Rockford (IL) Republic
Saturday, April 13, 1907
pg5 

J.T. Price of Gunter, Texas Started Fire with Kerosene - Resulting Explosion Cremated Entire Family
(Scripps-McRae Press.)

Gunter, Texas, April 13. - Eight persons are dead as the result of an attempt to start a kitchen fire with kerosene this morning. 
J. T. Price arose late and in his hurry to build the fire used kerosene, an explosion following.  The house caught fire, burning to death Price, his five children, a stepdaughter and a niece.

Dallas Morning News
April 14, 1907

Sherman, Texas, April 13 - One of the most awful and at the same time most pitiful tragedies in the history of Grayson County became known this morning when it was learned that the residence of John T. Price, two miles east of Gunter, had been destroyed by fire during the night and with it cremated the entire household consisting of eight persons.  But one of the bodies could be identified and only the theory that an explosion came from starting a fire early in the morning is left to explain the terrible death of the family, which was one of the most prominent in the county.  The dead are:
John T. Price, aged 48 years
Miss Belle Price, aged 18 years
Miss Annie Price, aged 18 years
Homer Price, aged 16 years
Elmer Price, aged 14 years
Foy Price, aged 6 years
Miss Dottie Bowers, aged 17 years
Miss Aline Upchurch, aged 14 years

Most of the bodies are in unrecognizable shape.  It was first thought one of the bodies mingled with those of the little boy, Foy, were those of Mr. Price, but later on a charred body, near which lay Mr. Price's knife and some silver money, was found in the ashes of the kitchen.  A large jug, in which kerosene had been kept, was found broken near by this.  This causes a theory that he had gotten up early to build a fire and that an explosion followed.
The only body which was sufficiently intact to be positively identified was that of Miss Bowers, who was Mr. Price's step-daughter.  Miss Upchurch, another of the victims, was a niece and a visitor at the ill-fated home.
The statement of N.W. Elmore, a neighbor, throws about the only light on the fearful affair obtainable so far, and that goes only to show the identity of the bodies found in the ashes this morning and the limit of the time in which it must have occurred.  Mr. Elmore says:
"I visited Mr. Price at his home last night and remained until about 10:25 o'clock, anyway it was just before 10:30 when I left.  I don't think I ever saw Mr. Price nor the members of his family in higher spirits.  When I got up this morning about 4 o'clock my attention was attracted by the smoke, and I saw the Price residence was burned.  I hurried over, and in a little while learned that all  the family must have perished."
News flashed through the neighborhood rapidly, and soon half the people in the town of Gunter were on the scene, and the work of searching the ruins began.  One by one the remnants of human bodies were taken from the ashes.
Mr. Elmore said there were eight persons at the Price residence when he left at 10:25, and eight bodies have been taken out of the debris.
The structure was practically a new one.  It was a much a larger and imposing farm residence than is ordinarily found.  It contained twelve rooms, and its cost was approximately $5,000.
Some of Mr. Price's papers found at Gunter show that he carried an insurance policy of $2,800 on the house and contents and also that he had a policy of $5,000 made payable to the children who perished with him last night.
The natural inference in the mind of all was that it was strange, almost beyond belief, that eight persons, and most of them grown, should have all lost their lives, and this feeling was added to by the fact that each body found, except that of Mr. Price, was discovered in or very near the remnants of a bed, thus indicating that they were overcome while still in bed.
"Was if from suffocation by smoke or had they met with some foul play prior to the fire and was the first must a means to the end that all clews might be hidden?" was the question many asked.
The people were horrified at the very thought, but even those who clung to the belief that it was all the result of accident joined in an immediate request upon officers of Sherman to investigate.
About 8:30 o'clock Sheriff Rich, accompanied by Deputies Kirk and Howard and Assistant County Attorney Adamson, left for Gunter to conduct an inquest on the fire at the Price homestead.  Owing to the schedule of trains, the officers went by private conveyance.  Justice McDonough of the Van Alstyne precinct was summoned.
The fragments of the charred bodies were taken from the ashes about 10 o'clock and placed in one of the smaller structures on the place.  Two brothers of John T. Price, Robert and William Price, who reside in the neighborhood of Gunter, reached the scene at an early hour and assumed charge of the last duties of the victims.
The announcement, without details, is made that the burials will take place at the Van Alstyne and Gunter cemeteries, respectively, some time tomorrow.
John T. Price moved to Grayson county from Hill County about twenty-five years ago.  After residing at several places in the southern part of the county, he located near Burke Schoolhouse, about seven miles southeast of Gunter, where he lived about fifteen years.
His first wife died while he lived there.  He subsequently married Mrs. Burke and to them were born two children.  His second wife had one daughter by her first marriage, Miss Dottie Burke, one of the victims of last night's horror.
The children will be buried by the side of their respective mothers, which will explain the reason why the interments will not all be together.  The second wife did on last Christmas day.
John T. Price was not, so far as can be learned, a member of any fraternal or secret order, but was a very active member of the Christian church and was one of the founders and stanch friends of the Gunter Bible College.
The awfulness of the affair is accentuated by the fact that the head of the ill-fated family was a man always engaged in public and charitable enterprises - a progressive, broad-gauged citizen, whose loss is a severe one to his community.
Sheriff Rich, who returned from Gunter this evening, said of the horror at the Price homestead: "While at first there was some question as to how the fire originated, there is in my judgment none now.  The charred body found in the wreck of the kitchen is without a doubt that of John Price.  The broken jug found near him is the one, dozens of his neighbors say, he always took to town for kerosene.  He told Mr. Elmore last night that he intended to take one of his neighbors and little son to see their married sister, who lives in Collin county, this morning, and his watch, which was found by his body, had stopped at 3:10, it is likely that is the hour at which he tried to start a fire in the kitchen stove and the explosion occurred.  Coroner McDonough told me that he accepts this as the facts in the case and will make his return in accord therewith.

Dallas Morning News
April 15, 1907

The whole community has united in the performance of the last duties to the victims today.  The charred and unrecognizable bodies were separated as well as possible last night and placed in caskets.  All that could be found of what had been the little boy was place in the casket with his father.  Beside this there were six other caskets.  All were taken to the Christian Church at Gunter and remained there all night.  At 10 o'clock this morning in the presence of a crowd which filled the structure, hundreds standing outside, Elder Clark of the Christian Church, delivered an oration on the fearfulness of the occurrence in all its aspects, Rev. J.K.P. Williams of the Baptist Church assisted.  At 1:30 p.m. the funeral cortege left the church for Warden Churchyard, a few miles from Gunter.  There were hundreds of equipages and many went on horseback.  It was first announced that some of the victims would be buried at Van Alstyne and the others at Warden Churchyard, but this was foregone and the burials took place as above stated. 

The Bonham News
Tuesday, April 16, 1907
pg. 1

AWFUL HOLOCAUST
Whole Family Burned to Death Saturday Morning in their Home near Gunter, Grayson County

STARTING FIRE WITH COAL OIL
No One Knows, but Indications are that Flames were Started by Use of Coal Oil Can to Kindle FIre
Sherman, Texas, April 13 - News reached this city early today of a terrible affair which occurred at Gunter, 18 miles southwest of Sherman, about 4 o'clock this morning.
The residence of J.T. Price, a well known and well-to-do farmer, was burned to the ground and in the conflagration Mr. Price, 5 children, a step-daughter and a niece, all lost their lives, all of them burned almost beyond recognition.
The dead are:
J.C. Price [sic]
Annie Price, aged 18
Bell Price, aged 20
Homer Price, aged 16
Elmer Price, aged 14
Foy Price, aged 6
Jottie Byers, aged 17, step-daughter of J.C. Price, daughter of Mrs. Price by a former husband
Alline Upchurch, aged 13, a niece of Mr. Price, who resided with the family

M.W. Elmore, a neighbor of the Price family, is the first one who discovered the horrible occurence.  He states that he got up about 4 o'clock this morning, and, looked over toward the Price home, discovered that it was in ashes.  Hastily dressing, he went over to make the horrible discovery that every member of the family had perished in the flames.  Mr. Price's body was found near the kitchen range, and the melted tin of a 5-gallon oil can mutely told how in all probability it all happened.
Mr. Elmore hastily summoned others from the town of Gunter, and an investigation revealed the fact that the entire family had been burned.  The other members of the family were sleeping upstairs, and, apparently, were burned to death while sleeping.  The bodies were burned beyond possible recognition and one of the children was evidently burned into ashes, as nothing resembling it can be found.
Mr. Price was a well-to-do farmer, owning his own farm, and he had recently built a new 2-story house.  He was a widower, his wife having died several years ago.
Mr. Elmore, the man who first discovered that the home had been burned, and subsequently that the members of the family had lost their lives, says he visited the Price family last night remaining with them until 10:45.  When he left all were in a cheerful and happy mood, the father taking much pride in the progress the young lady members of the family were making in their music and other studies.
The sheriff's office here was notified of the affair, and at the time it was suggested that possibly murder had been committed, and the house set on fire to cover up the crime.  Sheriff San Rich, together with Deputies Rat Howard and Oscar Kirk, went immediately to the scene.
However, after their arrival, they are of the opinion that the affair is the result of an accident - an attempt on the part of Mr. Price to build a fire with coal oil.  It is said that the explosion of the can must have killed him instantly, and thus no warning could be given to the sleeping children.
The affair has cast a deep gloom over the entire community, where all the parties were so well liked and held in such high esteem.

The Fannin County Favorite
Friday, April 19, 1907
pg. 2

CLAIMS EIGHT VICTIMS
Awful Holocaust Near Gunter, Grayson County, Yesterday

BODIES BURNED TO A CRISP
Body of Father Found Near Kitchen Range Beside a Melted Oil Can

Sherman, Texas, April 13 - News reached this city early today of a terrible affair which occurred at Gunter, 18 miles southwest of Sherman, about 4 o'clock this morning.
The residence of J.T. Price [sic], a well known and well-to-do farmer, was burned to the ground, and in the conflagration Mr. Price, 5 children, a step-daughter and a niece, lost their lives, all of them being burned almost beyond recognition.
The dead are:
J.C. Price
Annie Price, aged 18
Bell Price, aged 20
Homer Price, aged 16
Elmer Price, aged 14
Foy Price, aged 6
Jottie Byers, aged 17, step-daughter of J.C. Price, daughter of Mrs. Price by a former husband
Alline Upchurch, aged 13, a niece of Mr. Price, who resided with the family

M.W. Elmore, a neighbor of the Price family, is the first one who discovered the horrible occurrence.  He states that he got up about 4 o'clock this morning, and, looked over toward the Price home, discovered that it was in ashes.  Hastily dressing, he went over to make the horrible discovery that every member of the family had perished in the flames.  Mr. Price's body was found near the kitchen range, and the melted tin of a 5-gallon oil can mutely told how in all probability it happened.
Mr. Elmore hastily summoned others from the town of Gunter, and an investigation revealed the fact that the entire family had been burned.  The other members of the family were sleeping upstairs, and, apparently, were burned to death while sleeping.  The bodies were burned beyond the possible recognition, and one of the children was evidently burned into ashes, as nothing resembling it can be found.
Mr. Price was a well-to-do farmer, owning his own farm, and he had recently built a new 2-story house.  He was a widower, his wife having died several years ago.
Mr. Elmore, the man who first discovered that the home had been burned, and subsequently that the members of the family had lost their lives, says he visited the Price family last night, remaining with them until 10:45.  When he left all were in a cheerful and happy mood, the father taking much pride in the progress the young lady members of the family were making in their music and other studies.
The Sheriff's office here was notified of the affair, and at the time it was suggested that possibly murder had been committed, and the house set on fire to cover up the crime.  Sheriff San Rich, together with Deputies Rat Howard and Oscar Kirk, went immediately to the scene.
However, after their arrival, they are of the opinion that the affair is the result of an accident - an attempt on the part of Price to build a fire with coal oil.  It is said that the explosion of the can must have killed him instantly, and thus no warning could be given to the sleeping children.
The affair has cast a deep gloom over the entire community, where all the parties were so well liked and held in such high esteem.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Wednesday, April 17, 1907
pg1

PRESENT LIGHT THROWN ON THE PRICE FAMILY'S DEATH SHOWS NOTHING
Special to the Telegram.
GUNTER, Texas, April 17. - There is no change leading to the belief that an early solution of the mystery of the death of the Price family here last Friday night will be found. Several citizens of this community have been summoned to Sherman, where they will appear before the grand jury to testify in the investigation being made by that body into the facts in the case.  
While there are a few who still assert that the burning of the house was by accident, the opinion appears to be growing today that there was foul play connected with the death of the family and it is the general sentiment of the people to do all in their power to aid in solving the mystery and bringing to justice the person or persons who perpetrated the most horrible crime in the history of this section.

Grand Jury Busy
SPECIAL TO THE TELEGRAM
SHERMAN, Texas, April 17. - The grand jury is still in session here and nothing can be learned of their proceedings in the matter of the investigation of the Gunter fire mystery. The officers, led by Sheriff Rich are doing all in their power to unearth what is now firmly believed to have been a deep laid plot to murder the Price family. The sheriff said this morning that there is nothing new in the case. He would not discuss an item published yesterday to the effect that he was at work on some sort of a clew, saying that the subject must remain closed so far as he is concerned.
People from Gunter summoned by the grand jury appeared before that body to tell what they might know in connection with the case. The entire affair, viewed in the light of what is now known to the public, is shrouded in the deepest mystery.

Sherman Daily Democrat
Saturday, April 22, 1911
pg. 1

N.W. ELMORE UNDER ARREST
Charged with Murder of the Price Household Near Gunter, This County

EIGHT PERSONS LOST LIVES
Arrest Made at Corpus Christi Last Night Upon Grand Jury Indictment - One of the Most Harrowing Incidents in County's History

The arrest of N.W. Elmore at Corpus Christi yesterday on a warrant held by Sheriff R.L. McAfee, charging him with the murder of John Price and 7 other members of the household near Gunter, Grayson County, Texas, on the night of April 12, 1907, recalls to memory one of the most harrowing stories of accident or crime that had ever been given the people of this community.
On the morning of April 13, 1907, the people of Gunter and vicinity were surprised to find that during the night the handsome 2-story residence on the farm of John Price, just outside of town, had burned to the ground.  Later inquiry rendered the surprise a horror, when it was found that neither Price nor any member of the household, 8 in all, had escaped, but lay dead and charred in the ruins of the house.
The dead were
John T. Price, aged 48 years
Miss Belle Price, aged 19 years
Miss Annie Price, aged 18 years
Homer Price, aged 16 years
Elmer Price, aged 14 years
Foy Price, aged 6 years
Miss Dottie Bowers, aged 17 years
Miss Aline Upchurch, aged 14 years

Among the first statements made to press representatives tending to throw any light upon the tragic affair was that of N.W. Elmore, a neighbor, who said:
"I visited Mr. Price at his home last night and remained until about 10:25 p.m., anyway it was just before 10:30 when I left.  I don't think I ever saw Mr. Price or the members of his family in higher spirits.  When I got up this morning about 4 o'clock my attention was attracted by the smoke and I saw that the Price residence was burned.  I hurried over and in a little while learned that all of the family must have perished."
The citizens of the community at once began a vigilant inquiry into the causes and circumstances surrounding the horrible affair.  Peace officers from Sherman and all surrounding points hurried to the scene.  Despite that upon its face it looked incredible that 8 persons, practically all but one grown, should have lost their lives without some evidence of an attempted escape, the diligent search and inquire made at the time failed to elicit information warranting the detention of any body for a crime, popularly believed to have been committed.
Among those things which strengthened the theory of foul play at the time was the fact that an axe was found near the prostrate and charred remains of John Price in the wreck of the kitchen and upon this axe there were dark blotches believed to have been blood.  On a part of the unburned clothing of Miss Aline Upchurch there were also unmistakable blood stains as there were upon the pillow, sheet and mattress, remnants of the bed, upon which the little boy, Foy Price, was sleeping.  On the skull of the little boy there was a fracture and it was the opinion of the expert medical examiners, that neither the discharge of blood or the fracture of the skull could have been caused by the heat.  A large butcher knife was also found in the ruins of the house and it also dark with stains.  The fact that remnants of the front door found indicated that it had been locked from the outside only strengthened in the public mind the theory of a frightful tragedy.
While upon its surface public opinion appeared to resign itself to accept the affair as an unsolvable mystery, the officers of the law have sought unceasingly to get at the facts in the case.
A few days since the grand jury of Grayson County returned a bill of indictment against N.W. Elmore charging him with the death of the Price household.  The Indictment is voluminous and consists of 3 counts, one of which charges murder by the use of a deadly weapon, to-wit, an axe; another charges murder by gases, fumes and poisons, and the third charges murder by arson in the burning of the house.
Some time since Mr. Elmore moved to the coast country and located near Corpus Christi.  It appears that he has so conducted himself as to gain the confidence of his neighbors and to have made friends and that his arrest has caused a general surprise in that community.  Nor does it appear that he made any effort to conceal his place of residence.  Mr. Elmore has spent the greater part of his life in Grayson county and before moving to the Gunter community resided near Basin Springs.
At the office of the county attorney last night and again this morning when the arrest of Elmore at Corpus Christi was discussed the authorities did not care to go farther in details than to confirm as a fact the indictment against Elmore had been found and to briefly review the counts contained in the same.
Late this afternoon the sheriff's office could give no further information except to state that Sheriff McAfee would likely reach Sherman late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Dallas Morning News
April 24, 1911
Sherman, Texas, April 23 - The arrest of M.W. Elmore at Corpus Christi on a warrant held by Sheriff R.L. McAfee charging him with the murder of John Price and seven other members of his household near Gunter, Grayson County, Texas, recalls to memory one of the most harrowing stories that has ever been given the people of this community. 

The Stephenville Empire
Friday, April 24, 1911
pg. 6

FARMER ARRESTED ON SERIOUS CHARGE
Indictment Alleges He Caused Death of Eight People in Grayson County

It will be remembered by people of this vicinity that our fellow citizen, Tom A. Price received a telegram 4 years ago stating that his brother, John Price and the 7 members of his family, had all been burned to death with their home near Gunter, on the night of April 14, 1907.  Mr. Price went to the scene on the first train and with other relatives and the officers did all in his power to get some sort of clew as to who had been guilty of the incendiary and wholesale murder, for such it seemed to be, although no one could recall the time when Price or any of his family had ever made an enemy.  After a complete investigation had failed to reveal the slightest trace, Mr. Price returned home and from that day to last Saturday had heard nothing from the Grayson County officers, indicating that they had made any discovery.
A press dispatch in the Dallas News of April 22 contained the information that N.W. Elmore, formerly of Grayson county, was arrested on his farm near Corpus Christi last Friday on a warrant held by the sheriff of Grayson charging him with the death of the Price family.  The indictment had just been turned in by the present Grayson county grand jury.  Mr. Price informs the Empire that Elmore was one of his brother's nearest neighbors and had been regarded as a close friend.  He was in the home visiting his brother the night of the fire until about 10 o'clock; the fire occurred about 3 a.m.  Mr. Price recalls that Elmore was one of the first men he met when he reached the neighborhood next day, and that he was taking a prominent part in looking after the place, making arrangements for various details of the funeral, etc.  He had heard his brother speak of Elmore as being a good friend.

The Temple Daily Telegram
Tuesday, April 25, 1911
pg. 1

DECLARES INNOCENCE
(Special to the Telegram)

Sherman, Texas, April 24 - Lee McAfee arrived here at noon today with N.E. Elmore [sic], arrested on his farm Friday, near Corpus Christi, charged by indictment in the 59th District Court here with the murder of John T. Price and family, April 13, 1907.  According to the indictment the Price home was burned down to conceal the crime.  Eight bodies were found in the house the morning following the fire.
Elmore said shortly after his arrival: " I am innocent of the crime with which I am charged.  My record and my life are as white as a illy, and it will be proven on the witness stand.  I am greatly humiliated but do not fear the outcome."
John T. Price and his family lived on a farm 2 miles east of Gunter.  He went there 25 years ago from Hill county when the late Colonel Joe Gunter commenced to divide up his large tract into farms.  By industry he had accumulated much property and at the time of his death was known as the owner of one of the largest and best farms in this section of Texas.  Only a short time previous to the fire his wife had died.

The Temple Daily Telegram
Wednesday, April 26, 1911
pg. 1

TAKING ARREST HARD
Friends Say Will Go on Bond to Any Amount
Special to the Telegram

Sherman, Texas, April 25 - Pacing his cell and nervously rubbing his hands together, N.W. Elmore, who was brought here yesterday to stand trial on a charge of murdering John T. Price and his entire family and niece, is taking his arrest and imprisonment hard.
He had made application for habeas corpus hearing through his counsel, Judge Rice Maxey, and District Judge J.M. Pearson has set the hearing for Friday at 1:30 p.m.  Elmore refused to let his picture be taken today.  A large number of persons who reside near the scene of the tragedy came to the Grayson county jail to see Elmore this morning.  Many of his friends say they are willing to go on his bond in any amount the court names.

Sherman Daily Democrat
Saturday, April 29, 1911
pg. 4

THE NEWS OF THE COURTS
N.W. Elmore, charged by grand jury indictment with the homicide of John T. Price and members of his family near Gunter in 1907...
When the case was called the court room, with gallery, was crowded to the fullest capacity and many were unable to gain seats.  The state through County Attorney Cal T. Freeman, announced the names of 35 witnesses and as several were absent the court ordered attachments issued for them.  All witnesses, save relatives of the decedents, were placed under the rules.
During the afternoon several witnesses were on the stand and a night session was held.  At these sessions the witnesses merely told of the gruesome find of the bodies in the burned building on the morning following the fire; how the remnants of the bodies were discovered and placed in the coffins preparatory to the burials, and of the unusual occurrence of the family being burned with the home.
This morning the taking up of testimony was resumed and shortly before 10 o'clock the hearing was concluded and the case acted upon as above mentioned.

The Temple Daily Telegram
Sunday morning, April 30, 1911
pg. 1

ELMORE IS ALLOWED LIBERTY ON BOND
He Was Charged With Killing Eight People, But Bond Was Fixed at Only $100

Special to the Telegram
Sherman, Texas, April 29 - At the conclusion of the habeas corpus hearing in the 59th District Court this morning, N.W. Elmore, formerly of this county, who was brought here from Corpus Christi on an indictment charging him with the murder of John T. Price, his family and niece, the defendant's bond was placed at $100, which he gave.
Elmore demanded trial today, waiving all rights of a special venire and agreed to accept a "pick-up" jury.  The state fought for delay, but Judge Pearson did not set any date.
Price, his 6 children and his niece were found dead in their home near Gunter, which was destroyed by fire the night of April 13, 1907.  It was supposed they had  burned to death.  Elmore was a neighbor of the Prices and both were held in high esteem.

Sherman Daily Democrat
Tuesday, May 2, 1911
pg. 4

TO BE TRIED THIS TERM
In order that a speedy trial might be had the case of the State vs. M.W. [sic] Elmore, charged by grand jury indictment with the homicide of J.T. Price and members of his family at Gunter in 1907, was transferred from the 59th District Court to the 15th District Court.  The case has not yet been set but will probably be tried at this term of the court.

The Stephenville Empire
Friday, May 5, 1911
pg. 1

Tom Price has received a letter from a brother in Grayson county, in which the opinion is expressed that there is apparently little to back up the indictment against N.W. Elmore charged with the killing of their brother and his family, as mentioned last week in these columns.   Elmore has been released on a very small bond, $100.

The Weekly Corpus Christi Caller
Friday, May 5, 1911
pg. 5

ELMORE IS PLEASED
Bail Allowed in the Sum of $100
Mr. Fred Roberts has received a telegram from N.W. Elmore at Sherman saying he had been acquitted to bail the sum of $100 at a habeous corpus hearing.  Elmore is a well known and respected farmer of the Agus Dulce neighborhood, where he has lived for 2 years.  He was arrested last week in advices from North Texas and taken back a prisoner to answer the charge of murder preferred against him in the killing of several members of a family named Price in a neighborhood in which Elmore resided before coming to Nueces county.  Elmore has so conducted himself during his residence here as to make many friends who were much surprised at his arrest, but nevertheless expressed full confidence in his innocence.  The news yesterday that Elmore was released on bail to mean there is no proof against him and that the charge is without substantiation.

Editor's note:  John T . Price and the children are buried at Warden Cemetery, Weston, Collin Co., Texas : FAG #6422703

Gunter History
Susan Hawkins
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