4 Jul 1879
James A Nelms
Grayson County
Constable, Precinct 2
Another
page about Constable Nelms
Article
covering all the murders of that horrible day.
Gala-Day of Horrors!
Three Men Instantly Killed and One Wounded.
Constable James Nelms One of the Victims.
The Notorious Negro Desperado Charley Russell
Killed.
The fourth of July will be remembered in more
respects than one, there terrible murders
being committed on that day in our city.
The incidents attending the death of Constable
Nelms are almost too painful for recital. it
is the old story , a size-shooter in the hands
of a notorious desperado, infuriated by
whisky.
Charley Russell, a mulatto, well known here as
a desperate character, and who should have
been hung in Missouri several years ago, if
all reports are true, shot and killed
Constable Nelms, one of the bravest and most
gallant officers in the State of Texas.
There are so many reports in circulation
concerning the terrible tragedy, that it is
difficult to as ascertain the true facts of
the shooting.
Russell, who has charge of a farm belonging to
Mr Alec Reddick, northwest of the city,
arrived in town on horseback on the morning of
the fourth. During the day Russell hung around
the Bank Exchange, drinking quite frequently,
his potations making him quarrelsome and
dangerous.
In the afternoon a large crowd of people were
in the saloon drinking, many being drunk. A
disturbance took place between a railroad man
and an Indian. During the progress of the
quarrel Russell interfered, crying in an
exciting manner, "I am the chief, I can whip
any man in the house." The railroad man then
struck Russell, who in return knocked him
down. It looked very much just then, as if the
fight would become general, the crowd becoming
terribly excited. During the excitement of the
railroad man, unobserved, procured a mallet
which which he dealt Russell a blow on the
side of his head, causing the blood to flow
from his ear.
John McDougall, the proprietor of the saloon,
and Alic Reddick, then endeavored to have
Russell leave the premises, Reddick calling on
Constable Nelms to arrest him. Russell by this
time had been pushed by the crowd form the
saloon out of the door into the back yard.
Constable Nelms told Russell that he was under
arrest.
Russell was grasped by the arm by McDougallho
said "Go!" shoving him into the alley. Russell
went over to Gheen's wagon yard, and procuring
a revolver returned to the saloon. He
commenced discharging the revolver as he
entered the back yard leading to the saloon.
On the approach of Russell the crowd in the
saloon fled in dismay out of the front yard.
It is supposed at that time Charley Colbert
was shot, he being, as he says , in the saloon
half asleep.
Constable Nelms in the meantime, supposing
that Russell was endeavoring to escape when he
saw him leaving the premises by the back door,
rushed out of the saloon to Rusk avenue, and
thence into the alley, entering the saloon at
the back entrance. Russell was waving his
pistol when Constable Nelms said, "Charley, I
want you," or words something to that effect.
Leveling his pistol at Nelms, Russell
Answered. "I will never be arrested to-day;
tomorrow I will surrender.". Constable Nelms
then fired, unfortunately missing his man. The
negro advanced towards Constable Nelms,
leveled his pistol over McDougall's shoulder,
and fired, the ball taking effect in his head
a little above the left eye, killing him
almost instantly. Russell shouting, "I am the
bos-s I am the chief," retreated into the back
yard to the alley to Rusk avenue. Standing in
front of Gheen's livery establishment, he
flourished his revolver, defying the crown to
come and arrest him. After standing there for
a moment he walked up Rusk avenue to main
street, going up into the second story to the
front room of the Bank Exchange.
At this moment the excitement was something
terrible to behold, and will never be
forgotten, at least by our reporter. The crowd
was swaying to and fro, the majority with
drawn revolvers, calling for vengeance on the
murderer of Constable Nelms. For a moment no
one dare go up the stairway in pursuit of
Russell Ex-Deputy Sheriff Massey was the first
to mount the stairway, with revolver in hand,
followed soon afterwards by two or three
others, Marshall Sam Ball, of Sherman, being
of the number.
Mrs Nelms, the mother of the deceased hearing
of the death of her boy, left home on Crawford
street, and went into the saloon where he lay
on the floor, the blood oozing from a ghastly
wound in the head. The Mother took the gory
head of her son in her arms, calling down the
vengeance of heaven on his murderer.
About five minutes, or perhaps longer, after
ex-deputy Sheriff Massey went up the stairway,
several shots were fired. IN the meantime Dick
and Harry Nelms, brothers of the deceased,
also the father, all armed , appeared on the
street. Dick Nelms rushed up the stairway, and
in a moment or so, two other pistol shots were
heard. Marshal Sam Ball, of Sherman then
appeared at the front window stating that
Russell was killed. This intelligence was
received with evident satisfaction by the
dense multitude who cheered lustily.
The local of the News was one of the first to
see Russell, as he lay on the floor, hardly
distinguishable for the blood on his face. His
head was riddle with bullets.
Who fired the fatal shot, killing Russell, it
is not positively known. Mr Jim Massey, is
however, supposed to be the individual who did
the charitable act.
As soon as the excitement subsided, Russell's
body was dragged down the stairway, thrown on
a cart and taken away.
Mr Nelm's body was conveyed to the residence
of his father on Crawford Street, where
immense numbers of sorrowing friends view the
remains.
"Dust to Dust"
The funeral took place from the residence of
his father J H Nelms, on Crawford Street, at 2
o'clock pm Saturday. A pathetic discourse was
delivered by Rev. Mr Parks, of the Baptist
Church, in which he feelingly alluded to the
high estimation in which Mr Nelms was held as
a faithful and efficient officer. At the
sacrifice of his life he had endeavored to act
up to his oath of office, and fell at this
post, a martyr to duty. the funeral procession
was one of the longest ever seen in Denison.
The scene at the tomb was affecting in the
extreme. As the body was being lowered to its
final resting place in the heart of the aged
father could no longer subdue its burden of
grief, and he gave vent to his feelings
in an outburst of anguish that brought tears
to the eyes of all present. And the expression
of grief on the part of the stricken wife,
mother and sister were even more heartrending.
Jim Nelms was recognized by all who knew him
as a warm hearted generous man, and at home,
from all accounts, he was even more remarkable
for his amiable qualities. We feel that are
but expressing the wishes for all the good
people in the city in extending for them their
sincere sympathy with the family in their
great bereavement.
Murder No 3
On the morning of the fourth the body of an
Indian named Napoleon Anderson, a son of
Captain Anderson, who lives in the Chickasaw
Nation, near Tishomingo, was found in the rear
of Wolf's Saloon with two bullet holes in his
head. Parties living in the vicinity heard the
shooting and saw two Mounted men ride away.
It is said by Anderson's neighbors that he was
a desperate character, having killed two or
three persons in the Territory. It is supposed
that the murder was committed by some of the
friends of Anderson's victims. The body was
sent to the Territory by Gov Burney.
Still Another,An Indian
Man named Louis Tubby was shot and killed in
the B I T near Red river the night of July
3rd. The tragedy was the result of an old
feud between the deceased and some Chickasaw
Indians. The murderer made his escape, but a
party is in pursuit.
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