Dallas Morning News
February 11, 1898

IT LOOKS LIKE SUICIDE.
SOMETHING MORE ABOUT THE UN-KNOWN FOUND DEAD IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY
DEATH WAS CAUSED BY MORPHINE
   
A Territory Man Introduced Whiskey in Violation of Law to Get Into the Bastile and Find Rest   

Denison, Tex., Feb. 10 - Dr. A. W. Acheson, company physician in charge of the hospital department of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas in this city, went to the Indian Territory on an early train this morning to examine the body of the dead man reported on the Katy right of way north of Red River bridge in the Indian Territory, last night. 

The following is the statement of Dr. Acheson:

"The body of the dead man was found lying on the east side of the railroad track, on the dump, near the track, this morning, just as it was, I suppose, when found yesterday evening.  I suppose the distance was about 100 yards north of the railroad bridge.  There was a brown overcoat on the body, showing evidences of having been pretty well worn.  The hat of the dead man was a wide, broad-brimmed sombrero style, almost new.  His suit of clothes was a gray material and almost new.  The man was of about medium height, I would judge about 35 years of age, black hair, dark complexion.  He face was smoothly shaven and looked like he had just left a barber shop.  On his coat was a lodge button with a tent in the center and the initials "K. T. O. M."  In his pockets were three white handkerchiefs marked 'B. N.'  A blank book on his person contains the name 'Byron Nettles,' and in another place are the names 'Ada Pickard, Byron Nettles, Delia McCiell, Maggie Cleeve.'

Knight of the Maccabees

"On one side of the dead man were two pint alcohol flasks, one nearly empty and the other nearly full of alcohol.  On his person was a bottle of morphine with thirty-one grains gone from the contents.  At his side were the wrapper of the morphine bottle and the tinfoil taken from around the top over the stopper.  There was nothing of any value on his person except 50 cents in a buckskin purse in his pantaloons pocket, and a large jackknife.  There were no letters of any kind whatever, and from the surroundings the public can draw its own conclusions as to how deceased came to his death.  There were no marks of violence whatever on deceased's person, and the morphine was the instrument that caused his destruction."

The man was viewed to-day by a number of people, and none of them recognized the remains as any one they knew, and he is unquestionably a stranger in
this country.  There is some writing on the inner leaf of the large pocketbook found near the dead man, but when Dr. Acheson took charge of it to-day the writing could not be distinguished, but it is presumably the "James Smith, Book, La.," referred to by Operator Culver of Warner in his report last night.

All night long in the rain and storm the remains lay out in the weather without any protection except the canopy of heaven, and to-day at noon they are still lying there undisturbed.  Deputy United States Marshal J. B. Davis of Colbert was in the city this afternoon, and The News reporter asked him why no steps had been take to take charge of the remains to have them interred, and he replied that under the federal jurisdiction in effect in the Territory there is no law for holding inquests or taking charge of mysterious dead as there is in the states, and no official has any more right than a private citizen to take charge of such remains.

The railroad company will take the remains this afternoon and inter them on the right of way of the company where the body was found.

The Houston Daily
Tuesday, February 15, 1898
pg. 5

SAID TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED
Mexia, Texas, February 14 - The reports published in the Dallas News of the 9th, 10th, and 11th regarding the cause of the death of the man found on the right of way near Red River bridge on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railway, have been thoroughly exploded by recent developments.  The body has been identified by his brother as that of Byron Nettle, who resided at Israel, in Freestone County, 19 miles northeast from here, and is en route for this place.  It is asserted by the friends and relatives of the deceased that he was knocked off the train and killed by parties known to them.  An autopsy will be held upon the arrival of the body at this place.

The Fairfield Reporter
Friday, February 18, 1898
pg. 5

DEATH OF BYRON NETTLE
Knocked off a Moving Train and Killed by One of the Train Men

Byron Nettle, of this county, who lived in the Burleson neighborhood, was killed last week in Indian Territory, and the circumstances surrounding his death prove conclusively that he was murdered, and facts which we are told are fast developing will show that he was killed by one of the trainmen of the M.K.& T. Railroad.  Our space will not permit a detailed account of all that has developed in the case, hence we can give only a condensed report.
He was found Thursday of last week lying beside the railroad track dead, a few miles north of Red River, in the Territory.  A railroad physician was sent out from Denison to examine the body and make a report on it, and he stated that the deceased had committed suicide with morphine.  From the few papers found on the deceased he could not be identified as to his name, and he was buried at Colbert, the nearest town to Texas in the Territory.  Later, it was learned by relatives in this county who he was, and last week Mr. David O. Nettle, brother of the deceased, went to Colbert and had the body disinterred, whereupon he identified it as being that of his brother, Byron.  Mr. Nettle, feeling sure that his brother did not commit suicide, and to establish that fact, he had the body carefully examined there by a physician, and it was clearly developed the deceased had been struck a severe blow on the neck, completely dislocating it.  Mr. Nettle also had the stomach removed for analysis, to see whether or not morphine poisoning had cause death.  The body was then shipped to Mexia, where it arrived last Monday.  On its reception there relatives of the deceased had the body further examined, an autopsy being performed by Drs. Oates, Smyth and Chumney.  The neck and head were dissected sufficiently to show that the bone had not only been broken, but the spinal cord had also been completely severed, thus conclusively showing that death had been caused by the blow on the neck.  The final burial of the remains was had last Tuesday morning, interment being made in the family grave yard near Bonner.
The deceased had been gone from this county about 2 months and had been working in Indian Territory as a detective, so it was said.  He was evidently on his return to Texas, and probably coming home, and when on the M. K. & T. passenger train between Colbert and Denison, he was killed as above stated.  The first telegrams sent out from Denison in regard to the matter were grossly inaccurate, but sent out, as they were, from interested railroad sources, that were not surprising.  We are credibly informed that parties have been seen, who live in Texas, who saw and heard an altercation between the conductor of the train and the deceased in regard to his fare or transportation, and then it was said he was knocked off the train and killed.  The case is being carefully worked up and further developments will no doubt be made.
Byron was born and reared in this county, and many friends will hear with regret of his untimely death.  He was a sober, steady, quiet young man, not given to drink.  And none that knew him believe that he would commit suicide, as the railroad telegrams tried, at first, to make it appear, to cover up the crime that had been committed.

The Fairfield Recorder
Friday, March 11, 1898
pg. 5

H.B. Daviss, Esq. left yesterday for Tyler, Mineola, Sherman and other places on an investigating trip, looking up evidence relative to the killing of Byron Nettle near Colbert, Indian Territory, last month.  Mr. Daviss expects to be gone about a week.

FELONY
Susan Hawkins
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