 Dallas Morning News
December 17, 1886 AN IMPORTANT MURDER CASE CROOK AND HARRIS' TRIAL AT SHERMAN Counsel and Court Discuss Law Points - Impaneling the Jury SHERMAN, Dec. 16 - The case of the State of Texas vs. Mack Crook and Newt. Harris, charged with being accomplices in the murder of Sheriff-elect Black at Blossom Prairie on the 16th day of November, 1884, was resumed in the District Court last evening. It was the supposition at the time the court adjourned in the afternoon that the defense would present a motion for continuance, as such was the import of the statements made to the court by the attorneys when the postponement until this morning was asked, but such was not the case and, to the surprise of the large crowd present, both the State and defendant announced ready and the special venire was called and their examination began. When two jurors had been secured a question arose as to the manner of QUALIFYING JURORS The State held that in order to more thoroughly qualify a juror the prosecution did not necessarily have to pass upon him before the defense questioned him and produced the statue which showed a cross examination of a juror by both State and defense to be in strict keeping with the letter of the law, and further argued that in order to procure a disinterested jury this method was most expedient, and asked that inasmuch as "it was certainly in keeping with justice and in accordance with the law that the court grant the privilege of cross examination of jurors to both State and defense." The defense did not deny that granting the request made by the State would be in accordance with a construction of the law, but argues that while it was permissible to cross question the jurors, that no such ruling has ever been made in a criminal court of Grayson County, and that usage in the premises had led them into trial with the expectation of finding a course of procedure in keeping with the customs that had been followed and adhered to here from time immemorial. They also state it to be their conclusion that the VAGUE WORDING OF THE LAW left the matter entirely discretionary with the ruling of the court, and asked that in a matter of such vital importance no radical change should be made in the manner of procedure. The State answered that the reason there had never been a like ruling called for before the courts of Grayson County was because the meaning of the law had never been questioned, but that usage had simply drifted into one of the two channels legalized by the law, and that the court did not have it in its power to rule in a manner contrary to the wording of the statue, and that this was a well defined law practiced in the courts of East Texas, and not discretionary with the court. The court granted the request of the State, and stated in so doing that he did it at their request, but that it had never before been practiced here. The examination of witnesses was the preceded with under the new ruling and the court was not adjourned until 10:30 p.m. when only five jurors out of the necessary twelve had been secured. Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour the court room up to the hour of adjournment was crowded with spectators. After examining about four hundred men the jury was secured this afternoon and the court was adjourned until to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.  Fort Worth Daily Gazette Fort Worth, Texas Sunday December 26, 1886 SHERMAN The Jury in the Crook-Harris Murder Case Fails to Agree and is Discharged by Judge Turner Special to the Gazette Sherman, Tex, Dec. 25 - The jury of the famous Crook-Harris murder case, which has been locked up since Thursday night, was called in the district court room this afternoon at 4 o'clock by Special Judge A. C. Turner, who asked the foreman if they could not agree on the verdict. The foreman then held up the paper which he had in his hand and said: "This paper will rust and decay before this jury can agree on a verdict." Judge Turner then discharged the jury and the case goes over for another trial. The Sherman Daily Register Sherman, Texas Monday May 23, 1887 pg 1 DISTRICT COURT The Crook-Harris Matter Before Judge Turner. Judge Turner announced that the case of Newt Harris, charged, with Mack Crook, in the murder of Sheriff elect Black, was on the calendar for today. After considerable consultation the State announced ready upon the condition that the State's witnesses, expected from the south, arrived on the noon express from Dallas. The defense raised the question of whether the severance granted in the case was originally called on a joint indictment against Mack Crook as principal, and Newt Harris as accomplise was binding on the trial now, holding that the last trial being a mistrial, was in fact no trial. The court seemed under the impression that it did hold them to the original severance, but did not so decide, appointing 1:30 p.m. as the time for hearing argument on the case. The court, in the short address by the defendant's attorneys, was indirectly notified that the argument on the question of severance was in order to get it settled, whether or not Crook would be placed on trial instead of Harris. The special sitting was then adjourned until 1:30 p.m. and Judge Head assumed the bench to try a civil suit. Fort Worth Daily Gazette Fort Worth, Texas Tuesday May 24, 1887 pg 3 SHERMAN Another Continuance in the Crook-Harris Murder Case Special to the Gazette Sherman, Tex., May 23 - The famous Crook and Harris case, wherein Newt Harris and Mack Crook are charged with the murder of the sheriff of Lamar county, and which was brought to this county under a change of venue, has occupied the attention of the District court to-day. District Judge H. O. Head was disqualified from hearing the case, having served as counsel for the defense in a former trial, and J. C. Turner occupied the bench as special judge in the case referred to, having served in that capacity at the trial; but on examination this evening by the counsel for the defense, it was discovered that Judge Turner's name did not appear on the records as special judge in the former case, which necessarily rendered his acts illegal in this case, as he had not taken the oath of office before empaneling the special venire. The attorneys on both sides then held a consultation and agreed to accept Judge Turner as a special judge to try the case, after which he went through the formality of taking the oath, which was administered by Districk Clerk Thomas. The attorneys for the defense then moved a continuance of the case on the ground that the special venire had been illegally empanelled, which motion was granted, and the case was continued til the next term of the District court. The Sherman Daily Register Sherman, Texas Wednesday, July 13, 1887 pg 4 CROOK-HARRIS CASE Matters of Importance Said to be Developing The case of the state of Texas vs. Mack Crook and Newt Harris, charged with the murder of Sheriff elect Black, at Blossom Prairie, and which comes up in the September term of the District Court here, has attracted much attention, rendering this extract from the Paris special to Dallas News of this morning will be of interest: "Yesterday Alec Riedenhour was brought to this city and lodged in on a charge of complicity in the killing of Sheriff Black at Blossom Priarie in November 1884. He has been under indictment a long time, but has eluded the officers. Recently a railroad man in the Territory gave the officers information as to his whereabouts and he was arrested a few days ago at Ozark, Ark. The officers will permit no one to see him, but it is intimated on the outside that he contemplates turning State's evidence, which will cause some new and startling developments in the celebrated Mack Crook case. An official told the News reporter that something of interest might be looked for soon." Fort Worth Daily Gazette Fort Worth, Texas Sunday October 30, 1887 pg 3 SHERMAN Special Judge for the Harris-Crook Case Special to the Gazette Sherman, Tex, Oct 29 - Judge A. C. Turner was sworn in as special District Judge to-day by agreement of counsel to try the case of Newt Harris and Mack Crook, charged with the murder of Sheriff Black of Lamar county in 1885. The defendants took a change of venue to this county and have had two trials which have resulted in hung juries, and a motion was filed to-day by the county attorney for a special venire to try their cases next week. Fort Worth Daily Gazette Fort Worth, Texas Friday November 18, 1887 pg 3 SHERMAN Convicted of Theft of Cattle - The Harris-Crook Cases Set For Trial. The famous cases of Newt Harris and Mack Crook, charged with the murder of Sheriff Black of Lamar county in 1885, on change of venue to Grayson county, are set for trial on Monday next. The Sherman Daily Register Sherman, Texas Monday, November 21, 1887 pg 4 CROOK-HARRIS The Noted Cases are Continued The cases of the state of Texas vs. Mack Crook and Newt Harris, charged with the murder of Sheriff elect Black, of Lamar county, on the night of Nov. 16th, 1884, and which were by a change of venire called in Sherman have been postponed until next sitting of the District Court of Sherman. The cases were to have been called today, but a sad misfortune overtook Attorney Hodges who was representing the state in behalf of Lamar county, and a continuance was granted out of respect. The special venires in the cases were ready, but were necessarily discharged. Fort Worth Gazette Fort Worth, Texas Wednesday November 21, 1888 pg 1 Witnesses in the Crook Case Special to the Gazette Paris, Tex. Nov. 20 - About 100 witnesses from Paris and Lamar county have gone to Sherman to testify in the case of the State vs. G. M. Crook, charged with the murder of Sheriff elect James H. Black of Lamar county in November 1884. This case was carried from Paris to Sherman on a change of venue. Newt Harris, who is charged as one of the principals, died last summer. Harris had a trial in Sherman two years ago, which resulted in a hung jury. This is one of the most notable cases ever in the courts of Texas. Fort Worth Daily Gazette Fort Worth, Texas Friday, November 23, 1888 pg 5 MACK CROOK CASE A New Witness Named Thomas Christopher Says That John Middleton Did the Killing Testimony of Louis Holman, the Alleged Accomplise of Crook and Harris. The Case Closely Watched. Special to the Gazette Sherman, Tex. Nov. 22 - The famous Crook-Harris murder case on a change of venue from Lamar county which went to trial in this city on last Monday is still progressing slowly. The readers of the GAZETTE will remember that James H. Black was elected sheriff of Lamar county on the first Tuesday in November, 1884, and was assassinated on the night of the 16th of that month at his home in Blossom Prairie by being called to his door and shot by unknown persons. Mac Crook, the incumbent sheriff of Lamar county, was Sheriff Black's opponent in the race and a short time after the murder circumstances disclosed led to the belief that an escaped prisoner from the Lamar county jail named John Middleton had committed the deed at the instigation of Mack Crook and his deputy, Newt Harris. Middleton is known to have died a short time afterwards, and Mack Crook and Newt Harris were arrested as parties to the crime. They obtained a change of venue to this county, and Louis Holman, charged with being an accomplise, was also arrested and turned state's evidence. Crook and Harris have had three trials in this city, resulting in hung juries. About twenty witnesses for the prosecution have been examined since Monday, reproducing about the same evidence with one or two exceptions as that given on previous occasions. A new witness named Thomas Christopher was introduced to-day and testified as follows: I reside in Paris, Texas, and lived there in 1884 and 1885. I first knew John Middleton a number of years ago, and was in prison with him in Paris in 1884, when they had me charged with forgery, of which charge I was cleared. While I was in jail Sheriff Mack Crook came to me and asked me if a fellow would set 'em up to $200 or $300 if I would do up Mr. Black, or something to that effect. Middleton was in the cell with me and smiled and said that he would do it. Middleton made his escape from jail sometime after I was released. The next night after Sheriff Black was killed I met Middleton on horseback on one of the streets of Paris. He told me that he had killed Sheriff Black and asked me if I would not help him kill a man by the name of Nelson. I told him that I would which I did in order to get a chance to capture him as I knew there was a big reward for him. I told Sheriff Gunn about it several days afterward and we agreed to keep the matter dark and try to catch Middleton. I have never testified in this case before. The defense had me summoned, but never put me on the stand. Louis Holman, the accomplice who turned state's evidence testified this afternoon as follows: Mack Crook and I are on good terms. I was his deputy until he went out of office. After that I went to work in a store at Emberson's Prairie. On the 18th day of February, 1885, Mr. Yates who had also been one of Crook's deputies came out and told me that Mr. Crook wanted me to come to Paris. I went to Paris and found Mr. Crook tending bar in his saloon. He and I went out to a wagon yard and had a short talk. The next morning he and I and Newt Harris met at Morgan Crook's room. They wanted me to go to Oswego, Kas., and either get John Middleton to leave the country or get him off where they could kill him. They gave me money and I went to Oswego and dropped two letters in the post office addressed to John Howard, which was the name Middleton went under. I remained five or six days, and failing to get an answer started to return home, and was met at the depot by Deputy Sheriff Burris of Lamar county and Mr. Duncan, a detective. They arrested me and took me to Paris where I entered into a written agreement to turn state's evidence and tell about the case. It will probably require another week to conclude the case and it is being watched with a great deal of interest. Waco Evening News Waco, Texas Thursday, November 29, 1888 MACK CROOK CONVICTED Sherman, Tex., Nov. 28 - The jury in the case of the state of Texas vs. Mack Crook, charged with being an accomplice in the murder of James Black at Blossom Prairie on the night of Nov. 16, 1884 reached a verdict this afternoon at 4 o'clock. The wording of the verdict was as follows: "We the jury, find the defendant, Mack Crook, guilty of being an accomplice to the murder in the killing of James Black, and assess his punishment at confinement in the state penitentiary for life." The prisoner bore up with wonderful nerve and composure even to entering his cell. It is understood that no stone will be left unturned by his attorneys, all of whom were absent at the reading of the verdict exept Judge Hare. Wild with Joy Over Crook's Conviction Blossom Prairie, Tex, Nov. 28 - News has reached here of the sentence of Mack Crook to ninety-nine years in the penitentiary. This was the home of Black, the murdered sheriff. The people here are firing anvils and bonfires are burning, and are rejoicing that justice long delayed, has been done. The whole town is wild with excitement and joy.   FELONY Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |