The Galveston Daily News
May 24, 1884
pg 1

Sherman, May 23 - Deputy Sheriffs Bob May and Will Kelly have just returned from the Delaware Bend District, bringing with them John Allison, who is charged by indictment with the killing of his cousin, named Allison, on the 4th of July, 1882, and also as being connected with George Belk in the killing of a negro at Pottsboro, in this county, on Christmas day of last year.  This last killing occurred at the same time. He is also indicted for an aggravated assault on Bud Motchelson. Allison in appearance, is a quiet, genial, companionable man, has a hearty laugh, and
is the last man - even if for the first time in the custody of the sheriff - that one would suspect of the crimes charged against him.



The Dallas Daily Herald
Sunday, May 25, 1884
pg 1

SHERMAN
Joseph Smart and John Allison were arrested and jailed yesterday by Deputies May and Kelly. Both were indicted for murder by the grand jury.



The Galveston Daily News
Friday, May 30, 1884
pg 1

SHERMAN
The habeas corpus cases of John Allison and Bob Smart, for the killing of Bob Allison in August 1882, were investigated as far as the defendant's testimony was concerned and continued until next week for the State to procure its evidence.



Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Saturday, June 7, 1884
pg 7

SHERMAN
Judge Maltbie came up to Sherman this morning to try the habeas corpus cases of Allison and Smart, charged by indictment with the murder of Robert Allison, and John Allison for participation with Belk and Cole in the murder of a negro man named George Allen on December 22nd last, in the neighborhood of Gordonville, in this county. In the first case the defendants were admitted to bail in the sum of $1,000 each, and in the latter John Allison was required to give a bond of $500. The prisoners were remanded to jail until the second bail is given. So soon as Allison's friends hear the result of the trial they will certainly make the bond and set him at liberty, and we are assured that Smart's friends will do as well by him. The neighborhood of Gordonville, where these men live, is sorely divided by clans and factions at this time, and both sides are distrustful of the opposite fraction. The causes which lead to this condition of affairs are numerous and date back through the history of several years. As the subject is a delicate one we refrain from more extended comment at this time, but if any further demonstrations are made we will faithfully dish up the whole mess so that the outside world may judge of the facts for themselves.



The Galveston Daily News
Tuesday, June 10, 1884
pg 1

SHERMAN
John Allison and Joe Smart filed their bond to-day and were released from jail. They were charged with the murder of Bob Allison in 1882.



The Galveston Daily News
Wednesday, September 24 1884
pg 2

Surrendered By His Bondsman
SHERMAN, September 23 -  John Allison, indicted for the murder of his cousin in Delaware Bend, some three years ago, and who was admitted to bail in the sum of $1,500, was surrendered by his bondsman to-day on application to Judge Maltbie, to receive other bondsmen. The judge informed Allison's attorney that he would not accept bail in the same amount, as he was informed that new and notarial evidence had been discovered since the hearing of the habeas corpus in which his bond was fixed. Allison's attorney denied the right of the court to increase the amount of the bond on a surrender by his sureties, and will make application to the Court of Appeals for an order to compel the court to accept new sureties for the same amount.



Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Thursday, December 11, 1884
pg 5

SHERMAN
The case of the State of Texas vs. John Allison, charged by indictment with the murder of Robert Allison in this county about three years ago, was called in the district court this morning. The defendant's counsel made a motion to continue and the preparation and argument of said motion consumed the time of the court until 2 o'clock. The court granted the continuance and twenty-five witnesses for the state were recognized to attend at the April term to testify on behalf of the state, together with a large number for the defendant.
After this case was disposed of the witnesses were recognized to appear here on the 12th instant to testify in another case in which Allison is charged with the murder of a negro man some time last spring. Up to a short time back, John Allison was regarded by his neighbors as a good and law-abiding citizen, and it is certainly a fact that he has time and again assisted the officers in their most dangerous hunts after the worst characters that infest our northern border. These indictments, we understand, grow out of reckless talk on his part in the first instance, and association with bad men in the second. The neighborhood of Gordonville where he lives is much divided in opinion about the defendant's guilt, and it is feared that violence may result before the matter is settled by the verdict of a jury.



The Galveston Daily News
Saturday December 13, 1884
pg 1

THE GORDONVILLE KILLING

John Allison on Trial at Sherman for the Murder of George Allen

Special to the News
Sherman, December 12 - John Allison is on trial for the murder of George Allen, colored,  near Gordonville, on the 23rd of December last. This is the murder that caused such an excitement at the time as a negro church was burned the same night, and at the time was supposed to be the work of desperadoes. George Belk and Charles Cole were said to be the murderers. Belk and Cole left the country. The former was followed by Edd Douglas of Oklahoma, and arrested and brought back and jailed. The next grand jury indicted Belk and Cole. Allison lived about half a mile from where the negro was killed. Belk remained in jail five months and was then released. The following grand jury found a true bill against Allison.
The evidence of the wife of the murdered man testified that about 12 o'clock on the night of December 23rd she and her husband were awakened by some one calling her husband by his first name, George, and telling him he wanted him to show him the road, as he had lost his way. The deceased got up, and when he opened the door he was shot down and continued to be shot until he was shot sixteen times. She has no idea of who did the shooting.
George Belk, who had been indicted for the murder and also for burning the school house, testified that he was at Allison's house on the night of the killing, and was put to bed drunk by Allison and Cole; that he woke up in the night and Allison and Cole were gone, and their coats were in the room; that they came in later in the night and woke him, and informed him that they had killed a nigger and burned a church; that Allison then burned the shoes that he and Cole had on when they came in. Cole has not been captured.



Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Monday, December 15, 1884
pg 6

A VERDICT OF MURDER
The Allison Murder Trial Ends in a Verdict of Guilty and Life-Long Confinement

A Review of the Killing of Allison - Public Sentiment Divided as to the Guilt of Allison

Special to the Gazette
Sherman, Tex., Dec. 14 - An important murder trial that had engaged the attention of the district court for two days, the State against John Allison, for the murder of a negro named George Allen near Gordonville on the 22nd of December last, came to a close last night at 11 o'clock.  The jury found a verdict of guilty, and assessed the punishment at confinement in the penitentiary during his lifetime.
There was for a time considerable mystery surrounding the killing, and public opinion fixed it upon two wild young men, George Belk and Charley Cole, who were on a drunken raid in that neighborhood at that date. They were indicted, and Belk was arrested but Sheriff Douglass in the Oklahoma country, brought back to Texas and lodged in the Sherman jail. Cole has so far eluded the officers and is still at large. Subsequent facts developed that the two had been at the house of Allison on the night of the murder, and the neighbors by diligent investigation arrived at the conclusion that Allison was a party to the killing. From all the evidence adduced on the trial it appeared that Belk was dead drunk and could not have participated in the murder, admitted of his participation in the killing of Allen, and also the burning of a school house near by on the same night. They also swore that empty shells picked up at Allen's house the next morning fitted the caliber of the gun that Cole had and the pistol of Belk that Allison was accused of using, the one being a 44 and  the other a 45-caliber. Belk, while lying in jail, agreed to tell what he knew of the night's work, and the attorney for the state dismissed the case against him to let him testify. Belk swore that he was drunk and asleep at the house until about midnight, when he awoke and found his companions gone, a part of his clothing, his pistol and horse gone also. An hour later he says the two returned, and, both being in liquor, boasted that they had killed a fat negro and burned a negro school  house; that they ordered him to get up and build a fire so that they could burn the old shoes they wore on the raid, they having left their boots at the house. After the fire was kindled afresh, Belk says Allison burned the shoes. One other witness testified that Allison told him he had assisted in killing the negro, but desired the witness to swear to certain facts on the examining trial that would go to release the defendant from the charge. The defendant's testimony proved that he had not been absent from home during the time when the negro was killed, and for several hours thereafter, one witness remaining at the house with them until nearly midnight, about the hour when the crime was committed, and that when he left them Belk and Cole were both drunk and asleep. A lady living within a few yards testified that she was up all night in company with Mrs. Allison, the wife of the defendant, waiting at the bedside of a sick lady, and knows that the men were in the out house up to nearly two o'clock in the morning.
After very able arguments from defendant's counsel, Judge Hare and Capt. J. D. Woods, and an equally able and vigorous speech from County Attorney Randell, the jury took the case at a few minutes after 10 o'clock last night, and about 11 o'clock returned into court with the verdict as above stated.
Public sentiment is much divided on the question of guilt in this case, and great surprise was expressed at the conclusion of the jury in so short a time. Another case for murder is pending against Allison, but this has been continued until the March term of court.



The Dallas Weekly Herald
Thursday, Dec 18, 1894
pg 2

The Allison Case at Sherman
Sherman, Dec. 12 - [Delayed Special.] - The district court was engaged this morning on the case of John Allison,
for the murder of Geo. Allen, colored, on the 24th of December 1883. This is the killing that caused so much excitement all over the county last Christmas, and in which the parties also burned a church-house near Gordonville. At the time, the crime was charged on George Belk and Charles Cox, who lived in Delaware Bend, in this county. The grand jury indicted George Belk and Charles Cox for the burning of the church and the killing of the negro, George Allen. The party who is now on trial for the offense, remained at home while Belk and Cox kept hid out. Sheriff Douglas got on Belk's trail in Delaware Bend and followed him over 300 miles in the coldest weather ever known in this altitude, and arrested him in the Oklahoma territory on the 26th of January, 1884, and, brought him to Sherman. Belk had for years been looked on as a bad man and the idea that Douglas, with two deputies, Bob May and Nill Kelly, would tackle him and effect his arrest among the desperate comrades with whom he had associated in the disputed Oklahoma territory, was considered too reckless an undertaking for even Ebb Douglas to think of, much less actually carry out.
After Belk's arrest he gave the officers to understand that he was not the party but knew who was, and implicated John Allison, and eventually that Allison was the man who fired the shot that killed the negro.
Charles Cox has left the country, and his whereabouts is unknown.
The next grand jury found a true bill against Allison and Cox for the murder.
The forenoon was occupied in empannelling a jury, the special venire was summoned, six jurors being empaneled on the adjournment of court at noon.

THE TESTIMONY
SHERMAN, Dec. 13 - [Special] - The evidence as to the murder was from the wife of the murdered man. She testified that she and her husband had retired, and she supposed the time to have been about midnight; that they were awakened by some one calling her husband by his first name, George, and telling him they wanted him to show them the road; that when he opened the door he was shot down, and the shooting continued for about fifteen minutes; that she got out of bed and crawled under the bed; that when the parties who committed the murder left, she ran out and went to a neighbor's, and did not return until next morning; the murdered man had sixteen wounds; also that the negro church was burned the same night that her husband was killed.
The next important testimony for the state was that of George Belk, who was indicted for the same offense and for burning the church. He testified that Charles Cox and himself stayed at Allison's house that night; that he (Belk) was so drunk he fell off of his horse and that Cox and Allison carried him into the house and put him to bed; that he woke up during the night and found that he was alone in the house and that he went out to the horse lot and found his horse and saddle gone; also his hat and overcoat. That he went back to bed and was wakened later in the night by Allison and Cox coming in, and telling him that he had missed the fun, as they had burned a church and killed a negro; that they then built a fire and burned the shoes they had worn, having left their boots at the house when they went off.
The defense rested on the testimony of a female cousin of the defendant, who lived about twenty-five yards from defendant, and who was up all night with her sick mother. She testified that she knew from hearing him around and his coming to the house several times during the night to inquire and assist about her mother; that he was not away that night. John Wilson, a tenant of the defendant's testified that he was at Allison's house until 11:30 p.m., and that when he left Belk and Cox were both down drunk, and that he left them, as Allison told him he could manage Belk and Cox now, as he had them down, and on the fact that Belk had laid five months in jail on this charge and did not say anything about Allison being connected with it until sometime after he was released on bond.
The wife of the defendant, who by the evidence, was at the residence of the cousin, whose mother was sick, and who would know as much about it as she did, was not introduced by the defendant; they, however, waiving any right and tendered her to the state, agreeing that her testimony would be competent. The state, however, refused to put her on the stand.
The argument in the Allison murder case is progressing to-night. The case will not be given to the jury in time for them to bring a verdict to-night.



The Dallas Weekly Herald
Thursday, December 25, 1884
pg 7

John Allison Goes Up For Life
Sherman, Dec. 19 - [Special] - John Allison, who was convicted at this term of the court of killing a negro named George Allen, and sentenced to the penitentiary for ninety-nine years, to-day plead guilty to the murder of his cousin, Bob Allison, in August 1882. The only evidence given to the jury was the fact of Bob Allison being dead.
His attorneys stated to the jury that the defendant, having been convicted of the murder of Allen, and this case having been continued to the next term of the court, his attorneys had thought it better to dispose of the case in this way, as he had to go to the penitentiary anyhow for life and they could not see any necessity for bringing him out and trying him for this offense. All they asked for was his life, and requested the jury to sentence him for as long a term as they saw fit.  They sentenced him to the penitentiary for life. The motion for a new trial filed in the first case was withdrawn and Judge Maltbie asked if he had any reason to offer why the sentence should not be passed on him. He, in answer, said that he was not guilty of either crime, and that he only pleaded guilty to save his life. Whether guilty or not, he has not the appearance of a man guilty of the cold-blooded murders he has been found guilty of by a jury and pleads guilty to. His cousin, Bob Allison, was killed at night, and from the appearance of the body, was killed while lighting the candle, the matches being in his hand, and no weapon about the place. He was shot through the head and body. The reason assigned for his murder is that he was a witness against the defendant in another killing he had been guilty of, and for which he was acquitted after the death of Bob Allison.
The only evidence of his being his cousin's murderer, was his confessions to different parties. His confessions
and boasts to parties, convicted him of the murder of the negro also.



Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Monday, December 29, 1884
pg 5

John Allison Bids a Smiling Adieu to the World and Retires Behind the Bars of Life.

Special to the Gazette
SHERMAN, TEX. Dec. 28 - . . . Several prisoners convicted to the penitentiary during the past term have heretofore been taken away by the agent, and the last lot was taken off this morning on the east bound train. Among the number was John Allison, sentenced to life imprisonment in two cases of murder. He went off cheerful and smiling on his old acquaintances whom he met on the streets and at the depot, and to all outward appearances seemed to take the matter as coolly as if his withdrawal from this world was only for a brief season, instead of that incomputable period that only ends when the heart refuses to pulsate and interminable darkness closes around him.



The Austin Weekly Statesman
Austin, Texas
Thursday, May 7, 1885
pg 1

SHERMAN

The Convictions of Joe Smart and Joe Williams.

Special Telegram to the Statesman
Sherman, May 1 - Joe Williams was to-day convicted of the murder of Wm. Gaither, near Denison in February last, and sentenced to imprisonment for life. He laid in wait for his victim and shot him from a clump of bushes, as he was returning from school. Williams had previously laid in wait for Gaither, and shot him so that his right arm was completely crippled, and although 25 years of age, was attending school to perfect himself as a teacher, that he might earn a living.
Stillwell H. Russell, the ex-United States Marshal, recently released from the Chester, Illinois penitentiary, who has located at Denison as an attorney, defended the prisoner.