one on each side of Courtright. Two six-shooters had been hung to hooks under the table and, while the dinner was in progress, Courtright took one of these in each hand and, rising from his chair, pointed the pistols at the deputy marshals admonish- ing them to keep their seats, but he was going. Keeping them cov- ered with the guns he backed out of the door, mounted a horse which stood in readiness nearby and made his escape.
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It was learned shortly that Courtright had no connection with the killing and robbery in New Mexico and the indictments against him were dismissed. He was in some manner advised of this and returned to Fort Worth to meet his death shortly after at the hands of Luke Short.
Short died a natural death in a Fort Worth hospital.
OUTLAWRY
For ten years following the Civil war Texas was the Mecca of the lawless element of the entire country.
When a man was accused of any major crime, where the proof was positive, his attorneys would advise him to go to Texas, where he would probably escape punishment for his misdeeds.
The country between the Brazos and Rio Grande was so thinly populated that he would be almost, if not quite, immune from detec- tion and arrest. As a usual thing these men were not petty thieves and preferred to engage in some enterprise where the risk was greater than that of ordinary theft or burglary.
The stage lines offered an unusual and attractive field for their operations, and the holding up of the mail coaches was of very fre- quent occurrence. Mountain Creek in Dallas County and Mary's Creek in Tarrant County afforded splendid opportunities for the activities of these "Knights of the Road." These streams, being heavily timbered, enabled them to approach the coaches without observation, and affored an easy means of seclusion and escape. Very often a single bandit would stop a coach, cause the occupants to get out and hold up their hands, while he relieved them of their watches. jewelry and purses. Having a high regard for the activities of the United States marshals they never disturbed the mail pouches but satisfied themselves with depriving the passengers of their valuables. These depredations continued for a long time and coaches were robbed within a mile of the Fort Worth postoffice on Clear Fork of the Trinity and at other points along the line, with impunity. The authorities finally perfected an organization and utilized the numer- ous freight wagons going west with lumber and merchandise as a means of getting in contact with these robbers without observation. Employing several freight wagons on each of which would be an officer heavily armed, they would camp on points frequented by the bandits and when a stage coach was halted they would open fire on the robbers with long range guns and charging upon them would effect their arrest. In a short while the gang, which infested this immediate section, was entirely broken up, and some of its members found to be residents of the city and adjacent territory. Several of them were convicted and sent to the penitentiary and this industry eliminated. One of the veteran stage drivers, Joe Hunter, by name, who had driven mail coaches over the entire West, declared that his vocation was getting to be monotonous and uninteresting when these depredations were broken up.
During this period, as already stated, petty thievery was prac- tically unknown. As an illustration of this the tax gatherer, for Tar-
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rant County, was accustomed to go out over the county instead of having the tax-payer come to the county seat. At that time paper money was scarcely known, gold and silver being the exclusive medium of exchange, and he would put the money obtained in his saddle bags. Staying over night at a country house, he would set his bag behind the door and would find it there the next morning undis- turbed. Horse stealing was the one crime from which there was no escape. The accused was given a speedy trial and, if found guilty, was sent "over the road" without delay. Burglary was unknown. People would leave their houses for a day or a week without turning a key, and almost all of them were without locks, and upon their return would find them undisturbed.
The influx of new population, coming from the cities throughout the country, brought in its train the burglar and petty thief, which now inflict every community throughout this section.
PRACTICAL JOKES
The practical joker had plenty of time in which to indulge in his fun. One of the best of these was on General Peers, who kept the Commercial Hotel, at the corner of Fifth and Commerce streets. As usual, every one was on the qui vive for railroad news. One day John S. Hirshfield had a spurious telegram delivered to the General, purporting to be from the private secretary of Jay Gould, the then president of the Texas & Pacific, announcing that Mr. Gould and a party of capitalists would arrive on the stage that afternoon and asking that provisions be made for their entertainment. It was signed by "Tom Collins," at that time the cognomen for all imaginary and fictitious persons. But the General did not know this and pro- ceeded to buy up all the turkeys in the market and all the other deli- cacies to be had. He was instigated to invite about fifty of the more prominent citizens to dine with Mr. Gould. The plan was for each of the invited guests to pay for his dinner so that the hotel would suffer no loss. Along in the afternoon, Charles Fallbush, who trav- eled for the wholesale liquor house of Day & Co., came in from a western trip, dusty and travel stained, and was introduced to General Peers as Tom Collins, the secretary of Mr. Gould. Fallbush explained that he had driven over from Dallas ahead of the party to see that all the arrangements were made for the entertainment of his chief. The scheme was working beautifully until "Tuck" Boaz, not being advised that the invited guests were to pay for the dinner and not wishing the General to suffer such a loss, gave the game away.
The "tender-foot" was an easy mark for the practical joker and many of the "tales that were told" about the conditions of affairs in Texas were the result of the jests played on men unused to the cus- toms of Texas. On one occasion a man by the name of Robinson, who traveled for the Hall Safe & Lock Co., badgered his friends about being afraid of Indians. At that time there was not an Indian in Texas, but, of course, he did not know that. He was persuaded by some of the traveling men, who then made the western territory, to accompany him on a trip out West. The man consented and went as
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far as Comanche. They laid over there on Sunday and the stranger 1 being regaled all day with stories of the hair-breadth escapes that. members of the party at the hotel had made in the recent past. The "tender-foot" was not afraid of Indians. About the middle of the afternoon the party dissolved, one at a time, until the stranger and the drummer he was with were left in the hotel. Then a suggestion was made that the two take a walk up the banks of Indian Creek, which runs by the town. He was glad to go. Was not afraid of Indians. Oh, no. About half a mile from town those who had gone ahead suddenly rushed out of the mesquite firing their pistols and yell- ing like mad. The stranger was told to run for his life-and he did. His companion soon fell to the ground calling on him to run. He ran into town and under the hotel. The Democrat published a column or two about the event and sold Robinson 150 copies at ten cents per. He mailed them to every one of his acquaintances east of the Missis- sippi and was a hero, until the next issue told the truth about the event. He did not order any extra copies of that issue.
These are sample tricks of what was going on most of the time, and will suffice to indicate that life was not a burden to those who were waiting for something to turn up, and who knew how to enjoy their enforced idleness.
Following the panic of 1873 and up to the advent of the railway, in 1876, a period of nearly three years, when business was practically at a standstill, and the citizens had but little to do except to enjoy themselves and contribute to the pleasure of their fellows, the Demo- crat perpetrated an April fool joke for three successive years. The first was an account coming from Brownwood in substance that the party sinking a deep well had encountered a vein of silver ore which assayed 2,300 pounds of pure silver to the ton. The casual reader did not stop to reflect that there could hardly be 2,300 pounds of silver to 2,000 pounds of ore; and many, seeing visions of fabulous fortunes awaiting them, started at once for Brownwood. There were no telegraph or telephone lines between this city and Brownwood at the time, and it was impossible to get word to them until they had proceeded some distance on the journey. Naturally, some of them were very angry but a little reflection convinced them that they had only themselves to blame for the trouble and expense to which they had gone.
The following year the paper announced the arrival in Fort Worth of Prof. U. R. Sold, who had come from Washington with a supply of dynamite, the explosive qualities of which had just been discovered. It was announced that he would give an exhibition at the confluence of the Clear Fork and the West Fork of the Trinity, and if anyone wanted fresh fish it was a good opportunity to secure them. as the force of the dynamite would probably kill large numbers. Scores of people were at the stream at the appointed hour with baskets and buckets, and waited patiently for the professor until someone made the announcement that it was April first, and they returned to town madder but wiser men and women.
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When the stage robberies were most frequent and were attracting universal and widespread attention the Democrat announced, one morning, that one of its reporters had discovered an excavation in the side of the hill, about where the Texas & Pacific now crosses the western limits of the city, in which were found many articles that had been taken from passengers on the robbed mail coaches and complete culinary outfit and provisions which clearly indicated that it was the resort of the bandits, who were robbing the mail coaches.
As soon as the paper was distributed and read by the people, large numbers of them proceeded at once to that locality to see the cave. When they got to the designated spot, they saw a crude sign on the tree lettered April first. Each of the fooled proceeded to swear his neighbor to secrecy and came back to town with vivid descriptions of the cave and its contents, thereby inducing still others to visit the place. Hundreds of people went on horseback and by foot and were rewarded only by reading the crude sign on the elm tree.
Dr. W. P. Burts, who was the first mayor of Fort Worth, was himself a great practical joker. One night he was sent for in great haste and told that W. H. Nanny, who was acting city secretary doing what little work there was in the office for John F. Swayne, who had an office at the corner of Main and Second streets, had broken a leg, and the doctor was wanted at once. He proceeded in all haste to the designated place and found that Nanny in leaning back against the side of his office had broken one of the legs of his chair. The doctor, unlike many practical jokers, took his medicine gracefully, but threatened vengeance on the perpetrators of the joke, if he should ever discover their identity. .
One of the most prominent citizens of the town at that time made an extravagant use of the personal pronoun. He seemed never to weary of telling of his own experiences and exploits during the Mexi- can war, fighting Indians and other activities of a like nature.
One day a message reached him telling him that there was an important letter for him at the postoffice. He went there with due haste and, looking in his box, found a crude letter "I" awaiting him. He was very angry for a time but finally he saw the point and pre- tended to enjoy the joke as well as those who had perpetrated it.
On one April first a lady conceived the idea of treating her friends from the northern states to a confection. She proceeded to make a large number of pies using cotton seed. The pastry was delicious. as she was a fine cook, but when the pies were cut and the guests tried to masticate them, they experienced some difficulty and were curious to know what kind of berries they were made of. The joke created a good deal of amusement, but one or two of the guests, who were supersensitive, never forgave the poor woman.
EFFORTS AT UPLIFT
The reformer was here then as now and tried to reform every one else but himself, just as they do now and with about the same suc- cess. The town was "wide open" to the horror of some and an effort was made at intervals to put a stop to the open gambling house.
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One Grand Jury falling under the influence of the "up-lifters" brought out indictments against about thirty members of a whist club that played whist in the rear of a saloon owned and managed by Henry Byrne. (His widow, Maggie, lives here still.) The club was com- posed of the business men of the city ; not one of whom ever entered the wide open gambling houses. Having no business, they played whist. The stakes were a bottle of beer-if any one wanted beer. A dozen or more indictments were found against each member. The District Attorney was a Dallas lawyer. The fee in each case was ten dollars. A pretty good sum for one term of court. The juries were compelled to find verdicts of guilty and assessed the fine at from 1/37 of a cent up to one cent. But it carried the costs. The county paid many hundreds of dollars for the fun and the district attorney gathered many thousands. He was not a candidate for re-election.
STEALING AN EXCURSION
One of the most amusing incidents of the time occurred in the Spring of 1875. A man by the name of George W. Cole from some- where up in Pennsylvania had plotted a townsite out in Palo Pinto County which he called Lamar. He alleged in his advertisements that it would be a division point. on the Texas & Pacific. He sold a good many lots to the "sucker" element that is always ready to grab at anything that sounds cheap. He went over to Tennessee and worked up an excursion to come and see Texas. It was farthest from his thought to show them Lamar. He only intended to let them see what a good country Texas was. Hearing about the excursion, the Democrat got out an extra edition, telling about Tarrant County in general and Fort Worth in particular. The editor took a bundle of the papers and went to Texarkana to meet the excursion train. It took breakfast at that place and while the excursionists were enjoying their matutinal meal, the papers were distributed in every seat in the train. After they had time to look the paper over, the editor went through the train and made their acquaintance. He so in- gratiated himself with them that by the time the train reached Dallas, they were nearly all ready to come to Forth Worth, to which place he promised them free transportation. That night he preempted every seat in the stage coaches and engaged hacks for the rest of the party. They spent the night at the Crutchfield Hotel and in the morning were to have had a reception by the business men. General W. L. Cabell was the mayor of the town. When the hour for the reception arrived there was no one to receive. They had gone to Fort Worth, where they had a royal good time.
Later some of them settled in Tarrant County. Mayor Cabell said he had heard of thefts of every kind but that it was the first time he ever heard of any one stealing an excursion.
The era of greenbacks and free silver brought to the fore many persons who imagined that they could solve the financial questions of the country. Among these was an apostle of greenbackism, by the name of Payne, who hailed from Dallas. He announced as a can- didate for congress and proceeded to stump the district advocating his
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election and promising speedy relief from all the financial ills that afflicted the body politic. His denunciation of coupon bonds was vehement and vitrolic; he portrayed in glowing terms the evils which followed the issuance of "pecan bonds." He was evidently ignorant of what was meant by the coupon bonds. It is needless to say that he was not elected.
During the free silver craze, which swept over the country, an editor of a daily paper in Fort Worth was an ardent advocate of free silver at the ratio of sixteen to one regardless of any other nation on earth. One of his readers, desiring to be enlightened on the sub- ject, asked him what was meant by "sixteen to one." The editor's reply was that the government should be forced to coin $16 in silver to every one in gold, which was eminently satisfactory to a large num- ber of the adherents to the doctrine of free silver.
During the greenback craze a man announced as a candidate for the Legislature from Tarrant County. As an evidence of his fitness for the position he promised many reforms in the national govern- ment not only in matters of finance but also in other governmental questions. It was his custom, when he had an appointment to speak in a particular neighborhood, to make inquiries among the people as to what interested them most. When he spoke at Miranda, which was near the present town of Benbrook, he was told that the question, that agitated and interested the people of that precinct more than any other, was an amendment to the law relative to the appointment of postmasters. He was informed that the people resented the idea that the postmaster at Fort Worth should be authorized to appoint postmasters throughout the country. He promised them that, if elected, the first bill, he would introduce in the Legislature, would be one to authorize the people of any community to elect their own postmaster. The frequent exposition of his ignorance did not deter him from the continuance of the system, which he had originated, to please the people.
These incidents are not given as an illustration of the ignorance of the people but of the lack of information on the part of men who sought to mould public opinion on these abstruse questions of finance and government.
For many years after the influx of population from the older states became numerous some of the older citizens, few in number but posi- tive and explicit in the expression of opinion, resented the activities of what they pleased to term the "new comer." One of the most active of these was one of the very best citizens of the early days Mr. Isaac Duke Parker, a sturdy, independent, rugged old farmer living a mile or two east of Birdsville. He was the most pronounced in his opposition to the new element, who assayed to take an active part in public matters. To illustrate' his position: when the pub- lisher of the Fort Worth Democrat, then the only paper in the county, approached him for a subscription he gave as a reason for his refusal to subscribe "you stole our court house and I do not want to have anything to do with you or your paper." The publisher was ignorant of the circumstances connected with the county seat war and dis-
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claimed having stolen any court house or having any court house in his possession, he was then and there enlightened upon the facts con- nected with the location of the county seat, which was very interest- ing and instructive to the publisher, who, thanking Isaac Duke for the information, commended him for his loyalty to his convictions made of him a fast friend, which endured during Mr. Parker's life time. Another illustration of Isaac Duke's peculiarities arose when the Democrat advised the laying out of public roads in a straight line from the county seat to the principal towns in the adjoining counties, arguing that this was a particularly good time for this project while the land was cheap, even if these roads were not im- proved. Isaacc Duke's retort was "before you came to Texas, when I wanted to go anywhere, I got on my horse and rode straight across the prairies to my destination, it was good enough for me then, and it is good enough for you now, if you don't like it, what did you come here for, we never sent for you." It is a pleasure to state that this sentiment was indulged in by very few of the early settlers of the county. Most of them welcomed the "new comer" and co-operated with him in his efforts to improve conditions.
One of the early settlers called the attention of the editor of these volumes to an incident which was quite common in some parts of the South prior to the Civil War. The case in point relates to a man by the name of Crawford, who came south in 1860, from Ohio, commissioned, as he thought, to assist in the abolition of slavery. He obtained employment wherever he could doing work by the day, and when night came, would meet the negroes in some out of the way place and induce them to run away and become free men. A negro, who was loyal to his owner, told of his activities; and one day three men drove up in a wagon to where he was shoveling sand threw him into the wagon and drove off at break-neck speed to the Clear Fork of the Trinity and hung him on an elm tree, the limbs of which extended out over the road.
This was the only instance of this nature, which has come to the notice of the writer, and it is thought it had a salutary effect upon those who attempted to overturn established conditions.
When the editor of these volumes was mayor of Fort Worth, in the early '90s, he went to Waco to a meeting of the Travelers' Protec- tive Association, for the purpose of inviting it to hold its succeeding annual convention in Fort Worth.
He was confronted by a large and strong committee, from Dallas, which was there for the purpose of inviting it to hold its next meeting in Dallas. The mayor succeeded in arranging with the president of the convention to permit him to make the first address. He depicted in glowing terms the advantages to accrue to the convention by holding the meeting in Fort Worth, the hospitality of the people. the many things which it would enjoy and the usual stereotyped message on an occasion of this kind. When he had concluded his peroration, he reached over and picked up the president's gavel and put the motion : "As many of you, who favor meeting in Fort Worth next year, will say 'I.'" The entire assemblage including the
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reporters, visitors, men and women vociferously responded, "I." He pretended to put the negative, but before anyone, who desired to do so, could vote no, he declared the motion carried. With mock gravity he returned the gavel to the president thanking him for being per- mitted to preside over the convention for so brief a time and retired from the platform.
Rising from his seat the president said: "Well, boys, what are you going to do about it?" One of the delegates responded, I move that the action had, by the committee of the whole house, be confirmed and approved. The motion was heartily seconded; the president put the question, and it was unanimously carried.
The committee from Dallas did not have an opportunity to present its invitation and was very much chagrined and disgruntled.
AN EXCITING ELECTION
The first election held in Tarrant County, after the adoption of the present constitution, was the most interesting and exciting one ever held in the county. The new organic law created quite a number of new offices, for which there were many aspirants.
At this election Mr. C. C. Cummings, a young lawyer from Missis- sippi, was a candidate for the county judge. There was a good deal of feeling about what was styled the "new comer" aspiring to official position. Mr. Cummings adopted a very drastic and positive method of campaign. He proceeded to array in opposition every candidate, for all of the offices, by accusing them of forming, what he called, the court house ring. He asserted in positive fashion that a combination had been formed by which all the candidates for the several offices had entered into an agreement to assist each other in the election. He arraigned these men, mentioning their names, at each gathering which he addressed.
He was successful in his campaign and was elected county judge by a handsome majority, but every other member of "the ring" was elected. He held the office for two terms giving more than the usual satisfaction in the discharge of the many duties devolved upon him.
MARRIAGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES
It is a trite saying that love laughs at Locksmiths. Its risibilities are also excited by other obstacles. It was related that when the Rev. W. H. Rowland, one of the pioneer settlers in the northwest- ern part of the county, was to be married, he encountered a difficulty of an original and unique character. When the date of the nuptials arrived a torrential storm visited that section of the country, and Ash Creek, on the banks which he lived, became a raging stream. A minister, engaged to perform the ceremony. lived on the west bank of the stream, and Rowland and his affianced on the east bank. There were no bridges over the stream at any point or any boat to be had. The wedding party assembled at the appointed hour on the east bank of the creek, and the minister stood on the west bank, and across the raging stream the ceremony was performed. This was not only
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effectual, but, as every one knew the high contracting parties were convinced, proved to be a matrimonial success. A long, happy and prosperous life followed this unique wedding and their descendants are still among the honored citizens of the county.
"LAW AND LAGER WEST OF THE BRAZOS"
In the early '70s, and before the settlements had penetrated the western border of Texas, one Roy Bean was made justice of the peace at Marfa, in Presidio County. He did not know, or if he knew, he did not care that the tenure of office was limited, and he continued to exercise the functions of the position indefinitely. His principal business was a saloon, and the sign over the building read "Law and Lager west of the Brazos." It was never definitely determined whether he held court in the saloon or had a saloon in the courtroom.
As an indication of his method of distributing justice one or two instances will illustrate.
On one occasion a man was hailed before him charged with having killed a Chinaman. The evidence was conclusive as to his guilt, but after searching the statutes diligently Bean announced that he could find no law in the book against killing a Chinaman and discharged the defendant.
One morning a man was found dead in the stream, which ran by his place, and Bean was summoned to hold an inquest. There was found on the body a six-shooter and $50 in gold coin in his pockets. The law was positive against carrying six-shooters and provided as a part of the penalty that the weapon should be forfeited to the state, and the defendant might be fined in any sum not less than $10 nor more than $100. Roy proceeded to fine the man $50 for carrying a six-shooter and confiscated the weapon.
After the advent of the railroad the train stopped one morning at the water tank near Bean's place of business, and one of the pas- sengers seeing the sign disembarked and proceeded to order a glass of lager. After quenching his thirst he handed Bean a $20 gold piece. which Bean was unable to change, he retained the coin in his hand and berated his customer, who, becoming exasperated, proceeded to tell Bean what he thought of him. Bean took off his apron and sat down behind the table, where he held court, and arraigned the custo- mer for disorderly conduct and the use of profane language in a pub- lic place and fined him $19.75. As the train was ready to start the man had no redress and hastily boarding the car took his leave.
On one occasion he found a man guilty of some offense punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary. Bean sentenced him to five years in the penitentiary, giving him a letter to the superintendent of the penitentiary and telling the prisoner to report at Huntsville for incarceration. The record does not show whether or not the man ever reported to serve his time.
Bean, as related above, continued to hold the office irdefinitely and until the country settled up to some extent, when he was supplanted by a man more versed in the law.
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James H. Grimsley, a worthy farmer living near Mansfield, was elected justice of the peace at Precinct No. 8, in 1869, which office he continued to hold from term to term until his death. He was a sturdy man of the highest integrity, but without education or knowledge of the law. He realized the fact that his court was a "court of justice" and not a court of law and his decisions were based on this conclusion.
On one occasion a man was arraigned before him for stealing some cattle. The state was ably represented by the prosecuting attorney of Tarrant County and the defendant by Capt. J. C. Terrell, one of the pioneers of Fort Worth. The prosecution succeeded in establishing that only one of the steers could be held as being stolen. The justice found him guilty of having this steer in his possession without a bill of sale, but was undetermined as to what punishment should be in- flicted. Capt. Terrell succeeded in convincing him that he could not pass judgment on the defendant but could only hold him under bond to the higher courts. The justice conceded this point, and the ques- tion arose as to the amount of the bond. Capt. Terrell proceeded to read him the statutes, which provided that in cases of attachment, sequestration and replevin, the bond should be double the amount of the property involved and argued that the same rule would apply in this case. The justice was convinced that the logic of the defendant's attorney was good and fixed the bond at $20, the steer having been valued at $10. The defendant put up a $20 gold piece for security and gave Terrell some logs with which to build a smokehouse, for his fee.
One of the most amusing incidents showing the cupidity and gulli- bility of the average individual occurred in Eastland County about thirty-five years ago.
A Texas & Pacific eastbound train had a carload of copper ore from some point in California, destined for a refinery or smelter in the East. The car was derailed on an embankment and some of the ore was spilled on the bank near where a farmer was digging a well in close proximity to the right of way, some of the lumps of ore being thrown on the dirt from the well.
A rain which fell soon thereafter discolored the earth from the well, bringing out a vivid green. The farmer, like Bret Harte's Heathen Chinee, had "ways that were dark and tricks that were vain." He gathered some of the lumps of ore and took them to the town of Eastland 'and exhibited them, in a confidential way, to some of his acquaintances, pledging them to secrecy as to where they originated. He was very careful not to say they came out of his well or to make any statement that would incriminate him.
Among those to whom they were shown was a man who had held high political position. He organized a small syndicate and proceeded to investigate. It was not a difficult matter to locate the place on the farmer's land and negotiations were opened for the purchase of the farm. No mention was made by either party of the copper. Of course, the farmer did not want to sell. He was too wily for that, but he was finally persuaded to part with his farm for a price far in excess of its value.
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When the transaction was completed the farmer left for distant parts and the syndicate proceeded to complete the well. They did so to their complete satisfaction and obtained an abundant supply of water.
An incident which occurred at the State Democratic Convention in 1894 was largely instrumental in engrafting the Primary Election Law upon the state of Texas.
Two prominent and popular citizens were candidates for a state office. They were so evenly matched that predictions of which would pass under the wire first were not hazarded by the most astute poli- ticians. As they are still living, their names will not be mentioned, but resort will be had to the legal fictions of John Doe and Richard Roe.
When the balloting was in progress, the friends of Roe kept tab on the votes as they were announced, and when the roll call was fin ished they knew the result before the tellers and secretaries had footed up the totals. It was discovered that Doe was the winner by twenty two votes. Then was sprung the most astute of convention trickery One of Roe's friends addressed the chair and announced that Blanl. County, which had already voted for Doe, changed its vote for Roe Another county in the secret followed the example of Blank County and then another and another. Delegates who wanted to be on the winning side soon caught the contagion and commenced changing their votes, and enough changes were made to give the nomination to Roe instead of Doe, who had been honestly nominated. The result was announced and the nomination of Roe proclaimed before the friends of Doe discovered the trick that had been played on them. The most intense indignation was expressed, but it was of no use. Roe was declared the nominee and was elected, but it sealed his doom and put an end to his political aspirations. The Primary Election Law was passed by the next Legislature. This is treated under the caption of "Men and Measures."
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