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Prescott Clipper Extra Edition Thos. H. Bascom, Editor and Publisher SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1877. A DEED OF BLOOD The Foul Murder of Parson Sanders Shall Thieves and Desperados Rule? If Our Laws Cannot Be Enforced, It Is High Time to Organize As Vigilants. The people of Nevada County will be shocked to learn of the coldblood ed murder of one of her best belov ed and most favorably-known citi zens, near Lewisville, the county seat of LaFayette county, about forty-five miles south of Prescott, on the old Shreveport road, on the evening of July 3rd—last Tuesday. THE FACTS IN THE CASE, so far as we have been able to glean them from parties who were eye witnesses to the terrible tragedy are about as follows, but in order that our readers may have a full under standing of the case, we must re vert back to occurrances which transpired near here about the first of June last past: It will be re membered that at that time our citizens made a raid on a gang of horse and cattle thieves, who have infested the county for years, and captured several, who are now in custody, (a full account of which was published in the CLIPPER) and that one of the ring leaders, a man named Jim Thomson, was shot, but managed to escape, and he has suc ceeded in eluding the vigilance of the officers ever since. Well, last week, it became known to our sher iff that this Thomson was skulking in some of the Red River Counties, both in this state and in Louisiana, and accordingly on Saturday last, three tried, trusty and true men, Messrs. W. B. White, deputy Sher iff. Dr. T. M. Milam, a Dentist and well known citizen, and the lamen ted Parson Flemon Sanders, armed with a warrant, clothed with all the authority the law can give, imbued with a patrioic and praisworthy ob ject of bringing to justice a man who had trespassed against the law, set out in search of the offender. THE SEARCH After many weary and toiLsome hours of fruitless search through the dazzling burning rays of a mer ciless southern sun, through swamp and high-ways and by-ways, and with a full determined resolve ’‘to do or die” the officers learned in Louisiana, that at the house of one Lewis, living in the confines of Ar kansas, a man of bad character, a man who had been known to harbor thieves, a man who had been known to operate in thieving and other dis reputable transactions in the Peli can State, and a man whom the of ficers of Louisiana had often tried in vain to bring to justice living seven miles south of Lewisville, the missing Thomson might be found. THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY Arriving at the house of Lewis it was agreed by the trio that Milam and Sanders should demand admit tance, and that White should keep watch outside. When hailed, Lewis refused to make a light or give ad mittance to the officers of the law, but, after considerable parley and excuses that he had nothing with which to make a light (during which time the murderer of Par son Sanders was doubtless making preparations for his damnable deed.) the old man Lewis finally consented to make use of a candle and matches furnished by the offi cers. After some hesitation upon his part, he then consented to con duct the officers to an inner room of the house. The house was a double frame one, with hal lor en try-way extending through the cen ter and containing a large room on either side. THE BLOODY DEED Taking the candle in his hand, old man Lewis, a man whose head has been frosted by some seventy winters, hesitatingly and trembling ly conducted Milam and Sanders to the right hand room where the sup posed criminal Thomson was con cealed. (It would be well enough to state here that although the offi cers were not certain of securing their prey the suspicious actions of Lewis, confirmed them in the belief that Thompson was concealed there, i. e. after having heard what they did concerning the character of Lewis.) This fact, probably taken into connection with their zeal and hopes of securing Thomson after, more than three days’ fruitless search, and emboldened to such an extent that they not only lost their discretion but become so unwary as to be almost entirely thrown off their guard. In the dim flickering light of the candle they followed their conductor to the fatal cham ber of death. Unsuspicious, true, but be-brave to rashness, the lamented Sanders entered the room, followed by Milam. Almost hidden in a dark corner near the entry with shot gun in hand, cocked and ready and with murder in his heart, stood THE MURDERER. Upon discovering him, poor San ders, not being familiar with the face of Thomson, demanded a sur render without even attempting to raise his gun, whereupon the sup posed fugative Thomson, without a word or note of warning, standing less than six feet from his victim, fired, the whole load passing en tirely through Sanders’ bowels. The murderer was not Thomson but a son of the hoary-headed old villian, “Shrog” Lewis, aged about twenty four years; and there can be no question but that he mistook our Sheriff’s posse for officers from Texas or Louisiana come to call him to account for some of his many dark and damnable crimes, and it is thought that his father, upon en tering the room, gave his son a sign to commit the fatal deed. This family of Lewis’s are said to have been outlawed in Texas and in Lou isiana, and for several years past have found a comparatively safe haven within the confines of our border. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES To begin with the Sheriff’s posse had been warned of the general bad reputation of the Lewis’s. A stran ger who claimed to be from Texas, had been seen skulking on the pre mises for several days previous, but had not ventured to make himself known to others than the family. A horse suiting the description of the one belonging to Thomson was seen on the premises. When Old man Lewis was called up by our sheriff's posse, on first making his appearance, he asked, “Is that you Thomson?” These and other sur roundings confirmed the suspicions of the officers that they were on the right trail. A LIFE FOR A LIFE. A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH. Upon seeing what had befallen his comrade, true as steel, the brave and intrepid Milam rushed to the rescue, blinded by the smoke from the gun of the murderer, and fired; simultaneously Mr. W. B. White, who* it will be remembered had placed himself upon guard at a window of the room, as soon as he could complrehend what had been done, also fired, and the lifeless body of young Lewis fell torn and bleeding to the floor. THAT AWFUL NIGHT Having every reason to believe they were surrounded by a gang of desperados and thieves, and in their very nest as it were, where the shot of a gun is the only necessary sig nal for their swarming like so many bees, most men would have fled in dread of overpowering numbers. Regardless of their own personal safety and with thoughts only of their wounded and dying friend, their first care was to administer to the wants of his death-bed. With such remedies as were to be had, with tearful eyes and pitying hearts, all through that dreadful night, Messrs. White and Milam did all in human power to sooth his dying pillow. After leaving him in good hands and with a consciousness of having done all they could, they set out for home about day-light that morning to impart the dreadful news to the widow, orphans and friends of the unfortunate man, and reached here about sundown on the night of July 4th, after 72 hours without rest or sleep THE FATE OF POOR SANDERS Upon being shot Mr. Sanders ex claimed, “boys I am killed.” He then sought the hall way of the house where he lay himself down upon the hard floor to yield up to its Giver the spirit of as brave, true and Christian a man as ever lived or died. Knowing that the ruthless hand of death was upon him, sep arated from the wife of his bosom and the loved ones of his peaceful and quiet little home far away, no words of complaint escaped his lips, np reproachful or vengeful words did he utter against his murderers; no earthly considerations seemed to occupy his mind although rapidly approaching his dissolution which he was expecting at any moment; his thoughts seemed to dwell not upon things earthly but upon heav enly subjects. THE REV. FLEMON SANDERS Was a native of Virginia, but had been a citizen of this part of Arkan sas for several years. He served gallantly and faithfully in the Con federate army during the late civil war. At the time of his death he was engaged in farming and school teaching about four miles west of Prescott, near Artesian Church.— He was a regular ordained minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He was a mason, a Chris tian and a gentleman of taste and culture. It was our pleasure to be person ally acquainted with the deceased. He was a man upon whom nature had bestowed many of her richest and choicest gifts, a brave and true man, a man of education and refine ment, a man of worth and talents, and a man whom Nevada county recognized as one of her chosen sons, and his loss to us is almost ir reparable. His pen and voice can no longer be used in defense of those principles which should govern every Christian man for they are now hushed in death. Tongue is powerless and pen incapable of describing the many Christian vir tues and. graces which character ized him as a man. He lived a life of a Christian and a useful man, be loved and respected by his friends and acquaintances, worshipped by his wife and children and honored by all. “None knew him but to love him— “None heard him but to praise.’’ THE CORPSE Esquire Daniel O’Leary, Mr. J. B. White and Mr. Joe Treadway left Prescott on the night of July 4th for the scene of the tragedy, to bring back the remains of the de ceased, and at this writing, (Fri day 4 p. m.) are expected in a few hours, when further particulars will be made known. (Reproduction of The Original—R. P. Hamby.)