 The Denison Daily Herald
Monday, May 14, 1906 pg. 8 YOUTH KILLS HIS BROTHER Tragedy Occurred Saturday on a Farm Four Miles East of Denison Young Man Under Arrest James Russell Placed in Jail and Preliminary Hearing Set for 2 O'clock This Afternoon Before Justice Preston - Dead Man Leaves a Family Brief mention was made in the Herald Saturday afternoon of the killing of Pinckney Russell at his home, 4 miles east of the city. Deputy Sheriffs Boyd Craig and Oscar Poff, Constable J.R. Duer and Deputies William Hughes and Homer Howard went to the scene of the tragedy about 3 o'clock and returned late in the afternoon having in custody James T.C. Russell, aged 14 years, who shot and killed his brother. Young Russell claims that the discharge of the gun was accidental and was done while he was trying to ward off a blow with a rock. James Russell who admits that he was holding the gun which killed Pink Russell, was placed in the Denison jail t o await a preliminary hearing today before Justice Preston. The boy will be 15 years of age in August. He is large for his age. According to the story told to the officers, the brothers had quarreled over a cultivator. As a result of the quarrel James declared that he wanted his brother to give him back his shotgun and pay him for cartridges which had been used. Pink Russell said that he had no money then, but would pay his brother as soon as he could. James then went to Pink's house after the gun and returned through a horse lot near Pink's house. He stopped to handle some harness belonging to Pink and Pink ordered him to quit. The quarrel was resumed and James finally called his brother a liar. Pink then reached for a rock and was holding the rock in his hand when the gun which James was holding was discharged. The charge of shot took effect in Pink's head near the right eye and blew the top of his head off, as the 2 were standing close together. T.F. Bradford, a brother-in-law of the Russell boys was near at hand. Pink's wife was also standing in the door of her home when the tragedy occurred. Bradford went with James to the house of James' parents nearby and later informed neighbors of the occurrence. The officers were then notified. They found James seated on the bed at his father's home and took him in custody. Pink Russell's body was lying near a gate where he had fallen when shot. The body was carried to the house. F.T. Bradford, the brother-in-law, saw the quarrel but did not see the shot fired. He was present, but just as the fatal shot was fired he had his back turned. He turned at the sound of the gun and saw Pink fall. He corroborates the story of James Russell about Pink having a rock in his hand at the time he was killed. James Russell, when seen Saturday would say but little about the occurrence. He did not want anything to be "put in the paper." He said that he did not intend to kill his brother. Pink had a rock and was going to hit him, he thought, and he raised the gun to ward off the blow when it was discharged. He said that he did not know the gun was cocked. The Russell's all live on a small farm 4 miles east of Denison. Pink Russell leaves a wife and 2 children. Near Russell's house is that of his father and mother, an aged couple. James lived at his father's home. The land belongs to the father and the boys were working it. Justice Preston set the hearing for 2 o'clock this afternoon. A charge of murder has been filed against the boy. The Denison Daily Herald Monday, May 14, 1906 pg. 3 YOUNG MAN KILLED Telephone Message Calls Officers to Scene of Alleged Murder A telephone message came in this afternoon from east of the city to Justice Preston stating t hat Pink Russell, a young man residing on a farm which is a part of the old Corcoran place, had been killed. A request was made for officers to come as soon as possible. Constable Duer and Deputy Hughes and Deputy Sheriffs I.N. Layne and Oscar Poff left at once for the scene of the reported killing. Pink Russell has a wife and several children. No details of the killing are obtainable as the Herald goes to press. Cold Case Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |