Menard County Texas

1917 Killings In Or Around The Area

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 10 No. 21
Thursday, March 22, 1917

(page 1)

DAN PHELPS IS KILLED IN A FIGHT
Dan Phelps, a well known rancher from Kimble County was fatally wounded in a fight, Thursday night, by Wesley Lifeste of Roosevelt. The fight occurred at local wagon yard and arose over a horse trade and it is alleged the Phelps made a rush at Lifeste with an open knife in his hand. Lifeste picked up a piece of an end gate and struck him over the head. Phelps dropped to the ground and Lifeste and those present thinking that he was only drunk left him lie on the ground until the next morning, when it was discovered that his condition was serious and he was removed to the R?ck Hotel. Local doctors worked over him but were unable to restore him to consciousness. Dr. Gayton of Brady was summoned and it was decided to take him to the sanitarium there for an operation. A blood clot was removed from his brain but he died Saturday night without ever having regained consciousness.
Lifeste is being held in the county jail here charged with murder and his bond fixed at $2,500.

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 10 No. 26
Thursday, April 26, 1917

KILLING NEAR WILLOW
Leonard Wiley was stabbed to death at the farm home of Mr. Erfurt near Willow City, where quite a number of young people had gathered on last Saturday night to have a country dance. Dave Moehle, a young man of the same community, was arrested in connection with the affair and after being given an examining trial, on Tuesday was remanded to jail and his bond fixed at $1250.
The cause leading up to the killing as related by several witnesses at the examing trial is about as follows. It seems that quite a number of young people had gathered at the Erfurt home to attend a dance. Those present has been dancing some time when young Wiley and several companions arrived and took part in the dance. It is said that Wiley and another young man began to "rag" and were requested to stop. Wiley refused to stop and he and Damon Moehle came to blows. They were separated and the dance went on nicely for a time but was again interrupted by the two boys renewing the scrap, in which one or more other young men became involved. While in the last difficulty young Wiley received three stab wounds, the last serious being the severing of the genital cord. The young man was rushed to the home of Will Bird but died from loss of blood without making a statement, and before he could be reached by a physician. The tragedy is very regrettable as all implicated are young people and are well known in the communities in which they live.--------Fredericksburg Standard---------

The Menard Messenger
Vol. 10 No. 28
Thursday, May 17, 1917
(page 1)

JAMES A. PASLAY IS SHOT FATALLY; ED DUGAN HELD
James A. Paslay, 42, head of the Paslay Grocery Co., was shot and almost instantly kill at his place of business, 26 S. Chadbourne Street, Tuesday, evening at 7:30 o'clock. Ed Dugan, meat cutter in Arnett's Cash Meat Market, located in the same building with the grocery store, surrendered to Sheriff Hawley Allen. The Tom Green county grand jury is investigating the case today.
An argument which grew out of the delivery of a dozen eggs which Paslay had sold to a customer is given by two eye witnesses as the cause which led up to the trouble. These men, P. H. Wyre, employer of Paslay, and B. C. Stout, operator at the Western Union office, stated this morning that during the course of the argument Dugan cursed Paslay and that when the latter attempted to smooth the matter over, after nearly everyone had left the store, Paslay was grasped by the arms.
He wrenched free and is said to have drawn a small knife. He then, it is said, received a blow in the face and a second later a shot in the neck. The first bullet from a .32 calibre double-action revolver, made a superficial wound, passing beneath the skin along the right side of the neck. The next shot, however, was fired from the right side, and broke the neck.
Paslay stumbled only a few feet toward the rear of the store after receiving his death wounds and died within ten minutes. Those who are said to have witnessed the tragedy, besides Wrye and Stout, are C. C. Arnett, proprietor of the meat market, and Roy French, one of his employees.
After the shooting Dugan walked to the front of the building, out onto the sidewalk and then returned. He was bleeding profusely from several minor slashes in his side and back and it is stated, asked spectators to summon a doctor. Stores in the business district had just closed when the shooting occurred and a large crowd gathered before the building within a short time. Officers were among the first to arrive.-San Angelo Standard

The Menard Daily Messenger
Vol. 1. No. 1
Tuesday, June 26, 1917

(page 6)

CONFESSES TO WIFES MURDER
Jeff Bilberry, age about 25 years, was placed in jail at Roby early Thursday morning by Sheriff Yarbrough of Sweetwater and Texas Ranger Parish for safe keeping. He is charged with the murder of his wife by drowning on March 25. The crime is alleged to have taken place on Sweetwater Creek, near Hylton.
The accused man has confessed to Sheriff Lambert that he committed the atrocious deed, and in his statement said that he and his wife were sitting on the banks of the stream, about noon on the date mentioned, when he pushed her into the waters. Other reports are that he then held her under the water about five minutes in order to complete the deed.
At the time of Mrs. Bilberry's death newspaper reports were that she fell into the water and her husband was unable to rescue her. He drove about two miles and secured assistance and the body was taken from its watery grave. She was then prepared for burial and shipped to her home, which place we failed to learn. It is said that the couple were traveling through the country in a buggy and had camped for dinner on the stream when the horrible murder was accomplished. --Roby Banner.--

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