Document text
Gauthier, sholdon r,
}tangelos.*
Tarrant Co.„Iliot./V
rage fl
PEG
Tom J. Mow, 74„ living at 1704 ay st.„
Fort Worth, Tex', was be/sues. 15,186$,
in Cleburne sostAls•,, on a tarn owned by
his talker, rohosmems Sr. Its father, Inc
served in this Confederate Army during the
Civil -War, died five years after the war
terminated, when young Tom was only seven
yearn old. Tom Deneneolit a natural ability
for handling and 4ding horses and at the
age of 16 was able to ride almost any horse.
He was so proficient that hp was able to earn
his livelihood breaking. wild as branches
which Wale IthiPPOI late Ala. ,for sale. Ton
cams to Port Werth, TOz4), in 18811, where be
has sine, oantimmed to reetlie, with the outer-
tion of 18 months he worked on a ranch. His
first job in Texas was temilastare His next
job was on a settle rasa mood by. 'awls Hanter•
After termination of his work on the remelt, Tom
Weems employed as a pollee of continuing
in this profession ever sines. At the present
time (1938) he is a Tarrant coo. Deputy Sheriff•
His stoat
I was born in Cleburne ood,,Alsii, mem, 15,1063. Mv father,
TwiLosnow, sr., owned a plantation sevi was ono of the prosperous
citizens of the county before the Civil ',Are Mb entered the
Confederate Amp. the sem)* ibps of the war and served until the
war terminated. Father, like many other Southern nen, was in
destitute eireumstanoes when the war ended.
"Father died fiv., ,are after he returned from the ar4r.
His death **used the family to separate and it was not lone until
I Was on ay own resources*
"1 possessed a natural ability to ride a horse. during 4Y
'teen years I did a great amount of riding, and hat learned to
handle any horse or mole. I had learned haw to slay in the midi,
with a 'Wishing horse.
Gauthier, aheldon P.
Mangalore
Tarrant Oce,DIstoil
Page 12
no
"At the time I,went on ar ass, a groat mar of the wild
Tomas brenehos were shipped into. Ala. and Miss*, and sold- for
saddle horses, In those days, saddle horses wars used extensively.
Because of mr ability as a rider and in handling:horses, I was in
demand as a horse wrangler. I devoted five years to the business
of breaking the wild critters andHreeelved 0500 a head for the
work.
"I trained the horses for saddle work. If the buyer wished
to train the animal to be driven bibbed to a vehiole, the animal
wee reedy for further training by the buyer,
"liter devoting five years to wrangling ,bronehos to earn qy
livelihood, I than got the idea of going to Texas. I arrived in
tort worth in li$8, and Fort worth hes been my home ever sines that
date.
"I did not engage in range work when I. first arrived in Texas.
first work was bar tending for lianith, who operated saloon,
in the eorner-of Fifth in Ste and followed working for several
otherselo.on nen.
"At the tins I worked as a bartender, tort Worth was a pure
eowtown, Cowboys and ranehers, by the severe, visited Fort Worth,
-bent on business mind plesSurea
'rrgy experienoe beeLof the bar, while waiting on the eowboys
and re:Where, was interesting and enjoyable. For one to be suc-
cessful as fideiler with the eowbends, it was neeessery to take
the follows as they presented themselves,. However, one °mild always
depend on the oownen playing fair._
"I reeolleet zany ineidents whisk illustrates the rough,
Gauthier, sholdon Fe
Rangelore
Tarrant Co.
rage f3
humorous, but fair oharaoteristios of the men who lived on the
range. To present some idea of the things I aparionoed, I shall
tell of some inoidents wkieh took plass.
None morning five waddies walked into the saloon and sailed
for a 'frosty eoektall'. This partioular drink was in great
favor at the time and was among the expensive drinks. I mixed
the five drinks and set the cocktails on the bar. The boys drank
with great relish, and oonmended me on my ability as a mixer of
the 000ktaile 4hen they had finished drinking, one of the per*
asked as if I had any chalk. I had an abundent supply of chalk,
because we opersted a few denino tables and ohalk was used by the
players to nark their sears. Naturally, I informed the basic, the
effeet that I had a large supply.
"'When the question was asked, I =Used each of the boys
put a hand on his six.gun. Also, I saw .a flickering smile on the
lips of seek. 4.11, when I told the boys we had a large supply
of dial*, the spokesman asked:
"'What is the bad neon on the cocktails?"
"'Just a dollar two.bite, I replied.
"'mighty fair, Mr, bartender', the fellow oolcmortod•trfou
take ,sons of the chalk ad nark the shares on the seat of your
pants. .141111 We bag* and kick the narks off after a spell of
tine'. with this statement made, the party walked out of tho
saloon.
"I was oertain the boys would be bask, but Gould not anti-
eipate their next move. I put a ekalk nark reading 'flab' on
the seat of mor pants. I reasoned that the bets might refuse to
sr* Sheldon Y. 14141 14
Si.
Capiet.17 YEC
-pay if they (would not see the °hero as ordered* but was somem
ibal.disturbed.about.whet might take plass to remove the marks
after they did pay the Wargo. However* I was determined to be
giume.
"The waddles returned within the hour, and as soon as they
Ontered the bar I turned and Showed the *barge on the at of
MY pants. well, my set took then off their feet, and perhaps
!Nevi as from being the object of some rough fan.
"One of the party ordered another frosty coated. when the
had been mixed and drank* one of the waddles throe a 010.00
pion on the bar. I started to give the fellow his °hang.,
but he refused to ascot the money, saying, 'fellow you beat us
40 the finish. You hold 'Sr. and we'll be beak, now and then, to
mpend what's loft of the. old
"I soon learned to play with the eowhands instead of opposing
them. By taking their puns and jokes in a spbrit .of good nature,
One nave: nsedsdi to.2.er of being treated unjustly.
"Soma of the eowhandsv 2avorite sport was to shoot rlt ths
lights of an establishment, or start shouting suddenly near a
AMON' of people. They enjoyed watehing the seared folks -running
sway from the shooting. Also, the boys enjoyed feinting a gun
battle, with someone between them.
"One night there was a stranger in the bar who had indulged
in the oup that sheers slightly too meek" Re was a soosiable
fallow and had invited a eouple of waddles to join him in taking
Aminh6 The waddles reelproested by buying a drink* but when
same to pay for their order they bowie involVed in an argument
Oauthier„ Sheldon FO Page 15
Rangelore
Tarrant Co.,Dist.f7
over whioh one should do the paying. The waddles didn't waste
many words, but started to shoot with the stranger in line of
their fire. The stranger attempted to miew out from between the
two men, but the waddles maneuvered to beep the fellow in the line
of fire. There was some fast stepping and dodging for a minute
and then, either from exhaustion or an idea, the stranger dropped
to the floor.
The stranger was as white as an Easter lily and perspiring
profusely. The shooting stopped when the stranger Liopped to the
floor. The seems then changed to the (trout induling in more re-
freshments, paid for by the stranger.
"Having our lights shot out was an expeeted event any has
a party of waddles arrived at the singing stage. I shall relate
one inoident when the lights were shot out in our plum and there
happened to be an asterner who knew we had a eouple of 44's under
the bar, bemuse I had shown the guns to him while dismissing some
of tile Prolamin at condusting a saloon.
"The party of waddles were happy, as usual when something is
pulled, and suddenly shooting started and the lights wont out. It
was only a seeond after the shooting started till I felt someone's
hand brash agaignt as. It was the Sasterner, who had Jumped the
bar and was looking for yhe guns. Kis intention was to get busy
with a gun on the waddles. If the fellow had not brushed against
me, or had found tine of the guns, he may have caused some fun
not intended by the other players.
"One night a party of commercial travelers were standing in
front of the 1t.tropolitan hotel and engaged in oonversation. A.
Gauthier, 3helden 7.
Rangelore
Tarrant Co.,Dist•il
Pegs
TiriO
party of waddles sane walking ;est the hotel and saw the travelers
in earnest oonvereation. The waddles feinted a gun battle with
the travelers in line of fire. It is needless for me to Oslo
how fast those travelers aeattered.
"I tended, bar four years, then aeeepted a job on the rand'
operated by Lewis aster. The ranch was looated about 18 miles
west of Tort Worth.
"Manlier did the foreman's work himself and ranged about 3,000
head of cattle under the brand of 118,. The range consisted of
about two motions of land, all under fence.
"Situated in the adjesent territory were the wootents, Oorn's,
Scott's and Ilk Daggettle ranches. Deggett's range was the largest
of all the ranches in this seetion and included all the territoW
northwest of Tort worth for a distanee of about £0 miles. Daggett
owned a large number of sores in and around. Fort worth. He do.
nated a part of a 300 acre tree* of land to the T. P. railroad
on whist% to tuilt their yards, depot, and other buildings, when the
road ems to Fort north.
"At the Ranter ranch, there was an an average of six cowboys
employed. die lived in a ranch house and, during lir day on the
range, the boys slept inside practically every night. of course,
farther west the open retie° etill existed and the waddles were
compelled to live in the open a greet deal. Due to the fens*, our
work did not require us to do night riding, because the fenee held
the settle. One man did might work and he was kept to wateh.oter
the herd. 'Our chief ooneern yes the cattle thieves.
"One man was employed to ride the feriae line emit day. His
usuthior, Sheldon F.
Rangelore
Tarrant uo*,Dist*I7
Page fl
FIX
duty was to repair all minor breaks. Ma carried a hammer* pliers,
and staples, in his saddlebag* *en he found a laaaa wiraor a
broken (meths would repair it. All major breaks* sueh as broken
posts and breaks of that natal.** he would report to the repair
crew, at the same time giving location of same las repair craw
consisted of two =sand tug would drive tne repair wagon to
the loostion and make the repairs*
"Besides watching the tones, our work ()anointed la attending
to the injured critters, Gutting out *east orators and driving
the sale herd to the Fort 4orth market* We had no roundup to maks,
el:oopt to round up the ranch's hoed within the fence, for the pars
pose of branding and marking the onivon in the spring, also to
oount the herd*
"Ranter mead from 75 to IOC h. -Imes, in additIvA to the herd
of cattle* mr time was devoted to attending to the horse herd*
4), job was watching aba horse herd and doing the wrangling* I was
the wrangler of the outfit and entitled with being among the best
of wranglers in this section of the range*
"A horse which I could not ride had to be a snake -blood.
Snake -blood was the term applied to an animal *gob soul* not be
ridden or driven* TM fe,v le, sada animal is mentally ubmid.i..sal
by nature*
"1 met a few of the snake -bloods baOk in Ala** which (Dame off
of the Taxes range; but while working for Muter, I was luaky in
not having to deal with a single smake..blood4
"A snake.blood will busk until it is tuckered out and will
then lay down* The balky mato, among the work iliMaln 10 0
Gauthier, Sheldon F. Page #4
Rangelore
Tarrant FEO
ocunter.part of the snake -blood saddle stook* All horsemen know'
it is useless to whip a balky horse. One has to wait until the
animal changes its mind. The only differenoe between a balky horse
and a anake.blood is that the snake -blood will not.dhangs its mind.
"One of the favorite ULU' of the cowhand Was to put a
greener on a buoking horse and tell the fellow the animal was a
good saddle.
"All the waddles at Hunter's ranok knew me beoause I had
waited on them ehile tendirv; bar Tt'the Various saloons. Thers.
fore, the boys were going to give me an extra treat. The morning
I reported for duty, Lewis Hunter pointed out a critter for me to
use as my mount. I Gould tell the way the oritter 'hayed back its
ears, it was no reeking chair. I put the saddle on the animals
beak and mounted. The horse gave me something to do besides chew.
trig my wax, but I was in no danger at any time. I soon convinced
the optimal it could not put me on the ground. I surprised the
boys and oonvinood then I was a real rawhide, instead of a bar.
tender.
"I worked 18 months for the Hunter outfit and then came back
to Fort Worth* I engaged in Irw enforcement work thereafter. I
have been a polieeman, detective or deputy sheriff ever sines.
"Ai a law endorsing ()Meer, I have dealt with many cowmen
while they were in town on pleasure bent. Very few cowhands Paused
undue trouble* The:, were rough, but did not desire to injure
anybody.
"ite knew how to handle the comma and, during the late 8010
and early 901s, we looked upon noise as harmless* Also we 414 net
Gauthier, Sheldon rf. Page /9
PAngelore'
Tarrant Oeit•Dist./7 FW
noleat the boys if they wanted to shoot the lights out, or prac-
tice shouting using the glass on the back bar as their target,
because we knew that the damaged property would be paid for. How.
ever, we insisted that they not injure anybody.
le would run into a hybrid eowhand oompionally. list I
mean is one who wanted to be tough bemuse he thought toughness
mes one of the ingredients that went into the waddy's makeup.
"I recollect one hybrid who ease under my 'Marge while I was
guarding* county road gang of Wieners. HA repeated continually
that he was tough, a cowhand, and would not work at anything else.
Hs *any tines repeated the following:
"I'm from Bitter Root Greek where folks are tough. The
farther up the creak you go the tougher they get and I come from
the last shack at the far end of the creak'
"Alen arrived at the camp with the hybrid, I showed him a
piek and shovel to 4andls„ and then hi went to pitching. picked
up a chain and hit a negro over the head, beoause the eolored fellow
brought the working tools.
"It was neoessary to tame the boy, so I had four men hold the
World While I apnlied a strap on his seat, ,,ith the third wallop
he let en* a yell, 'I'll be good, I'll work'.
"The fellow knew how to awing a piok and handle a shovel as if
he'd been on 410 work before. He did his bit daring the entire
time he was et‘the camp. The day he was released I brought him
back to town, and when we parted he thanked me for teaching him a
lesson:
"DuriAg. py tine, we in this section only had one or two
Gauthier. aheldon F. Page #10
Rangolore
Torrent Coeopiota, FPI;
real tough cattle rustlers to deal with. Romer, we were
called upon many time to apprehend settle thieves. In tacit, the
oell to esteh settle rustlers has been, and is now, more or less
regal era
s I first beams eenneeted with law satoreument, I was
Gelled ea to estoh a rustler Whe wee setting Jim Corats settle.
It as in the early 9012 and Jim was losing cattle off his ram&
regularly. Off Leer's were trying to *stab the rustier, for emmerel
months, hut had failed to witch the culprit. Corn finally Of
tired a 0800.00 reward for the capture of the thief. Corn was
foroed tu du somethilmrbessuse. an he said, /they will have no
broke very soon uSlese the steeling is stopped,.
"Uornts foreman was a ame named Mitehell and a fellow with
good reputation for being* depenio1115 fellow. knew &Utensil
to be a straight fellow, so celled on him for help. Hs agreed to
follow my instruotions about watching the identifying marks, eueh
es shape of horns, eolor and sloe of emitters, a* they diseppeareds
and report to me. The brand eolld not be wholly dependa apes',
because it could be Mitehell reported as he agreed.
"The stealing contineed for some time after WI arrangeaont
with Mitehell. use morning he reported a large own stolen. The
following day a negro earns with some letters. He said the letters
had dropped out of the pocket of his boss's seat while they were
skinning a big eow. lbe neves trouble was his boss had failed
to Pay him. I questioned the oolored fellow and learned the cattle
had bees hauled from Corn's ranch, and always loaded after midnigl*
Gauthier, Sheldon Page 112
Range lore
Tarrant Go*,Diet*17 rA;
"I called at tne ranch and the boys readily toll ms what
had iittpl4elleds
"lhe lIngliahman milled at the ran& while on a trip looking
over the territory* The Anglisimmus was dressed in a stiff front
white shirt, elaw.hammer coat, patent -leather shoes and a high
silk hat* Us also wore annoole* Well, to the echniand, the
party was a euriosity worth a *borough examination* t o make
oertain their euriosity would not get away before all hands had
an opportunity to ssoul.inine it properly, the boys pt the fellow
in the snubbing pen, which was built froja upright poles set Close
in the ground and was about seven feet high.*
"s boys guarded their yonder of wonders until all heeds
had looked the objeot OVor seveval times* Finally, the Anglish•
man was turned loose and he ammo straight to teenoledging his
complaint*
'1'1 made gy reprt to Gennalley and he took the matter up
with the dude* U8 oonvinaed the fellow that the matter had better
be dropped* Of eoureell the Chief Anew it was ono of the cowboys,
jokes and that ,hoy did not inteud any harm*
"Continuing with rustlers, I shall tell of the biggest haul
of all made easing ino his asetiou It WEs two carloads of
horses shipped in her.
*I overboard homes= talking about the exoellent bunch, of
range horses at the railroad ward and being offered for eels at
an a‘asedingly law pries, I loOnd the horses overeat oompared
the price with the normal oust at the time* The v.riation sensed
n o to become saspieious*
Gauthier, Meldon Y.
Ranex4ore.
.Tarcent Cos,Diat 17
Page "a
"I was informed by the railroad agent the horses were
shipped from -Awaoes I wired Roam* and lord eame beak that the
shipment was regalar and made bya man named :nee
uring tphe nart few days I learned to know Orme by sight
and- found out he *mg out at Jim Miller's Joint. Miller was no
angle. I oWl take up his anbjeat later. The feet Crate and
miller ware' intimate mused me to be satialled,we would hoar
something about the horses.
"The horses ver Bold in a very.ohort time. Oda Zimmerman
bought most of the two earloada.
"It -.aka within a weAlater wtlen we hoard from Big 4ringe
about a Duna of adgminc horses and the doveription tallied with
Crane's horoose-rrom information we could -trace the horses from
a range north of :AG 4ringn to Rome and from there by train to
'Fort worth.
"ae gathored all the horses from the buyers and then set out
to find Crawl. ie rTaeived infornstion about Orono, whieh was to
the effeetl:i.at he would ewarftout Mote and was a Aulok true *Miner.
"I remit/Pod a report that Crane was at Miller's "We one
night. I Galled for two men to assist me and two Men were detailed
to go with me and get Crane.
"Before entering the joint, I sent in a doom to bey drinks
and looate what part of the joint Crane wan in. Ail° waiting for
a report, far aseietants and I talked *boat Crane. The two beim
to think of their fluidly and said they did not want to soap out
with Crane. I suggested that we ,should do our duty or maga* This
/suggestion did not neat with their approval. well, I know they
would not do in a Amnpeont. I pat the matter of assisting NO
Gauthier, sheldon r. Plies Old
Rani:elore
Tor:ant Gegvist.:7 PSC
Up to MatAothen. Le agreed to go into the Joint with no and get
Grans.
nThe dummy reported that tivane was in a oertain Jonit with a
girl. -!ie entered the plat* and,' few seconds after we had entered,
a girl cans out of. the aorta in roan flustered. I stepped over to
her and made a friend:4y inquiry. She readily told as that he was
in the roan and wen sitting in the middle of the bed with two Ws
at his side and had threatened to shoot her, heoau ea of some die.
satisfaotion. I asked her if $t was crane, and she answered *yes'.
"I asked her U the lights were oft or on when she 1eft the
room and she stated the lights were out. I asked her where the
light mitt* was located and see gave as the posit ion, ohion was
about ehost high.next to the or musing on the right.
"I thought tits situation *atm Ireaenid that if the 1.41te
were on I oould stop into the roes qpieklyL with my gun leveled,
and get the drop on him. IZigured he mould think it was the girl
entering when the door started to opens Then, if the lights were
still out, whidh I *cold detsrline by looking in the key hole, I
ciuld step into the room quiekly and mitt* on the light, ith ray
gun leveled when the lights nem on.
"1 sailed Ub4lothen and requested him to stay at ay heels,
after informing kin of of, Plan**
m
la went to the room's door. I looked th.rough the /my hole
and saw that the light* were oat. The only thing I feared the*
was whether or mot he:ues still on the bed. If he had stepped to
one aide or the other of tee rem, he could cover ne before
could loseto him after I turne4 on the lights. But, that °banes
I had to take*
Gauthier, Jheldony.
heavier.
Tarrant Co.,DistoP,
Page #10
r'rC
"with my gun ready in my left hand, I turned the knob and
threw the dour back euiekly. I reaohed for -the light switch and
felt for a split seoond before my hand reaohed it, but located
it and preened the Dutton. The lights oame on and there, sitting
in the oenter of the bed, was Crane, with his gun at his side.
"Se looked astonished. I said, 'Crane, we have you covered,
don't make a move. tce want yen down at heedgoorteral. He left the
bed saying, 'damn that girl,' I reckoned it wee she entering the
room. If I had any idea it was you fellows, I sure 'would have
swapped it oat with yea follows.'
"1,0 had oeu4ht one of the meanest and biggest here* rustlers
in the entire emotion. Hip did his time in the penitentiary.
"Sow I shall talk about Jim Miller. His wife looked after
operating their Joint and Jim was the sehomere Miller hed one sorap
with the law in Fort Aorth• it was on a *barge of murder. The
killing took plaoe in a washreentwith no ore witness. The plea of
self defense was auseessfully made at his trial.
"Jim Miller eame here from Oklahoma, because it was too hot
for him there. s nod bean nixed up with horse and oattle rust.
lore in Oklahoma, and we suspeeted he was in with Crane on trio two
oarloada of heroes. In Oklahoma, he was -credited wilh ST killings
and it was teethed he would hire out to kill.
"Just a short time before the Crane incident, Miller had
sneaked into vklahoma and killed a Mn named Ons Sobky. Re who
back in this vioinity hiding. After the Bobby killing was definitely
plowed on Miller, a y2,1500.00 reward was offered for the ("toters.
of killer. dead or alive.
Gauthier, Sheldon FS
Bangalore
Tarrant ao',Diet0,0
Page fl6
71!A;
"Two officers from oklahoma cams here to lmeate Miller.
The7 had a nap which ;exported to give the °arrest legation
an. After looking over the mp, I Anew it was ineerreet
and Be informed the *Moors. Nit, they were obstinate amd insioted
on following the map.
"They said, 'all we want is a local ottioer to go with ns,
we'll'do the sato.
"So it was agreed that I should ao with theism? let the
boys follow out their p, but it the map proved to be a pies*
of bunko then 1 was to take oharge of the hunt. The map proved
to be incorrect, so I took charge.
"I had an idea where Mints was hiding. Miller had an Indian
girl, a beautiful woman, who was his sweetie* she was aeon going
towards net Morris's renal whieb indicated to as Miller was some.
More in the vicinity.
"I led the two mon out to Art's ranch. The reneh house was
boosted in sort of a ravine. I deseribed the location and we
talked about Miller. V. all agreed Miller would seap.out with
us it he had a 'Manna, boostse he had proven by his prior 'motions.
that he was e killer.
"lhe looation of the sem* house provided Miller with the
:clones us to nee the coming into e ravine. After getting the situation
demeribed, e two oklmhoma o leers los saes of their eourago and
wore perfootly willing that I Mould to I loading. 4
"On the wey we passed Mit Mbrris onihis way to Fort worth.
i,hen I saw Mat headed for town, I told the mon that we would have
to hum, bemuse Mit'weeld surely get word to Miler about so
Gauthier. 31110A0a re
Bangalore
Tarrant Go'sDist.#7
Page rt
being heated towards the reneka
"We arrived near the ravine and there qv to partnere
refused to continue any farther, but wanted to wait until dark
and then Lasak upon thdhouse* I knew waiting would be futile,
beoause /tiller would leave the raneh, if he was there, the moment
he received word from aut. However, the two °Moore 'failed to
see the matter qv way and *sulk not go down into the ravine.
"I prueeeded alone, ondoe qv mount otarted (town the incline,
saw a man eome out oZ the book door of the rand% bah**. The
fellow appeared to be Miller's piss and shape, from the distant)*
was looking. as looked qv ws, and immediotely reentered the
house.- I rode to the front ot the house and hollered:
"Mello in there The /ndian girl appeared at the door
and asked:
"'ilhat do you want?'
"I want to see am Millee, I answered.
"He's not here' was her answer.
"a&o vs° that I saw at the baak door s I came riding down
the hill?'
A fellow who works here' was her reply.
.°1 I want to nee kin' I told her*
*Without waiting or her reply, I dismounted and walked to
the door*
"1 didn't draw my Gm*. but s3.kd with my hands swinging at
my sides, leisurely. The girl ateppjd aside as I approaehed the
door I opened the deorend 0114 standing in the center of the
Veen, Jim Alley with two 40s leveled at me.
Gauthier, 0heldon F.
Bangalore
Tarrant 0e,Dist.0
1%6,6118
FLO
"I pretended $o not mind the guns, but I did. The guns
looked mighty big and menacing to ne. I said:
"'Jim, I have oome to tax witL
"'What do you want, Snow% ho asked.
"'Tom are wanted in okiahoma for the Bobby killing. lhis
rant* is surrounded by men an they will get you dead if there is
no other wey out. Will you eons withal', or should I return and
tell the posse you want to swap -oat with titan?'
"'Snow: he answered, 'you have eons to ns without flashing
a gem and to give me a ouahow to decide waat to do. I'll go with
yea, but no one else'
Alright an, give me your gene and let's get going'. I de.
mended, and he complied. I took my bad min back and lodged him
in the Tarrant °aunty :ail tomait for extradition papers. 4a had
eorralled another oaths rustler and menaee to the oltixene.
"The two Oklahoma offieers returned hens. The extradition
papers arrived in a couple of days and I started with Miller to
deliver him to the sheriff 61. Ada, okln•
"After the train Grossed from Texas to Oklahoma, pople
were gathered at the depots end wanted to get a peep at Miller.
*The aneriff of Pontogboe Go., at Ada, boarded tile train Bev-
eral miles this side of A. s told me that there were ;4,4jO
people or more gathered at all bent on lynching Miller. I
informed the sheriff that I wee entrusted with the prisoner with
instrustions to deliver him at the Jail, and would stay with the
man until I turned him in at the jail.
Gauthier, sheldon Y. 'NW 119
Hemet:lore
Tarrant Co•„Dist.17
"1 requeuted the sheriff to wire ahead and instruct his
deputies to be at the ,Appet aid stand where the mei could see
them. Thus the mob would be expeeting Miller to be turned over
at the depot, and that he did.
"I had Miller's personal offsets in a grip. Among the
effeets were Miller's two guns whit* he had handed to ms at the
rsneh house. I said to Miller:
"IPA mob of severa thousand people are gathered at Ada, bent
on lynohing you. I am going to defend you'. Pointing at the
grip, I continued:
"In that grip are your two guns. If I toss the grip to you,
I will expeat you to use the gime.
1"Tom, you nnd.I can give them plenty of lead. I as telling
you I'll atgy with you. It you go down, and I oan make it to the
:ail, your delivery will be made', he said, and I knew he most it.
"'Alright, Jim', 1 said. 'Prom new on we are partners till
you are delivered'. I said this to show his I had oonfidenee in
him doing what .e planned.
The truth pulled into the depot anivas it was slowing daub,
I peeped out or the window and the erowd appeared like a small
army in numbarus
*I took Miller to th:rrear platform of the ne4t to the last
dead: and we squatted on t4steps opposite vo the depot'
"As I entielpeted, the mow& wee watching for the prisoner
to appear where the sheriff's deputies were standing on the
platform. That gave ms a Ghana(' to drop oft from the train at
the opposite side from tile depot and take a short out to the jail.
Gauthier, Jhelicn F.
Rangelore
Tarrant Oa 4400
'Mac f20.
rAc
%he etwoeca of my venture depended on no one Seeing au leave
the train and, law, not running into a crowd at tha Jail.
dropped off of the trRin j -;,t (38 it stowed to a stop.
Before the woad at the depot had time to realise t4e prisoner
had been slipped off. of the train, fled decide on their net move,
Miller and I had arrived at the Jail.
"It was net long till the *road moved o the Jell, 'Art were
not pure that the prisoner wee in the Jail. HWPever4 the crowd was
meneeing• I etayed in the Ada jail durinc the night and returned
to Fort ,,orth the nest d2..,:a
Vuring the deiy, after delivery of the prisoner, a man named
,eat and another named ialen appeared, to make Millarts bond. The
erowd lynched both of the men* One otiv,r fellow, named laisbington„
appeared to make bond and narrowly escaped 'Franc 4yedhed. Miller
wee taken out of the jail the 'mond night he WO3 t4ere by the
mob and lynehedip lbws the aareer of Illler,the Gatti° raetler,
killer for hire, end ether depredations, ended with the lynching
of himself and two other man.
"I am still engaged in law enforcement work, bet ny-work is
eonfined largely to court work. At 72 I am still Wive, but do
not feel capable to do the kind of work I did a few yearu back.
A