Menard County Texas

Rustlers

Ft. McKavett Breeze, August 10th, 1889:

On the 11th or 12th of July four young men, respectively, Abe Ellis, John Davis, Aleck Blake and Will Vinyard, all raised this county, and the parents of some of them are yet living here, were missed from the county, and about the same time parties near Menardville missed some horses. Whether the boys were accused at first of taking the horses or not we never learned, but last Tuesday morning the news came flying over the wire that after a hot chase by officers eight miles Will Vinyard and Aleck Blake and seven head of horses belonging in Menard county had been captured near Del Rio, the other two men making their escape. Five head of the horses are known to belong to Wm. J. Tipton, two; F. F. Fetnam, two; and one to Doc Gathing. The two boys that were arrested are not more than 18 or 19 years old. This is a bad affair, and casts a gloom over the entire community. The parents of these unfortunate boys have the sympathy of all who know them. Sheriff Russell, Deputy McConnell and John Tipton passed through here Wednesday enroute to Del Rio to take charge of the boys and horses and will return with them in a few days.

Sheriff Russell returned from Arkansas a few days ago bringing with him Jim Morgan, who is wanted in this county on a charge of theft of a fine horse; about three years ago the property of Doc Woods, then a resident of Menard county. With his usal chicanery, Sheriff Russell located his man and very deliberately left for the prize he had been working on so faithfully to capture. Many were the surmises of the people as to where Dick was gone, until he put in an appearance a few days ago with his prisoner.

San Antonio Daily Express-August 13, 1889

"Sheriff Russell, of Menard county, arrived here yesterday. He came down after the two horse thieves recently captured and put in jail here. On his way down here he captured another of the gang, Abe Ellis. The only one of the gang at large is John Davis, and the officers expect soon to have him. In addition to the three men captured, there were eight head of stolen horses captured, which will be released to their owners."

NOTE: While I strive for accuracy in all transcriptions, please be advised that typing errors may be present. I would suggest you always verify my online information with a copy of the actual record.

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Saturday, March 22, 2008 11:00 AM