Denison Daily News
Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1879
pg. 1

BRUTAL MURDER
The City Marshal of Whitesboro Killed

Saturday afternoon two men from the country, who were somewhat intoxicated, created a disturbance in  a saloon at Whitesboro.  The proprietor used his best endeavors to quell the disturbance, but in vain, and at last called Mr. Ayers, the city marshal, who happened to be in the neighborhood.  Ayers arrested the most turbulent of the 2, and while leading him out of the saloon to take him to jail, the other slipped up behind the Marshal, and with a chair, struck him over the head, breaking his skull.  Ayers died Sunday morning at 1 o'clock.  The murderer was promptly arrested and placed in  jail.
The death of Mr. Ayers is deeply regretted by the people of Whitesboro, as he was an efficient officer and an amiable gentleman.  The feeling against the murderer was intense and we learn that the threats of lynching were at one time freely indulged in.