THE DAILY DEMOCRAT
Seventh Year, Marlin, Texas, Number 197
November 1, 1907 - Page 1, Column 3 & 4
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY
Man Shot Through Heart
Will Criswell's Body Found Near
His Own Home
Will Criswell was found at daylight this morning with a bullet through his heart
and a pistol by his side. He was lying about six feet from his home.
Some yards distant at her home, Mrs. C. W. Hickerson lay with two severe gashes
in her throat. The neighbors had been aroused about two o'clock by the screams
of her daughter, Miss Willie Mae Hickerson. When they arrived they found
Mrs. Hickerson very weak from loss of blood, and the (sic) hurried summons of a
physician who stanched the flow is all that saved her life.
The young lady says that at about the hour
given, some one called at their house and tried to effect an entrance by raising
the window. That her mother and herself got up to see who it was and what
was wanted. That the party then disappeared in the darkness. They called
to Criswell's house and Mr. Chriswell (sic) came out and over to their home.
While he was there, he stated that some one had also been trying to get in his
home, but had run away. While Criswell was at the Hickerson some one,
believed to be Criswell, grabbed Mrs. Hickerson and inflicted two ugly wounds in
her throat and breast before she could free herself from his grasp.
The young lady asked Criswell to give the
alarm, and suggested to him that he fire his gun. He said that he would
and did. There was a stillness and Miss Hickerson could get no response
from Criswell nor could she see him or his body in the dark. After trying
for several minutes to get assistance by hallowing, the young lady ran to the
house of Jno. C. Criswell, some distance away, and aroused them. They and
other neighbors went to the Hickerson house and found Mrs. Hickerson as
described above, weltering in her own blood.
Later, a search was instituted for young
Criswell and he was found, a corpse near his own house. In addition to the
pistol, a pocket knife and razor were also found near him.
The tragedy caused great excitement in the
community and among all who know the families.
There is no explanation for the causes that
led up to the tragedy and it is left to conjecture.
Mrs. Hickerson is a sister of Postmaster
Emerson and Mrs. T. B. Ellsberry of Marlin and has many friends who wish her a
speedy recovery.
Young Criswell is a son of John C.
Criswell, well known citizen of tht community. Deceased was married.
He was in Marlin Thursday afternoon and left for late in the evening. The
scene of the double tragedy is about fourteen miles northeast of Marlin.
All parties have lived neighbors for years and were on the best of terms.
Judge Dashiell held an inquest over the
remains of Criswell today. He had not entered the verdict at the hour of
going to press. Sheriff Poole and quite a number of others went out to the
Criswell community when the information of the tragedy reached town.
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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart
and her volunteers for printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas
