Grayson County TXGenWeb

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, December 28, 1902
pg. 4

Homicide at Sherman
Thomas Barker, who resides 6 miles northwest of Sherman, was shot and instantly killed in the suburbs of town, while in a buggy with his wife, by a boy, Everett Fairless, only 16 years of age. As they entered the town they noticed the boy ahead of them carrying a Winchester, which alarmed Mrs. Barker, as she feared trouble, but her husband said he could take care of himself. The buggy passed them and he followed them several hundred yards, when suddenly and without warning he raised his gun and fired. Barker fell forward and almost instantly expires. Mrs. Barker was covered with blood.
After the first shot Mrs. Barker begged Fairless not to shoot again but he deliberately fired another shot and then rode rapidly away. Only one shot took effect. Mrs. Barker's son who was driving the team came up, and the two supported the lifeless form until the police arrived, which was within a few minutes. Mr. Byrd Bayne, his son and a colored woman witnessed the trouble. Officer in pursuit of the murderer came up with him, or rather met him, not far from the Fairless residence and he surrendered, saying he was on his way to town to do so. He claims self defense, as he saw a move on the part of Barker as if to draw a pistol. There were 2 pistols on Barker's person. The Register says the tragedy is but the continuation of another in which Robert Fairless, the father of the youth who stands charged with this homicide, lost his life at the hands of the man who met his death in the above tragic manner.

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