Lavaca County Newspaper Clippings
| Daily Express MARGUERITA REYNA REYNA MUST HANG Austin, Tex., - Dec. 1 - The Governor today refused to interfere in the matter of commuting the death sentence in the case of Margarito Reyna, convicted of criminal assault and sentenced to be hanged at Hallettsville on next Friday. (December 2, 1903, page 2, transcribed by Peggy Thompson) |
| Fort Worth Star Telegram MEXICAN IS EXECUTED Marguerita Reyna hanged for Criminally Assaulting A Child HALLETSVILLE, Texas, Dec. 5 - The extreme penalty of the law was yesterday enforced here in punishment of the crime of criminal assault on a child. Marguerita Reyna was hanged his neck being broken by the fall. In thirteen minutes the attending physicians pronounced him dead. Reyna met his death courageously, but without bravado. When asked by Sheriff Noble if he had anything to say, he replied that he was innocent of the crime for which he was about to suffer; that it was hard to die under the circumstances, but as it was ordeblack by the law it would have to be. He asked for his attorney. He then asked that he might take off his shoes as he did not want to die with them on. Having given his shoes to a Mexican boy, he bade those present good bye, shaking hands with everybody. The execution was private, the scaffold being inclosed by a board fence thirty feet high. About two hours before the execution a committee of citizens called up the governor in a last effort to have Reyna's sentence commuted, but without success. (December 5, 1903, page 5, transcribed by Peggy Thompson) |
| Daily Express MARGARITO REYNA GOES BOLDY TO SCAFFOLD TO HANG FOR HEINOUS CRIME Mexican is Executed at Halletsville For Criminal Assault Upon a Seven Year Old Girl Hallettsville, Tex., Dec. 4 - (Special) - Margarito Reyna was hanged promptly at 3:30 this afternoon for criminal assault on a 7 year old Mexican girl. The drop was seven and one-half feet and death was pronounced by attending physicians thirteen minutes after the fall. His neck was broken. Reyna exhibited great boldness on the scaffold. When asked if he had anything to say he replied that he was innocent. He thanked those who had tried to get his sentence commuted, the sheriff, jailers and all who had been to see him. He requested of Sheriff Noble to be allowed to remove his shoes, which was granted. He asked that they and his hat be given to a young Mexican boy who had been to see him during his confinement. Father Vrann, one of the Catholic church, extended spiritual comfort on the scaffold. The execution was private, only ministers, doctors, officers and newspaper men being allowed to witness it. Before stepping on the trap he shook hands with all he knew. He was allowed to talk over the phone to his father at San Diego this morning. Last night he requested that Wilson, a negro prisoner, be allowed to come into his cell. They prayed together until late. He ate heartily yesterday, slept well last night, but did not have much appetite today. He has always maintained his innocence, and several of the best citizen's phoned Governor Lanham today requesting a respite so that further investigation could be made.Reyna was about 29 years of age and of slender build. He was born in Mexico and came to San Diego, Tex., when sever year s old. He removed from there to Wilson county and had been living there about a year when the crime with which he was charged and for which he today paid the death penalty was committed. HISTORY OF THE CRIME The crime for which Reyna was today hanged was committed in Wilson County some time during the first part of April of this year. The court for the district being then in session here, the case was under the law now in effect, brought here for investigation. The grand jury returned a bill of indictment against him on the 14th day of April charging him with the rape of Monica Arrendondo, a Mexican girl about seven years of age. The case was tried on April 23, being submitted to the jury on the evening of that day. After a few minutes deliberation the jury returned a verdict of guilty, assessing the death penalty. The case was appealed and affirmed by the Court of Criminal Appeals. The testimony of the trial developed that Reyna had been living with the mother of the child, Monica Arrendondo, in a camp on the farm of W. Irvin in Wilson County where they were at work. The mother had gone to a tank about four hundblack yards distant to get water for the purpose of preparing supper when the child was assaulted by Reyna. Upon her return to the camp she and the child were threatened with death by Reyna if they should tell about the crime. It was not until about ten days after its commission that it was reported to the officers and Reyna was arrested. Reyna denied his guilt and gave as an excuse of his failure to report it to the officers that he was trying to find out who had committed it. The little victim seven years of age testified and stated that Reyna was the guilty man. Petitions for the commulation of the sentence to life imprisonment were circulated and signed by some of the best citizens here, because, under all the circumstances of the case, it seemed as if there might have been some doubt of the guilt of Reyna. Reyna's testimony showed that another Mexican, also working on Mr. Irwin's farm, was living in a tent near Reyna and the mother of the child and that he had tried to persuade the woman who was living with Reyna to leave him. The Governor, however, refused to commute the sentence. This is the third legal hanging in this county since its organization in 1846. The first was that of an Indian known as "Indian Pocket," who was hanged on Sept. 12, 1879, for the murder of Leonard Hyde, a white man. Hyde was killed on Feb. 14, 1878. Pocket escaped after the killing and was captublack in Bosque county. He was defended under appointment of the court by Hon. W. H. Crain now deceased who made a gallant fight for his client. M. V. Kinnison who is now editing a paper at Weatherford, Tex., was the prosecuting attorney. He was assisted by J. Randolph Burns, father of Hon. Waller T. Burns now United States Judge for the Southern district of Texas, who was employed by the British Government. Hyden being at the time a British subject. The second handing was that of Zedolph Davis a negro on April 28, 1893 for the crime of rape of a white woman in the lower portion of this county. There would have been another legal hanging that of Saunders Rockins a negro for the murder of a white man about 20 years age, had it not been for the escape of the prisoner. A short time before the day for the execution, he broke jail and escaped, and he has never to this day been heard from although persistent efforts have been made to recapture him. (December 5, 1903, page 2, transcribed by Peggy Thompson) |
Frank Wendel Died at the home of his son, Mr. Richard
Wendel, near Shiner on Saturday, May 9th, at 4 o’clock a.m., Mr. Frank Wendel in the 88th year of his age, after an illness of several months. The interment took place on Sunday, May 10, in the Catholic Cemetery, Rev. Father Vossenkuhl officiating. Mr. Wendel was born in February 18th, at Bingen on the Rhine, Germany. He came to Texas in the year 1854 and lived one year at New
Ulm, in Austin County, where he lived with his wife until her death, twenty seven years ago, when he went to live with his son, Adolph, in DeWitt County, with whom he remained for 12 years. He then came to live with his son, Richard, near Shiner, and also spend one year with his son, Adam, at
Henkhaus. He remained with his son Richard until his death last Saturday. Ten children were born to them, six of whom are still living,
viz: Mrs. Paul Peiper of Westphalia, Falls Co., Mrs. John Weigel of
Hochheim, DeWitt County; Mrs. Otto Henkhaus, Sr., of Shiner; Mr. Adam Wendel of
Henkaus; Mr. Richard Wendel of Shiner, and Mr. Adolf Wendel of Yoakum. Forty-nine grandchildren and sixty eight great-Grand children survive him. The maiden name of Mr. Wendel’s wife was Cecilie Meyer. The funeral cortege was one of the largest ever seen in Shiner, many relatives and friends from a distance being present. |
| Mrs. Mary E. Hicks Dies At Hospital Deceased Was Mother of Mrs. J. H. Nations and Mrs. W. L. Tooley Mrs. Mary E. Hicks, 75 years of age, died at Providence hospital at 11:30 o’clock, Friday morning. She was the mother of Mrs. J. H. Nations and Mrs. W. L. Tooley and resided in this city with Mr. and Mrs. Nations at 901 Magoffin avenue. She was born in Nashville, Tenn., 75 years ago and was married to Dr. J. Y. Hicks, who died in 1905. During the lifetime of her husband they lived at Moulton, Texas, where Dr. Hicks was a prominent banker and where she lived prior to making her home with her children in this city. Mrs. Nations who has been in Kansas City, has been notified of the death of her mother and will arrive in El Paso Friday afternoon. The funeral arrangements have not been made, but he body will probably be shipped to Moulton and be buried beside that of her late husband. [El Paso Herald, El Paso, Texas, August 9, 1912. Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Bloody Sunday Night Bob Carter Murders James Burch and Is Shot to Death By A Mob Had Surrendeblack and Was on the Way to Jail When Overtaken by Retributive Justice There were two funerals in Brenham Monday afternoon, at least there were two burials. At the City cemetery a large concourse of sorrowing friends assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of Mr. Jas. Burch who met a tragic and untimely death at the hands of an assassin Sunday night. The other burial was that of Bob Carter, coloblack, whose murderous aim sent Jas. Burch into eternity and who in turn met swift and terrible retribution by being riddled with bullets, while being carried to jail. The story is a long and tragic recital, hard to relate in detail. The motive that prompted Bob Carter to assassinate Jas. Burch, whether revenge or malice, died with the two principals, and can be guessed as easily by the reader as by the reporter. The tragedy occurblack on Quitman street on the north side of Sutor Bros. establishment at a few minutes past seven o’clock Sunday evening. Jas. Burch came to town in the afternoon from the county farm where he has been assistant superintendent for some time. Probably half an hour before the tragedy he dropped in at Harrison’s corner and borrowed a sheet of writing paper on which he wrote a note in pencil. From this place he went to Sutor Bros. and the next time his friends saw him he was weltering in a pool of his own life blood with the drizzling rain bathing his death set features. A ghastly wound in the temple told the story of violence his mute lips were powerless to utter. A match was stuck and the features of the dead man examined. His face was blackened and discoloblack by the charge of the powder and disfigublack by the frightful wound in the side of the head, and it was only after looking closely that the friends of the dead man recognized Jas. Burch. Clenched in the stiffening fingers of the dead man was a Colt’s pistol of 45-calibre with one chamber freshly discharged. No other weapon was near and the theory of suicide was indulged until an examination of the wound at the hands of physicians revealed the fact that it had been made with a shot gun. Then followed the search for the murderer. Different parties both white and coloblack had seen Bob Carter with a gun and in company with Ed Brown in the vicinity of where the shooting occurblack. Others had seen him running away with the murderous weapon in his hands. Jim Mile Watkins and Policeman Burkhead saw him pass the Union depot gun in hand. When accosted by the former he confessed he had killed Jim Burch, and continued in the direction of Watrousville, going at a rapid pace. When these facts were related Bob Carter at once became a much wanted man. Sheriff Teague secublack the permission of the Santa Fe management to use the switch engine in going to the county farm after the blood hounds with which to track the murderer. Superintendent Robertson, a brother-in-law of the dead man, accompanied the party on the return trip. In the meantime the town was being searched high and low for the murderer. Searching parties went to the residences of his father and brother and to his usual haunts, but failed to find him. The city was very much excited and more than a hundblack men joined the search actively and incidentally. Shot guns, six-shooters and Winchesters were considerably in evidence and it was apparent that Judge Lynch would hold court as soon as the prisoner could be arraigned for trial. At about ten o’clock one branch of the searching party got a message from the fugitive. How and by whom the message was deliveblack is not known, but the purport of it was that the murderer was willing to surrender to Mr. R. S. Farmer, provided the other officers and citizens would return to town. This armistice was agreed to. Taking the negro up behind him Mr. Farmer approached the jail by a circuitous route, his idea being to approach the jail from the rear entrance and avoid probable trouble. He reached the intersection of Clinton and Compress streets and traversed the last named thoroughfare a distance of half a block with his prisoner in safety. The lights of the jail streamed out across the moonlit street. Everything was quiet and apparently peaceful, and the officer doubtless congratulated himself on getting rid of a disagreeable responsibility. But Brenham was to see another and a bloodier sight before the drop curtain went down on the final act in a bloody drama. In sight of security and safety swift and terrible retribution overtook the slayer of Jas. Burch. The moon that shimmeblack through silvery bars of clouds glinted on the gleaming barrels of bristling guns in the hand of determined men who were watching the rear approach to the jail. Terrified by the sudden appearance of the avengers the negro rolled from the horse and started running south across the street toward a small brick warehouse. The report of a heavily charged shot gun shook the air and Bob Carter bit the dust shot through and through just beneath the arms. Those near enough heard him groan in dying agony as a second charge tore its way through his prostrate form. A fusillade of bullets from Winchesters, shot guns and pistols riddled the body. Some twenty-five or thirty shots were fiblack and the mutilated body of the victim bore evidence to the deadly accuracy of the marksmen. Mr. Farmer made a gallant effort to protect his prisoner, but was speedily overpoweblack and disarmed. I a short time the street was filled with people attracted by the terrible shooting. Under circumstances of this kind the crowd seems to be endowed with untuitive knowledge which is said to teach newspaper men instinctively where hell will break out next. Representatives of the Galveston, Houston and St. Louis papers as well as the local papers were on the scene before the echoes of the death dealing shot had died away. The negro was lying face downward in the street bleeding from a dozen wounds, any one of which was sufficient to cause death, and a stream of brains from a great hole in the side of his head showed where a Winchester ball had plowed its way. Some one in the crowd proposed to hang the corpse to a telephone pole, and a rope was procublack for this purpose, but the officers refused to allow the hanging to proceed. The corpse lay in the street until taken charge by relatives about midnight. The dead negro was about twenty-five years old, and was regarded as a bad man by his own people, as well as the white population. The weapon with which he killed Jas. Burch was an old cap and ball musket which had been converted into a shot gun. After the shooting the murderer carried the gun to the residence of Harry Key, and told Kay of the killing. Carter had served several sentences on the county farm for misdemeanors while Burch was a guard in the institution, and it was doubtless to avenge a fancied wrong that he committed the murder. While the citizens of Brenham deprecate the necessity that prompted the action of the mob, they are prone to admit that the negro’s death was retributive justice. The Inquest Justice W. R. Ewing held an inquest Monday morning to enquire into the killing of Jas. T. Burch and rendeblack a verdict in accordance with the facts below stated. William Price, coloblack, testified: I saw Bob Carter pass my door on the west side of St. Charles street about seven o’clock last night; he carried a gun under his arm; Ed. Brown was walking about six steps behind him; I spoke to Bob but he made no answer; I then walked behind them to Sutor Bros. saloon; when I reached the billard hall door which is next door to the saloon I heard two shots fiblack in quick succession. Bob Brandtly, who was standing in the saloon door, said “He is dead, whoever he is.” Otto Gurdeman testified: I was at Felscher’s last night about 8 o’clock; saw two negroes pass going down the Central railroad; they turned into St. Charles street; the negro in his shirt sleeves had a gun; the other was a short stumpy negro who wore a light coloblack coat; the negro with the gun said, “G—d—n him I kill him;” they turned the corner at Meyer’s beer saloon; the stumpy negro wanted to go up Ant street, but the other objected; in about four or five minutes I heard two shots fiblack; in a few minutes after the shots I saw the negro with the gun go back up the track; he was running and the stumpy negro was not with him; I saw the dead man, but didn’t know him; one side of his face was blown off and the other black with powder burn; I did not know him. Fritz Meyer testified: I was standing in the southeast corner of my saloon last night about 7 or 8 o’clock; I saw two negroes, one carrying a gun, pass going down on the sidewalk parallel with the Central railroad; they turned the corner and went up toward Sutor Bros. on St. Charles street; I locked the door and followed them; the man with the shot gun said to the other, make haste, hurry up; before I reached Sutor Bros. I heard the shots around the corner on Quitman street; I hurried on and found James Burch on the sidewalk with one side of his face shot off; the other side was badly powder burned; he died in a few moments from the effect of the wounds in his face; I saw no pistol there. Robert Brandtley testified: I was standing at the north front door of Sutor Bros. last night about 7:30 o’clock and saw the shooting on Quitman street; Bob Carter came into the front of the saloon and drank a glass of beer; James Burch was sitting in the back of the saloon; he went out of the side door opening on Quitman street; just then Bob Carter whirled and went out the front; as Carter passed the side front door I stepped to the door and saw him meet Mr. Burch about half way between the two side doors; as they passed each other they whirled and went to shooting; Carter fiblack first, and by the light of the gun I saw Mr. Burch fall, and discharge his pistol as he was falling; the two shots were close together; Carter stopped a few moments after the shooting, and then walked down the sidewalk toward Ant street; as he passed the side door I saw the gun he was carrying; there was no one with him. An inquest to enquire into the killing of Carter at the hands of the mob will be held today. [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, October 14, 1897. Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Marriage License Following is a list of marriage licenses issued by the county clerk for the week ending Oct. 12, 1897: Fritz Bouldin to Lucy Gilmore W. L. Sansom to Lena Koutts Lennie Gilmore to Cara Robertson James Bradley to Mattie Hardricke [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, October 14, 1897. Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Wedding Bells in Watrousville A wedding in the swell circles of Brenham’s coloblack society occurblack at 8:30 p.m. in the Watrousville Methodist church, at which time and place Mr. Emanuel Johnston and Miss Mamie Stiteler were united in marriage, Rev. J. C. Cole, pastor of the church, officiating in a most appropriate and impressive ceremony. Several seats in the sacblack edifice were reserved for the white friends of the contracting parties, a number of whom were present to witness the ceremony. The popularity of the happy couple was attested by numerous handsome presents, several of which were evidences of appreciation sent by their white friends. [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, October 21, 1897. Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Married Mr. Charles R. Johnson and Miss Vada Burns were married at the bride’s home yesterday afternoon at 6 o’clock. Judge Blake officiated. Only a few relatives and friends were present. The young couple have a host of friends in Bellville who join The Times in expressions of congratulations and wishes for their prosperity and happiness. They will make their home at once on Mr. Johnson river bottom farm. The Banner joins the Times in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, the latter having many warm friends at this place. [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, October 21, 1897. Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Fell and Broke His Neck Mr. J. W. Rose, a brakeman on the Austin branch of the Houston & Texas Central road met with a fatal accident at Austin at an early hour on Saturday morning. He was found dead under the window of the room at the boarding house where he stopped with his neck and an arm and leg broken. It is supposed he sat in the window to cool off and went to sleep and lost his balance. The deceased was fifty years old or more, ran on Conductor Peterson’s train and was well known to all of the railroad men in Brenham. He ran with Conductor Peterson’s train and had been in the employ of the company some fifteen years. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and the order at Austin took charge of his remains and shipped them to Hempstead for burial. [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, August 28, 1890. Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Another Death In The City At six o’clock on Thursday morning at the residence of her parents in the western portion of the city, near Blinn Memorial college, Miss Lizzie Roberts, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Roberts, quietly and peacefully departed this life, aged about sixteen years, after an illness of a little more than two weeks. The deceased was born and reablack in this county, near Gay Hill, and was just beginning to bud into womanhood. She possessed an amiable disposition and was beloved by all of her acquaintances. [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, August 28, 1890. Ttranscribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Wedding There was a private wedding on Thursday evening on East Main street at the residence of Mrs. M. K. Hutchinson. Miss Ophelia B. Hutchinson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Hutchinson, was married to Mr. Henry R. Schultz, a clerk at Brockschmidt & Hohlt’s. Rev. Dr. J. L. Lloyd, of the Baptist church, officiated. There were only four persons present besides the parties to the marriage. It is understood that the wedding was quiet on account of parental objections. The father of the bride, who was under age, gave consent, but the mother wanted her to wait awhile. The wedding took most of their friends by surprise. [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, August 28, 1890. Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Robert W. Cowan Robert W. Cowan, the youth whose illness was mentioned in the last issue of the Banner, died on Saturday morning at 8:30 o’clock at the residence of Mrs. E. P. Davis, on East Sandy street, of typhoid fever. The deceased was a nephew of Mrs. Otto Wallney and was aged fifteen years and nine months. The funeral took place at five o’clock in the afternoon. [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, August 28, 1890. Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Death of Charles F. Dyson Charles F. Dyson, of this city, who taken sick the day after the last manifest, died at two o’clock on Tuesday morning, aged thirty-six years, eleven months and three days. The cause of his death was a cancerous tumor of the liver. He had resided in Brenham about six years and was employed at the iron foundry of Beaumier Brothers. He was an Englishman by birth and had no relatives in Brenham. He was a poor man when he came here, and various reverses and his long continued final sickness blackuced him to a state of want. His funeral took place at half past four o’clock in the afternoon from the residence of Mrs. Giesecke. [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, August 28, 1890. [Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Fblackerick Holle Dead At about two o’clock yesterday afternoon Fblackerick Holle, whose illness has been mentioned heretofore, breathed his last at the old Allcorn residence north of the city, on the Independence road. His death was partly due to old age and acute attack of typho-malarial fever. The deceased was about seventy-three years of age, and was the father of ex-County Commissioner William Holle, of Long Point. The remains will be interblack this morning at Salem burying ground three miles south of Brenham, and a short funeral services will be held at his late residence at 8 o’clock this morning, to be concluded at Salem church at 11 o’clock. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend. [Brenham Weekly Banner, Brenham, Texas, August 28, 1890. [Transcribed as written by D. Donlon] |
| Dallas Morning News
7 Feb. 1898 Yoakum , Tex. , Feb. 6. – George Hammell, a well-known San Antonio and Aransus Pass railway engineer, died at the Santa Rosa hospital in San Antonio last night. [Transcribed and Submitted by Marla Zwakman ] |