Harris County Texas Crime News Gleanings

Harris County Execution News Stories

PATE BURTON HANGED
Murderer of the Myer Family made Speeches and Swore
Houston, Tex., March 21 - Pate Burton, the negro murderer of the Myer family, was hanged at 11:25 today. He made a show of bravado which impressed the large crowd of negroes who witnessed the hanging. Burton was permitted to make several speeches, all of them being plentifully besprinkled with oaths. The knot slipped and he was strangled to death.

Burton's crime was one which startled the State. He was employed as a farm hand by Henry Myer of Cyrpress. While the farmer, his wife and little child dosed on the front porch after dinner Burton slew them with a hatchet. First he killed Mrs. Myer, then her husband and then the infant, cleaving their skulls open. A 12 year old daughter sick with fever fled from the house to a neighbor's and gave the alarm. It was some time before the murderer was apprehended. While in prison he confessed the crime and several others equally as horrible. Burton was a cross between white, black and Indian. (St. Louis Republic, March 25, 1899, page 1, part 2, transcribed Peggy Thompson)

PATE BURTON PAID PENALTY
Murderer of Meyers Family in Harris County Executed at Houston Yesterday
Profane and Game to Very End
Denied on the Gallows That He Had Embraced Religion - History of His Crime
Houston, Tex., March 24 - The negro Pate Burton or Pink Hines, was dropped into eternity at forty-seven minutes and six seconds past 1 o'clock this afternoon, the last words he spoke being, "That's a d-n lie," and they were spoken just after the black cap was adjusted. And it came about in this way: He was standing on the trap door and said:

"If any man sees me tremble, speak out." A voice from the crowd said: "I saw it." And promptly came the words above quoted.

There never perhaps walked a felon to the gallows who appeared to regard the act with as little concern or with as little awe as Pate Burton.

He never for a moment appeared to lose his nerve or to have any fear of death, and at the same time he insisted upon the fact being known by all men that he did not profess religion and did not want anybody to think he did. His last talks on earth were more in spirit of pleasantry or jocularity than in seriousness. There appeared no maliciousness in his jesting. His mind appeared to be perfectly clear and his memory seemed to bring up things constantly of a funny character. He, however, addressed an immense crowd from a south window of the jail; in a spirit of earnestiness, entirely at variance with his conversational lightness.

He had requested Sheriff Anderson to allow him to address the crowd, which request had been granted and on the strength of it he had evidently collected some thoughts that he wanted to express. About 500 people witnessed the execution. The crowd was so densely packed about the gallows that some could hardly breathe and after the body was cut down there was a wild scramble for pieces of hangman's rope for souvenirs. Prior to the execution and on the gallows Burton made rambling talks about the Bible and religious matters. He was kept braced up with whisky and cigars and walked to the gallows smoking a cigar. He denied that he was guilty, or, at least, would not confess his guilt.

The crime that cost Burton his life was one that will stand for many years as one of, if not the blackest, in the dark records of Texas. The traits of the most brutal nature were essential to its commission. He fell upon his victims when they were asleep, hence helpless. He attacked them not because he had enmity to them. His heart was not nerved by a desire for revenge, for they had ever been kind to him. He slew not only a man, but a woman and then an innocent child, with all about it appealing to human nature to be spared. Had he spared its little life it could never have harmed him by bearing testimony to the atrocity of the double murder of its father and mother. Solely for the gratification of a bloodthirsty appetite he must have struck the fatal blows that crushed the tender skull. The fiendish assault was made for just a chance to get money which, however, he never got. It was on July 18, 1898, shortly after 1 o'clock in the afternoon.

Mr. Henry Meyer was an industrious and a respected farmer, whose little home and farm was about one and a half miles from Cypress. In the upper part of the county a few miles from Hockley on the Houston and Texas Central railway, twenty-five miles north of Houston. Burton had come to Mr. Meyer, ostensibly, at least, to get work. The latter needed no help, but allowed Burton to remain about the place with a probable chance of securing work in the neighborhood. The murder was committed on Monday. The Saturday previous there was a barbecue at Cypress and Mr. Meyer was one of the persons who gave it and had in his possession some money that had been taken in by the club as a result of the affair. It was with a hope of finding this money that Burton murdered Mr. Henry, his wife and their 3 year old child and attempted the murder of Gotlieb Meyer, a 10 year old boy, brother of Mr. Meyer. This chance to find the money prompted the murder. As stated already, Mr. and Mrs. Meyer, after the labors of the forenoon had shortly after the dinner hour, laid down on the front gallery during the hottest time of the day to rest. They fell asleep and it was then that the demon did his work. He glided noiselessly across the gallery and with an ax crushed Meyer's skull. Quickly he followed it with a terrible blow on Mrs. Meyer's head, but she brought a shriek of agony that aroused young Gotlieb, who slept inside the house. Guided by an inspiration, it must have been, the boy threw some clothing over a cradle in which an infant slept and thus concealed and saved it. But before the time had time to make his escape Burton struck him a blow and would have finished him but a spasmodic and dying cry from Mrs. Meyer caught his ear and he left the boy to make sure of his deadly attack upon her. This he did, but it gave the lad a little time and he leaped from the window and escaped to a neighbor's house where he gave the alarm. Burton then not being able to find the boy, began to search the house in quest of the money. He turned upside down and broke into nearly every place where he thought the money might be. His search was fruitless however. The money to the amount of about $80 was concealed in the mattress and he failed to find it. He then fled, leaving upon the gallery dead the husband and wife, with their heads chopped and crushed, and the little child with her skull fractured so badly that she died two days later at the infirmary in this city. He left the house for the woods, going through a field, in which he stopped, ate a watermelon and left his bloody shirt. No sooner had the nearest neighbors learned of the tragedy than they spread it throughout the community. Arming themselves they proceeded to the house and found the reality more horrible than it had been told them. Then was begun the pursuit, which never stopped until he was landed in jail by Sheriff Anderson a few weeks later. In his flight that afternoon and night he was both foxy and swift of foot. The enraged community used the most strenuous efforts to overtake him before night, but in vain. Secreting himself in the brush he saw, as it was learned later, his pursuers in their search, but evaded them.

In the meantime Sheriff Anderson, with a posse of men, on a special engine, reached there that night and conducted the scouring party. He had reason to believe that the fugitive would catch a freight train and come into Houston. On the strength of this he wired his deputies here to watch all freight trains coming from that direction. They did so, and about daylight in the morning held up a negro a short distance from the city limits, but released him after asking many questions and examining him. Since his conviction, however, it has been learned that he was the man. To use his own language to Sheriff Anderson in this connection: "Boss, if that little man had been de captain they surely would have fastened me. He wanted to hold me from the first."

For several days Sheriff Anderson daily received telegrams from various places to the effect that a man answering the description had just been arrested, and to send or come after him. The sheriff received them from Plantersville, Liberty, Smithville, Hearne, Navasota, Brenham, East Bernard, Dairy and three or four other places. He answered each summons either in person or by deputy, unless he had outside information that gave him assurance that the person was not the negro wanted. It was two weeks or about that, an arrest was made several miles from Coldspring, in San Jacinto county by Constable Robertson. It was Pink Hines he arrested. It was not known before that Burton and Pink Hines were names belonging to the same negro. The officers it appeared, knew Pink Hines and where he was, but the name generally mentioned in connection with the crime was Pate Burton, hence their delay in apprehending him. Sheriff Anderson of Harris and Sheriff Robinson of San Jacinto counties about the some time came into possession of the identity of the two names and were making it for the plantation where Hines was employed, when the constable, being nearest, cut them out of the distinction. Sheriff Anderson, who was up there and had located the man, intending to make the arrest the next day, took charge of the prisoner, brought him here and lodged him in jail. He was there identified by parties who knew him, the most important of whom was Gottlieb Meyer, the 10 year old brother of Henry Meyer, one of the victims. The identification was made after the lad was pretty well over the effects of his injuries. It was made in the presence of several witnesses and when the negro was brought out of his cell and lined up with several other negroes. It didn't take young Meyer long to identify his man. The case was then taken up in the criminal district court, Judge E. D. Cavin presiding, and with Attorney James Gillaspie representing the state, the conviction was brought about and the death penalty assessed. The attorneys for Burton did what they could to at least save the life of their client.

Burton was born in San Jacinto county, June 4, 1870. His father is Charles Burton, who resides in the first ward of this city. His mother was a slave in one of the states east of the Mississippi, but it is not known where she was at the time of the trial, conviction and execution. His father got up a petition signed by forty-two persons, asking the governor to respite the prisoner for fifteen or thirty days but it availed nothing. Burton stated that he went to the public school about two years in all. He could write a little, but very poorly. He was one of the few offenders to pay the death penalty who did not repent, join the church and go to heaven.

Burton was tried Oct. 19 and 20, 1898 and given the death penalty. The case was appealed and the upper court affirmed the decision of the lower court Dec. 7 and the mandate returned here Jan. 30, 1899 and the prisoner was sentenced Feb. 16 last. (Dallas Morning News, March 25, 1899, page 4, transcribed by Jim Laird)

JIM KING
HANGING IN TEXAS
Houston, Tex., - December 2 - Jim King, a negro, was hanged at Wharton today for the murder of his mistress, Lucinda Wade, in April last. The killing was very cold blooded. King expressed himself and repentant of his deed and as a religious believer. (Age Herald, December 3, 1898, page 1, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)

CHARLES KUGADT
HANGED FOR MURDER
Houston, Texas, Oct. 20 - Charles Kugadt was hanged at Brenham today for the murder of his sister. (Anaconda Standard, October 21, 1898, page 9, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)

KUGADT HANGED AT LAST
Washington County Murderer Legally Executed at Brenham Yesterday at Noon
Lost His Nerve and Regained It
Said Nothing except that he had left a written statement by which he was to be judged

Brenham, Tex., Oct. 20 - Kugadt's wife was with him in the jail last night when The News man called. He was nervous but spoke affectionately to his wife. He thrusts his hand through the bars, took hold of his wife's hand and to The News man said: "This is our wedding anniversary. Nineteen years ago today we stood at the bridal altar and I promised not only to love her, but pledged her my best efforts."

The poor woman gave vent to her feelings at this reference to her wedding day in the most heartrending wails. He walked the aisles of the dungeon rapidly, reviewed his case, went over the evidence and the opinion of the supreme court. At 11 o'clock he retired. His sleep was fitful and he muttered inaudibly, tossed from side to side on his couch and would often clasp his hands and exclaim: "My God, my God." He arose at 6 o'clock still nervous and took only half a cup of coffee for breakfast.

At 10 o'clock he complained of feeling sick and laid down. Then the sensational report that he had taken poison flashed over town. The county physician was summoned. He was quickly in the jail examined the prisoner and pronounced the report false. He said he only had a rigor caused by nervousness. The physician administered a small quantity of brandy and retired.
At 11 o'clock he bathed himself, donned his grave clothes, a suit of black diagonal, and said he was ready. His nerves became steady, he was cool and brave and remained so to the end.
At 11:30 the sheriff entered the cell and found everything ready. At 12 o'clock Kugadt was placed in a carriage and driven rapidly to the gallows. He ascended without assistance.
Inside the enclosure Sheriff Teague told him he could have as much time as he desired to make any statement he wished. He replied: "I have left a written statement with a friend and I have nothing more to say." The noose was placed around his neck, he bid those around him good-bye, the black cap was adjusted over his face and at 12:50 Sheriff Teague hacked the rope, the door dropped. Kugadt swung off and in ten minutes was pronounced dead.

STORY OF THE CRIME

Charles Kugadt was a shoemaker and lived at Washington on the Brazos, twenty-one miles east of Brenham. His half sister Johanna Kugadt was an elderly maiden lady, who had lived with her brother's family for several years, but in the fall of 1896 she concluded that would go back to her old home in Germany to spend the remainder of her life.

On Monday, Oct. 9, very early in the morning, Kugadt drove a two horse wagon containing a trunk and a box. He was accompanied by his sister, dressed in black and was first seen at Whitman a little country store about two miles from his residence, en route, as he stated to the witnesses, Sam Buchanan and J. S. Ewing, to Brenham. At this point he got out and bought a bottle of whiskey and some cigars and resumed his journey, taking the lower of "Good Will" road. Ewing told him that it was a mile and a half out of his way. He remarked that he was going that way to avoid a bad place in the road. Ewing called to him that the place had been fixed, but he pretended not to hear and proceeded on his way. Buchanan who immediately left, going toward his home, which was on the "Good Will" road overtook Kugadt before he turned off toward the Washington and Brenham road.

Other parties along the road saw Kugadt and his sister together in the wagon at different points along the road until he reached Earlywine, a store and gin about seven miles east of Brenham. Soon after they drove into New Year's creek bottom, and this was the last seen of Johanna Kugadt.

About 1 p.m. Kugadt was seen in New New Year's creek bottom, coming from the direction of Brenham. He was alone in the wagon but had the trunk and a large box with him. The parties who saw him were road hands. They were eating dinner at the time. Kugadt drove up to about fifty yards of them, got out, hitched his team and came over to where they were and drank some coffee with them. Then going back to his wagon he drove on toward Washington.

At Jackson's creek, thirteen miles from Brenham he was seen coming out of the woods but had only the trunk in the wagon. The large box was gone and there was some blood on the side and in the bottom of the wagon.

Kugadt returned home and stated that he had helped his sister on the train at Brenham and that she had gone to Galveston enroute to Bremen. On Thursday, Oc. 22, some time in the evening Lem Harris, colored was hunting hogs in Jackson Creek bottom and about 400 or 500 yards to the left of the Washington and Brenham road, up the creek and about 150 steps from the creek in a brush heap he discovered the charred, remains of a human body.

A coil of hair a number of hairpins, corset steels and part of a woman's dress were found. Angle irons and a peculiar sort of lock were identified as being the same which had been on the lock of the big immigrant chest which Johanna Kugadt had with her when she left home three days before.

When Kugadt heard of the discovery of the body he left home and disappeared for three or four months when he was located at Napo, Cal., brought back and tried, convicted and given the death penalty. He appealed but the decision of the lower court was affirmed by the court of criminals appeals. The mandate was returned and at the spring term 1898 of the district court Kugadt was sentenced to be hanged Thursday May 26.

When he was arrested in California he admitted that he had burned his sister's body, but denied killing her. He said that she fell out of the wagon and the wheel ran over her, crushing her skull. He then got frightened and burned her body for fear that some one might think he killed her.

Charles Kugadt was born in Stalp, province of Pommera, Prussia, Oct. 19, 1853. He emigrated to the United States in 1880, landing in Galveston on the steamship America Oct. 1 of that year. He remained in Galveston two days and on Oct. 3 came, he said, on the first passenger train ever ran over the Santa Fe road to Brenham. He moved from Brenham to Austin county where he lived from 1880 to 1883, the city of Austin remained seven months when he returned to Kinney, Austin county. Lived in this last named place until 1887 when he moved with his family to San Francisco and in two weeks went to Napa where he worked for fifteen months at his trade as a shoemaker. From Napa he moved back to San Francisco, clerked two years in a shoe store. In 1890 he returned to Texas and settled in Washington this county, worked at his trade, collected for Navasota merchants and served as deputy tax assessor for that precinct. Oct. 19, 1887 he was married to Marie Bramer by whom he had one son, Charles Frederick, a boy now 17 years old. His life has been reasonably peaceful, prosperous and happy, having never been under arrest before. A most singular fact in the life of Charles Kugadt was the date of the prominent events of his life. On Oct. 19 he murdered his sister, landed in Galveston Oct 1 and Brenham Oct. 3 and was executed Oct. 20. Truly much good and ill omen did this autumn north hold in store for this unfortunate being who was the first and only white man ever legally executed in Washington county.

Every step in the trial of the case was stubbornly contested. After his conviction in the district court of Washington county a motion for a new trial was made and overruled. Notice of appeal was given and the case was carried to the court of appeals, sitting at Dallas and argued orally. The case was confirmed in an exhaustive opinion. Motion for a new trial was made, heard on March 26, 1897 and overruled. The governor was then appealed to for a commutation but declined to interfere.

An affidavit of his insanity was filed at the spring term of the court here by his wife. The case of insanity was tried during the present term of the court the verdict of the jury being that he was a sane man.

An effort was made to carry the case into the federal court but it presented no features by which this court could be reached, so the effort was abandoned.

The last and final effort to prevent his execution was a second appeal to the governor for a commutation of the sentence of death to life imprisonment but the governor again declined to interfere. (Dallas Morning News, October 21, 1898, page 3, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)

HENRY McGEE
The Governor of Texas has granted a respite of a week in the case of Henry McGee, colored, who was to have been hanged yesterday in Houston in order to allow his attorney to show that the punishment is excessive. (Inter Ocean, August 6, 1892, page 2, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)

Henry McGee, colored was hanged yesterday, at Houston, Texas, for the murder of Police Officer James Fern, on the night of March 14, 1891. (Charlotte Observer, August 13, 1892, page 4, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)

WALTER E. SHAW
Walter E. Shaw Dies Game
The Houston Matricide Pays The Penalty of his Crime
Makes His Will, Receives Religious Consolation and Dies Protesting His Innocence - His Pet Cats
Houston, Tex., Aug. 4 - Scarcely had the king of day shown himself in the east this morning when a solitary individual could be seen staring into vacant space through the iron barred window of the death cell at the county jail. He was pale and worn looking, but it was not the pallor of fright. It was occasioned by long confinement.

This man was Walter E. Shaw the matricide, who was to expiate his crime on the gallows. He was thoroughly cognizant of the fact that it was his last day upon earth that before the evening shadows had gathered in the sun kissed west he would be in the valley of death. He was in a thoughtful mood and seemed to be taking a retrospective view of an eventful past. As he gazed into the mystic future he did not have the appearance of a man about to ascend the gallows. One moment he would smile with the innocence of childhood and the next he would frown in a somber way and assume a look of dare-devil defiance.

The crowd began to gather in front of the jail and crane their necks in the effort to see the doomed man above them. Men, women and children regardless of color or condition, were congregating but the doomed man saw them not. They talked and laughed and he heard them not. At that time he was blind to all exterior surroundings and deaf to the cruel jibes and heartless jests of which he was the brunt. He was still thinking, reflecting on the road he had traveled from the cradle to the grave and it was beyond the power of those who had been brought there though a morbid curiosity to disturb him. That his thoughts were not all pleasant ones, was evidenced by the gloomy expression that would occasionally rest on his features. He was absolutely calm - as stolid as a sphinx. If he felt the slightest emotion he did not show it. There was no wild or delirious glitter in his dark orbs. He had more the appearance of a man who asked only to be let alone; who knew the end was near, and was reconciled to it.

By 10 o'clock there was a human blockade which prevented any more people from approaching Castle Ellis. A long time before this, however, the prisoner, had deserted the window. It was not later than 8 o'clock when he turned away with a contemptuous smile on his lips and a look of disgust on his face to light a cigarette. His silent reveries were over and his attention had been attracted by the noisy crowd. The stolcism and desperate defiance which has characterized his conduct all along returned to huming full force, and instead of being the dreamy, reflective man, he was once more the devil may care and indifferent felon. Glancing contemptuously at the 2000 people on the outside, he remarked as he walked away from the window, "An aggregation of senseless grinning apes, who haven't a thought above their beastly appetites.

Finishing his cigarette and another one he announced that he was ready for his breakfast.

It was perhaps 8:30 when the reported ascended the stairs leading to Shaw's cell located a few steps from the landing. When addressed by The News man he spoke rather sullenly, just as a man does when swayed between whether he will or not. He finally did and when asked a question said, You won't publish what I tell you and what's the use of my telling you?

On the mattress lay three sheets of paper borrowed from a newspaper man. He had written about three lines on one and had evidently intended to finish but the arrival of The News man made it more satisfactory to him to talk than write.

Just then an old cat came in front of the door and peeped in. He touched the peephole with his finger and she leaped up the vertical wall and entered the cell. He then looked about the room and laughingly said, I have three pet kittens here and this old woman. She belongs to the Anderson, however. They have been my constant companions. She often waits long outside for the door to be opened and then comes in. The little ones I have raised and they sleep here all the time. Their names are Jurisprudence, Law and Equity. They are learned, but you will observe that Equity is blind in one eye, but the name is proper.

Here he caught two of them up in his hands and caressed them tenderly. I'll give them tenderloin and trout if I die for it, and with this he fed them a good deal of his fish and then resumed eating his own breakfast.

I want you to get things straight this time - call them by their proper names. I like to see things straight because I take mine straight, but I took a cocktail this morning. Father Hennesy came up to see me not as a minister to proselyte me but as a friend and he told me I ought to forgive all of those people I dislike before I die and I mean to forgive most of them. He is a good man. I want to write something particular and I want you to get it right. The News is the only paper I have any confidence in. It has some pretty hard representatives but it is the only newspaper in Texas. You have gone back on me before this time, but if I was sure you would publish it right I would give it to you.

It will be published all right if you don't abuse anyone.

If you don't do it I hope God will paralyze your right hand. I want it straight because I fear people may attribute to him some wrong deeds. I want to defend him beforehand, as I can't do it afterward. Give me the paper; I'll write it, and he wrote.

At this time I desire to say that I have never asked of Mr. Aves any favors that as a priest he could not grant. Never has he proposed to me to do anything or convey any intelligence that could not or was not seen by the sheriff. If by his unfortunate friendship for me he be involved in any controversy with the element that cried Deliver unto us Barnabas I wish here to say that he has my entire confidence; but although he may be aware that I was in communication with the well wishers of mine, he was not the channel through which any correspondence was conducted.

Walter E. Shaw.

So help me God, he did not, he exclaimed.

He again stroked one of the kittens on its back and said: These are my true friends.

For the want of something else to say, he again got on the reporter's collar thus: What made you treat me so bad?

Well I had to protect the Sheriff as well as please you, answered the reporter.

No man can serve two masters.

He jumped the subject and said: Did you ever look the facts square in the face?

What do you refer to?

Denying a dead man a Christian burial. It is awful to contemplate. Just think of it, it is so heartless and that is what they are doing to me.

At this juncture, Dr. Aves, Shaw's spiritual adviser, was announced. The prisoner smiled, stuck his hand through the peephole and told the doctor he was glad to see him.

Do you want me to come in there? Asked Dr. Aves.

Yes, sir: come right in. replied Shaw.

Dr. Aves entered the cell and the reporter promised to comply with Shaw's request and moved away. Dr. Aves and the prisoner remained in the cell for more than an hour in private conferences after which accompanied by the sheriff and Jailer Anderson they entered the death chamber, the reporter being left on the outside. Here Shaw was arrayed in a handsome black suit of clothes, a white shirt, turn down collar and black necktie and a new pair of shoes, all of which improved his appearance no little. A few minutes later the reporters were permitted to enter the mysterious chamber and look around.

When The News man entered the room Shaw was in his shirt sleeves, smoking a cigarette and writing on a sheet of paper which the reporter had given him. As he had no table he was writing on the mantel piece. He was as cool and collected as if he was writing a business receipt, and now and then he would converse in whispers with Dr. Aves.

Turning to Sheriff Ellis he said in a low tone: Tell them to have those bodies removed inside of two weeks if possible..

He referred to the remains of his mother and aunt. Then he wrote again for a moment.

I am so nervous I can't write, he said with a smile, but he didn't look it. After a time he concluded his work and it proved to be his will which reads as follows:
Houston, Tex., Aug. 4 - This I direct the sheriff to perform viz: to deliver to Mr. Aves the letters as per list in his possession and to give the same party the collar buttons of my mother. I enjoin upon Mr. George Race the following conditions: that in compliance of his contract he will in seven days from date of this contract turn over to Mr. Aves the sum of $35 amount guaranteed in the contract. Mr. Aves has my confidence and will comply with my last wishes.
W. E. Shaw
Witness: Jas. H. Peuitt

Sheriff Ellis took charge of the will and turned it over to Mr. George A. Race, who said he would comply with its conditions if he had to pay the $35 himself.
Expressing a desire for a stimulant Sheriff Ellis gave Shaw a glass of eggnog, which he drank with a relish.

That's my last will and testament, he said as he fumbled with some old sheets of manuscript which had been handed to him, but the papers ain't all here I think. I'd sell my soul for this one, and he singled out an old scroll from the others, preserving it and tearing up the others. Then he handed the one had preserved intact to Dr. Aves.
Keep this and guard it well. That's all I have to say about it, and he took another drink of eggnog.

The prisoner and Dr. Aves then got off to themselves and conversed in low tones until Deputy Sheriff Conoway approached and read the death warrant to Shaw. The latter smoked unconcernedly and occasionally interrupted the officer once for pronouncing a word in his own peculiar way for him.

I acknowledge the reading, he said when the officer concluded and turning to a reporter, continued, I'd hate for him to read another paper like that to me; it's too long and tiresome.

He was furnished another cigarette which he smoked while reading from a book Dr. Aves had handed him.

Jailer Anderson then handed him a pair of white gloves, which he proceeded to put on. All the time he was talking smoking and laughing and seemed to be the coolest man in the room.

These gloves are not a necessary adjunct, are they, he asked of Sheriff Ellis?

No, replied the sheriff, you needn't wear them unless you want to. He then pulled them off and tossed them away.

I'm ready whenever you are, he continued, but would like to have a little more eggnog first.

It was given him and he and Dr. Aves retired to the privacy of the bathroom where they knelt down and the latter prayed fervently. They then clasped hands and walked out. When Dr. Aves started to leave the room, Shaw stepped after him. They shook hands again, when the doctor retired. Right here Shaw evinced more weakness than he did during the whole tragic scene. The eyes of Dr. Aves were slightly moist and Shaw's swelled up, and for a moment looked pittable in the extreme. By a mighty effort however, he braced up and after that he was more desperate and defiant than before.

Jailer Anderson helped Shaw with his coat, when he lit a fresh cigarette and continued: Give my kittens to Dr. Aves, especially old Jurisprudence. He's more broke up than I am. And he chuckled in a satisfied way.

The officers Shaw and the others in the room then left the death chamber and started to the gallows, Shaw with another cigarette between his teeth. He walked with a light elastic step and climbed the stairs leading to the gallows without the slightest hesitation, laughing and chatting gaily in the meantime.

Taking his stand on the gallows, Shaw turned to Sheriff Ellis and said: Can I make a few remarks?

Yes, Walter you can have twenty minutes, replied Sheriff Ellis as feelingly as if he had been humoring a spoiled child.

Shaw spoke a few minutes, forgiving his enemies but made some angry references to a man he called his worst foe, and concluded: Now I'm at your service.

Sheriff Ellis took his place at the button that springs the trap and Shaw stepped over on the trap, still smoking with great enjoyment and remarkably cool. The next instant Sheriff Ellis touched the spring when Shaw was launched into eternity without a struggle, kick or groan.

The body was driven in the hearse from the jail so as to shake off the crowd, and was taken into Wall & Stabe's place where Drs. Langford and Raiford immediately took it in hand and are examining the brain and other parts bearing the question of sanity. They took out the brain, which was in good condition, but weighed only 42 ounces, the average weight of a man's brain being 49-1/2 ounces and that of a woman 44. The liver was found to be enormously large and clearly alcoholic. It was simply gigantic in its dimensions. It was late this evening when they finished taking out such parts as are to be further examined and perhaps analyzed.

An examination of the neck showed that the spinal column had not only been parted, but that one of the sections of the column had been actually crushed which fully explained the fat that no pulse was discovered after the body dropped in any part. Dr. Lankford said that death was so sudden that Shaw never felt any pain.

HISTORY OF THE CASE
The history of the case embraces the account of a double murder of the most astrocious character, and the act of a human being, who by many was believed to be insane, but by a large majority of well informed people to be an incarnate monster of most hideous proportions.

He was convicted in the criminal district court of Harris and Galveston counties of the murder of his mother, Mrs. Anna C. Shaw and his aunt, Mrs. Isabella Johnson, younger than Mrs. Shaw by several years. It was done during the night of March 31, 1892, in a small frame building on Prairie avenue between Chenevert and Hamilton streets in the eastern part of the city, but was not discovered until the morning of April 1 the following day. When the facts became known the community stood aghast with horror. It was on a day that people are given to fooling each other, and when the sickening details were being first spread from a man to man in meager form without the names many people became indigant that so shocking a story should be made subservient to the brevity of the day but when the blood curdling facts in their naked hideousness were learned they became indignant to a feeling of angry resentment.

The atrocious deeds of Jack the Ripper had been esclipsed. They had paled to insignificance compared with the black deeds that appalled this community on that beautiful April day.

The city was prospering and her people were in the happiest mood when a messenger boy hurried from the blood curdling scene with the news and told it in the heart of the city.

Mrs. Shaw was about 60 years old and her sister fifteen years younger. They occupied a cottage building next door to Mrs. Anson Jones. It was one story had four rooms, a hall and a latticed gallery.

Mrs. Jones, the widow of the last president of the republic of Texas, being their next door neighbor and of kindest heart, knew that Mrs. Johnson had been quiet ill and Mrs. Shaw indisposed sent a servant over to the house to ascertain how they were. Pretty soon the servant returned, reported that she had knocked and called but could get no answer, and she expressed the belief that there something wrong over there. Immediately Mrs. Jones made her way to the house and failing to get an answer after applying the usual methods she pushed the door open and beheld lying on the floor the dead body of Mrs. Shaw. She mastered the effect of the shock upon her, walked back to the house and dispatched her grandson to his father, Dr. Sam E. Jones to tell him as much as they knew and get him to come at once to the house.
The doctor started without delay but first sent word to Justice A. m. Gentry and Constable W. W. Glass, with directions how to find the house. As soon as possible they were hurrying to the spot and soon arrived. The officers immediately went into the house and Constable Glass entered. On the floor of the main room laid the dead body of Mrs. Shaw, her throat cut from ear to ear, through to the spinal column a great, gaping hideous wound.

A few feet from her, in a door opening from an adjoining room upon the floor lay the dead body of Mrs. Johnson, her throat cut, but not so badly as that of Mrs. Shaw. In her mouth was a handkerchief that had evidently been thrust into it by muscular force.

The officer glanced through the rooms to see if there was anyone present. He then opened the windows and doors. Judge Gentry and Dr. Jones and others then entered to look upon a most shocking sight. On the floor they found a razor partly opened, bloody and gaped in places. It was the razor of Walter E. Shaw, the son and nephew. The fact the he was the murderer was in the minds of each one before but it was no abhorrent that they were silent, but this find brought forth a unanimous expression to the effect that he was the murderer.

In the meantime the news had spread like wildfire through the city and all of the officers were hastening to got the full facts in order to take prompt and intelligent means to bring the guilty party to justice. Sheriff George Ellis and his deputies were early on the scene getting details and any clue pointing to the identity of the guilty party.
It was known that a man had been seen to leap from the San Jacinto bridge over Buffalo bayou into the water sixty feet below during the night previous. He was seen by only one man near 1 o'clock in the morning. Walter Shaw was missing and the conclusion was that he had done the deed and jumping into the bayou had ended his life. On the strength of these facts Sheriff Ellis purchased a number of dynamite cartridges and a lot of them exploded under the water in the locality indicated for the purpose of raising the body to ensure that it was or was not that of Walter Shaw or to be sure that a man had been drowned.

During these explosions the banks of the bayou were thronged with eager and earnest watchers. They remained there in the sun for hours feeling confident that the body would be raised and that they would see the body of the man who committed the awful deed.

Along in the afternoon a man appeared in the crowd and inquired what it all meant. Upon being told what they were trying to accomplish and that Walter Shaw was the man suspected he asked what time the man was seen to jump. On learning the hour he said it was not Shaw, because he had the night before seen him go to Galveston on the Santa Fe train leaving about 8 o'clock. He had gone with him to the train and was certain of it.

This stopped the dynamite explosions and Sheriff Ellis immediately wired Galveston instructions to arrest Shaw and that he would come down himself on the first train. The instructions were ample and when he arrived there, leaving on the 5 o'clock train, he found from Chief of Police Lordan that Shaw had been found about a saloon in an intoxicated condition, been arrested, and landed in the jug for being drunk.

In the meantime, the officers of the city who had not heard this were rustling in various directions to find Shaw or get some trace of him. Sheriff Ellis brought his prisoner up and landed him in jail.

The atrocity of the crime made many persons disbelievers in the guilt of the man, other believers, who thought the blackness of the dead was enough to prove that he was crazy, that a person who would do such a thing must be crazy and still others who thought that drink and depravity born of low associations, lost pride and principle and so warped his nature that he did it in anger at being refused money that they had and he wanted. This last is perhaps the most correct theory, two juries of his countrymen deciding that it was murder in the first degree and must be expiated by the extremest penalty imposed by the law - hanging.

Sheriff Ellis immediately brought his prisoner back from Galveston and landed him in jail here. He had a talk with him about the matter, in which Shaw admitted that he had done the deed. He at first pretended that he didn't know what he had been arrested for, but upon the sheriff telling him that he was seen to do it he admitted it. He was landed in jail Friday night and on Saturday was taken out to have a preliminary examination. The case was brought before Justice A. M. Gentry and was done very quietly in order to avoid the presence of a great crowd, as everybody seemed anxious to gaze at the monster who could be guilty of such an atrocity.

His Appearance In Court

He was brought from the jail to the courtroom by Sheriff Ellis and Deputies Parker and Anderson. When he came into the courtroom the first thing he did was to light a cigarette and begin smoking. He seemed to be much out of humor and talked silently all the time. As soon as things were quiet he began taking in a hurry to enter his plea of guilty, because he didn't think anybody else was mean enough to do it. Even after Judge Gentry had warned him against making a statement, as it would be used against him, he made it and said he was guilty.

The justice read the substance of the following warrant:

The state of Texas, Harris county, Before the undersigned justice of the peace on this day personally appeared George Ellis, who being first duly sworn on oath, says that one Walter E. Shaw in the county of Harris state of Texas, did, on or about March 31, 1892, and between the hours of ___ and ____ m., and previous to the filling of this complaint, commit a breach of the state laws by murder, to-wit; with expressed malice aforethought did kill and murder Mrs. Annie C. Shaw and Mrs. Isabella Johnson by cutting their throats with a razor, contrary to law and against the peace and dignity of the state.

George Ellis
Sworn to and subscribed to before me this the 1st day of April, A. D. 1892
A. M. Gentry, J. P.
He was remanded to jail without bail and on April 15, two weeks later, he was brought to trial on the charge of murder in the criminal district court. There was great difficulty in getting a jury on account of the strong prejudice against him. It was finally obtained and the taking of testimony began.

The courtroom was packed all the time as everybody appeared anxious to see the man who had killed his mother, and claimed that he wanted to be hanged. The court appointed his lawyers, and after the fight was over the jury retired, and in a very few minutes returned a verdict of murder in the first degree and assessed the punishment at death. On this jury were many of the best citizens in town.

A motion was argued later for a new trial on some technical omission in the proceedings and Judge Cavin granted it. The case at the October term was continued, but on December 8, 1892, it was tried, the same difficulty in getting a jury having again to be surmounted, but it was finally obtained and it was a fight to save his life in which he joined his lawyers, but not in their whole manner of making the battle. They wanted to make it insanity from the use of morphine and liquor, but he wanted it insanity, the result of insomnia.

On this trial he himself pleaded guilty but his lawyers did not. On the last trial he pleaded not guilty, claiming that he wanted to live on account of a woman whom he had wronged. He had changed his mind.

The courthouse was again packed during the entire time of the trial. He was found guilty by another jury of good men and his punishment was fixed at death. An appeal was then taken to the higher court. The papers were up there for some time, and on May 17, 1893, the verdict of the lower court was affirmed. After some days the mandate came back, and on June 23 Judge Cavin had him brought before the court for sentence. Upon being asked if he had anything to say why sentence should be not be passed upon him the prisoner made a long rambling talk, in which he said witnesses he wanted had not been procured and that lawyers had been appointed by the court he did not want to defend him, and that they had taken a line of defense he was utterly opposed to.

His talk didn't win, and the court appointed Friday, July 28, for his execution. After that time he was not as bitter generally as he had been, but he was almost as bitter against Sheriff Ellis and never let a chance pass to score him, making every effort to get utterance in the public prints.

W. E. Shaw was born on Galveston island in the old Tremont house which was kept all that time by Joshua Shaw, an uncle. He was 37 years of age; was graduated in the high schools of New Orleans when a little over 14 years of age. His aunt was teaching school there and his years of school life were the only ones spent out of Texas. His father died three months before he was born and he was reared by his widowed mother and her three sisters. Early in life he secured and satisfactorily held a position in the paymaster's department of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio railway company under W. H. Albertson. He was considered bright in a literary way, but he threw himself away several years ago, since which he has been worthless to himself and everyone.

The motive for the murder was to get money. The testimony showed that Mrs. Shaw or Mrs. Johnson had been paid $42 two or three days before the murder by Mr. E. C. Crawford and that Walter Shaw wanted the money. Upon then refusing to give it up he attempted to take it by force, and it resulted in death to them both. He had no money before the night he took the train for Galveston, but was seen with a good deal just before taking the train and when he paid his fare to the conductor.

He Sells His Body
In order to make his title good, and have the papers to show for it, dr. Geo. Lankford, who purchased the body of Walter E. Shaw, had the following official papers of conveyance and title drawn up, signed and attested:

State of Texas, county of Harris, this memorandum witnesseth that I. Walter E. Shaw for and in consideration of the sum of $35 to whom hand paid by Dr. George A. Lankford, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged do bargain and sell to the said Dr. Lankford my remains, which is to be delivered after my official execution by the sheriff of Harris county and I do hereby authorize and empower the said Dr. Lankford to demand and receive from the sheriff of Harris county my remains. The intention of this sale being in the interest of science and upon the condition that the said Dr. Lankford shall give to my remains, Christian and decent burial in the Glenwood Cemetery in the lot formerly own by Mrs. Isabella C. Johnson.

Witness my hand this 26th day of July, 1893

Walter E. Shaw

Witness: F. F. Crew, Jr., R. E. Sutton.

Dr. Raiford is to assist Dr. Lankford in the work of investigating Shaw's brain, etc., and on the subject the following conversation occurred:

"Doctor, have you interviewed Walter Shaw and what do you think of his sanity or insanity?"

I saw him twice in the presence of my medical confrer, Dr. Lankford, whom I am to assist in making post mortem investigation of Shaw's brain and visrera, and others interviewed him. I have never fromed or expressed an opinion of the doomed man's mental condition. If he hangs I will with pleasure give you and others any opinion after Dr. Lankford and I shall have finished our work in this, to us, intensely interesting case.

Do you believe Dr. raiford, that there are certain or special conditions of the brain of inebristes, or of whiskey mends - as Walter Shaw on trial, was proven to have been which bear upon their sanity or responsibility and if so, will you tell us something of such mental states?

I believe that alcoholic excesses often produce such conditions and to such an extinct that the victim becomes a physical, moral and mental wreck. In this state he may even keep up with tolerable success his business in life, though a moral paralytic with an intellectuality disturbed and while his moral and mental impression of duty, etc., are under going this degeneration his organic intellectual and bodily operations are not seriously any perceptibility impaired.

Will you please designate and describe these conditions?

There are many of them and to describe them would fill a book. Among them we reckon alcoholic somnambulism in which one's mind acts automatically and in which (trance state) the victim is as wholly irresponsible; (in fact, more so) as the sleep walker who is not suffering from the effects of alcoholic excess. Again we have diosomania, which is oftener periodic than otherwise; a state in which the desire for drink becomes maniacal and during its continuance the victim is not capacitated for sane thought or action and then we have alcoholic traumatism - general paralysis - and other special states of the brain of the inebriate, which bear pointedly on the sanity and responsibility. Again alcoholic excess is a veritable diagnosis to some brain troubles and renders their true nature occult till this poison is withheld. For instance -

But, doctor, what do you say as to the effects of alcoholic excess in the case of Walther Shaw?

I am not prepared to give you my opinion, but later on I will, as promised you a few moments ago.

This matter is creating considerable interest here as bearing upon a point upon which the whole matter turned.

Shaw gave his consent and his picture was taken, provided that it was to be used only for the press. He strictly forbade its sale as a photograph. Two or three persons called upon him today. On the subject of religion he said he did not believe in death bead repentance.

He had a fair appetite and looked to be in excellent health. (Dallas Morning News, August 5, 1893, page 1, transcribed by Peggy Thompson

JIM WILLIAMSON
FEUD OVER LAND
Jim Williamson Hanged for Murder as a Result of a Quarrel
Houston, Texas, June 25 - Jim Williamson a young man, was hanged today at Wharton for his complicity in the murder of the Crocker family last May. Williamson's nerve failed him at the last and it was necessary to twice inject strychnine into him in order to mount the scaffold. He declared his father, also indicted for the crime, was innocent. Williamson was pronounced dead by the attending physician three minutes after the drop fell, but upon being cut down was found to be alive. The body was hauled up and again sent through the drop and was allowed to hang 22 minutes. The first drop was very hurried, as the condemned man nearly fainted when the noose was adjusted.

The massacre of Crocker, his wife and 13 year old son, grew out of a feud over land. Crocker had previously been indicted for killing a member of the Williamson faction but had not been tried. On the evening of the murder, Crocker and his family were surrounded by six men in a neighbor's house. Seeing escape for himself was hopeless, he sent his wife out on the prairie and put his boy between mattresses. The murderers finally shot him many times, found the boy and killed him as he lay, then pursued the woman. A Winchester was placed to her head and her brains blown out. Another member of the gang is serving a life term. (Gazette-Telegraph, June 26, 1897, page 1, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)