Van Alstyne Leader
February 26, 1925

BADLY WOUNDED IN SHOOTING
A shooting occurred at Farmington about three miles west of Howe, Monday night between 9 and 10 o'clock, in which Melzie Douglass, about 27 years of age, was shot.  Only one shot was fired, the ball entering the left side, penetrating the intestines, stomach and liver.  Attending physicians at the Sherman hospital where Douglass was carried after being shot, were unable to locate the bullet because of Douglass' weakened condition which forced the stopping of an operation which was being performed.
G. E. Atkins, a young man about 19 years of age, surrendered and was carried to Sherman and lodged in jail.
It is stated that there had been trouble on previous occasions between two elements of young men in the Farmington community.  Douglass had but little affiliation with the antagonisms, having returned from California but two or three weeks previous to the trouble.  It is further stated that on the night of the shooting, a quarrel, in which Douglass was taking no part, began among certain young men gathered at a singing which was being held.  A few words passed, when Atkins
drew his pistol and shot one time, the bullet taking effect as above described.  Reports are somewhat conflicting as to
what happened, but reliable information gives the principal circumstance of the trouble as above stated.

LATER . . . Douglass died at the Sherman hospital, where he had been taken for treatment yesterday morning.  His body was sent to Farmington for the funeral services and burial.
Young Douglass is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Douglass, at Farmington, and the following sisters and brothers: Mrs. Ida Grigg of near Dorchester; Mrs. J.W. McMahan of near Van Alstyne; Mrs. May Grigg of Farmington, Richard Rubie and Algy Douglass of Farmington and Roy Douglass of Taft, Colorado.
Funeral services will be held at Farmington at 2 p.m. today.
The affair was a most regrettable one and the sympathy of friends in this community and at Farmington is most sincerely tendered the relarives.
A charge of murder has been entered against Atkins, the man who did the shooting, and who is now confined in the county jail at Sherman.

G.E. Atkins charged with murder