The Dallas Weekly Herald
Thursday, May 5, 1885
pg.1

The Fight at Lee's Ranch

Sherman, May 4. (Special) - The town is full of rumors concerning the fight on Saturday last with the desperadoes. The message from Whitesboro reported the fight as being at Stein's store, which in on the line between Cooke and Grayson counties.
It now appears to have been in the nation, at Lee's ranch. Whether the officers sent from here will go to the Nation is not known. Bob May, the deputy under whose charge they are, will undoubtedly go into the Nation if the force there is under lawful authority; but if it is only an organized body of men, under no lawful officer, he will have nothing to do with it but will await in Delaware Bend the outcome of work of other desperadoes from this side. At this writing nothing more definite is known.

PARTICULARS FROM GAINESVILLE.
Gainesville, May 4. (Special) - Further particulars of the killing on Saturday last, in the Nation, have been received. The Herald gave several days ago an account of the theft of 18 head of beef cattle from a man in Delaware Bend. This was one of a series of depredations committed not only on the citizens on this side of the river, but also on those in the Nation. There is a gang which infests that region composed of 15 or more, who are engaged in cattle and horse stealing and murder, and some whiskey peddlers. These are banded together to resist arrest unto the death. Jim Lee is the leader of this band and their rendezvous and the place where they kept their ill-gotten stock is called Lee's ranch. At this point they have erected a block house with loop holes all around and are prepared to defend it to the last. This is where the disastrous fight occurred, at the mouth of Round hole in Caddo creek. A posse was formed in this county and was joined by several of the Indian police. They tracked the thieves to Lee's ranch, approached to arrest them, but they took refuge in their fort and behaved in a most treacherous manner. Officer Guy was perfidiously induced to believe they would not resist if he would promise not to hurt them, and when he approached to speak to them they fired on him with six Winchesters, riddling him with bullets. One bullet killed Andy Roff, two were fired into Jim Roff, and Mathes was shot several times. Just as soon as the news reached here the sheriff organized a posse and went to join another posse which was forming in the upper part of the county. The bold murderers will be met by 200 men, and if they are captured, there is small hope of mercy for them. The Lee boys are connected with many of the best citizens of Cooke and Grayson counties, and Jim Lee's mother, who is over 70 years of age and a devout Christian, has often pleaded with her son to abandon his wicked course.



Ft. Worth Daily Gazette
Friday, May 8, 1885
pg. 6

GAINESVILLE
Two More of the Delaware Bend Desperadoes Jailed - Court Doings
Special

Gainesville, Texas, May 7 - The case of the State vs. Steve Hudson, charged with the murder of Sidney Powell, was submitted to the jury this morning, and after a few minutes' deliberation, the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty.
The court is now engaged in the trial of Bud Cochran, charged with the murder of Dave Elliott, at Horseshoe Bend, about a year ago.
Tom Wright, United States marshal and City Marshal Cutler, from Denison, arrived on tonight's train with Tom Lee and Ed Stein, two of the Delaware Bend desperadoes who participated in the murder of the 4 men several days ago.  They are wanted on several other charges.  Great excitement prevails here over their capture.  A large crowd was at the depot to catch a glimpse of the prisoners.



The Standard
Friday, May 8, 1885         
pg. 3

The Desperate Fight in the Nation
Gainesville, Texas, May 4 - Another courier has arrived in this city from the scene of bloody tragedy in the Nation, and corroborates the killing of Andy and Jim Roff, Francis Mathis and Officer Guy, which was done in a most fiendish and treacherous manner. The fight occurred where Mud Creek enters Caddo Creek, about 40 miles from this city.  The thieves had sought shelter in a block house from which they dealt their deadly fire.  Sergeant Guy was treacherously induced to believe that they would not resist the service of papers on them, and with that understanding placed himself in a position where he might talk with them, when the fugitives opened a murderous fire on him from 6 Winchesters, riddling him with bullets.  One bullet killed Andy Roff, 5 were fired into Jim Roff and several pierced the body of Mathis.  Reports as to the number of wounded are conflicting, one informant stating that 5 are wounded, while another that only one is wounded. The following are the names of the outlaws, all of whom escaped uninjured:
Jim Green, Doc and Jim Lee, Ed Stein, and a Negro.  Jim Lee is the leader of the gang, and boasts that he did the principal part of the killing.  Their place of rendezvous is the Lee ranch, where they have constructed a block house for shelter, with loopholes all around.
After the killing the murderers emerged from their place of shelter and started in the direction of Delaware Bend, this county, notifying parties on the way that they had left several corpses at the ranch and that they had better get them or hogs would eat them up.  They said they had done a good job and were on their way to Delaware Bend to see what they could do there.
News of the killing spread like wildfire and a large number of people from near the scene of the tragedy in conjunction with a posse organized by the Sheriff of this county, have assembled at Delaware Bend to give pursuit and capture, if possible, these desperate characters.  The Lee boys are well known in this and Grayson county, and related to some of the most respectable citizens of both counties.  Only recently the mother of Jim Lee, the leader of the gang, an estimable Christian woman pleaded with her son to reform his life.

Later. - The latest information is that the outlaws are surrounded in a house by a posse of 200.  They will die rather than surrender. A messenger has been dispatched to Sherman for a cannon.



The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, May 10, 1885
pg.4

CAPTURED
At 10 o'clock Thursday morning Marshal Cutler, with the assistance of some of his policemen, captured Ed Stein and Tom Lee, two of the notorious Delaware Bend outlaws.  They came to Denison on Wednesday evening and remained over night.  Marshal Cutler learning that they were here, got a friend of theirs to secure their arms, when he took them without difficulty.  He took them to Gainesville Thursday afternoon.  There was no attempt at and but little talk of lynching them on their arrival.  The reward will be paid as soon as the officials return, they being after the remaining Lee brothers.  The prisoners were taken to Sherman and placed in jail.



Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Tuesday May 12, 1885
pg.5

On the Trail of Some Members of the Outlaw Gang

Sherman, Tex., May 11. - Elijah Sacro came to Sherman from his brother's ranch on Glass creek in the territory to-day, and says that Jim and Pink Lee of the outlaw gang were at Halford's ranch Sunday evening and exchanged their jaded horses  for fresh ones. They told a hand on the ranch that they would not leave the country, but would leave the horses where the owner could get them. They said also that they were going to stay there, and for him to tell all parties who wanted them to come and get them. There is now no doubt that these men were in Sherman Friday. They left before the next day for the Nation. They contemplated surrender, but were advised not to risk it. Our officers got a hint of their presence, but they were too sly to be caught. They have threatened the lives of John Washington and Streeter Brown, who were foremost in hunting them down, and these men will not rest easy while they are running around loose.



Ft. Worth Daily Gazette
Wednesday, May 13, 1885
pg.5

We are informed by parties from the north last night that the Roff brothers, who offered the reward for the arrest of Ed Stein, now refuse to pay the same to the marshal of Denison, claiming that Stein came in and surrendered.



Austin Weekly Statesman
Thursday, May 14, 1885
pg.1

Voluntary Surrender of Two of the Outlaw Gang
Special Telegram to The Statesman

Denison, May 7 - Late last night Tom Lee and Ed Stein, two of the gang of outlaws who are alleged to have done the killing of members of the posse at Lee's ranch on Saturday last in the Indian Territory, came into Denison and surrendered to City Marshal Cutler.  They were today taken to Gainesville.  They claim to have done none of the wholesale stealing or murdering that has occurred recently, but were forced by the other members of the gang to identify themselves with them.  They say the outlaws, being pursued, will never be taken alive.



The Galveston Daily News
Tuesday, May 26, 1885
pg. 1

Stein-Lee Trial at Sherman
[Special to The News]

Sherman, May 25 - The trial of Ed. Stein and Jim Lee and Dickinson for the murder of United States Marshal Guy, Andy and Jim Roff and Will Kirkland, on May 1, is being investigated before United Commissioner Ricketts.  This is the murder that caused so much excitement at the time.  The United States marshal had warrants for the Lee boys for theft of cattle and when he went to the house with a posse to effect the arrest the inmates of the house opened fire, killing the 4 men mentioned.  Only one witness was examined.  He was one of the posse and positively identifies Stein as the man who opened the window and asked them what they wanted, and on being told by the United States marshal that he had papers for the Lee boys, told him to go around to the front of the house and shut the window.  The firing then began.  The trial will be continued tomorrow.



The Galveston Daily News
Wednesday, May 27, 1885
pg. 1

Delaware Bend Desperadoes
[Special to The News]
Sherman, May 26 - The interest in the examining trial of the Delaware Bend desperadoes is unabated.  The room of the Unites States Commissioner was so crowded that the court-house had to be used.  The evidence against Ed. Stein is damaging, and he seems to realize that he has made a mistake in surrendering himself.  He has been positively identified by four witnesses as being in the house from which the killing took place, and by one witness as coming out of the house after the fight with a gun in his hands, and by another as being in the party who came to his place and informed him of the killing, and requesting him to get some neighbors to take care of the bodies before the hogs ate them.  The house was described by the witness, who examined it after the fight, as being built for the purpose of withstanding a siege, and having portholes to fire from.



The Galveston Daily News
Thursday, May 28, 1885
pg. 2

Examining Trial Postponed
[Special to The News]
Sherman, May 27 - The examining trial of Ed Stein, Tom Lee and Davidson was, by agreement postponed until next week, for the purpose of obtaining more testimony.  The government then had Tim Culp, Albert Powell and William Bourland, charged with the same offense, brought out.  They had some difficulty in procuring counsel.  Time was given them and they had counsel procured at the evening session of the court. So far, evidence is only against Stein and Bourland.  It is understood, however, that witnesses now on their way will identify all the others as having been in the house at the time of the murder.



The Dallas Weekly Herald
Thursday, May 28, 1885
pg. 1

The Delaware Bend Gang Trials
Sherman, May 27 - [Special] - The examining trial of Ed Stein, Tom Lee and Davidson was, by agreement, postponed until next week, to enable both sides to procure more and better testimony.  Wm. Bourland, Tom Culp and Albert Powell are now on trial.  The evidence against Bourland cropped out yesterday from the witness Turner, he testifying to having remained in the branch and recognizing Ed Stein and Bourland, and hearing Bourland say, as he stood over the dead body of Guy: "We have played hell!  We liked to killed all of them!  Here is 4 dead ones and there's 5 or 6 more dead down on the branch!"



The Galveston Daily News
Friday, May 29, 1885
pg. 2

Examining Trial Postponed - Fitted Up an Elegant Office
[Special to the News]

Sherman, May 28 - The examining trial of the alleged slayers of United States Marshal Guy was postponed until Thursday of next week to give both sides an opportunity of procuring further evidence.  On the evidence introduced only two of the defendants have been identified.
It appears that there were 7 in the house from which the firing took place, and there are 6 persons under arrest charged with the offense, and Ed Stein and Wm. Bourland have been identified as parties participating in the killing.  The prosecution expect to have a witness in attendance Thursday that will identify Albert Powell, Tom Culp and Tom Lee as being in the house at the time of the killing.  This leaves Davidson, the party who left the house before the killing but who was with them after the killing, as an accessory after the fact, if he is held over at all.



Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Fort Worth, Texas
Tuesday, June 2, 1885
pg 4

GAINESVILLE

The Lee Boys Still on the War-Path in the Nation

Gainesville, Tex., June 1. - The Lee boys have been heard from again. A gentleman returned from a business trip in the Nation Saturday night and brought news of their whereabouts and a trying experience of his own with them. This gentleman, in company with another, was driving cattle on Caddo creek, when he saw a horse tied in the bushes which both recognized. They approached the horse to get the brand, when they were surprised by Jim and Pink Lee springing out of the bushes with Winchesters leveled at them. The Lees charged them with belonging "to the Roff outfit," while the men pleaded not to be shot, as they belonged to no crowd. One of the Lees shoved his Winchester in the face of one of the men and said, "Look down there and see if you can't see a corpse," and threatened to kill him on the spot. The men pleaded earnestly for their lives, and, after a while, they were permitted to go. The Lee boys told them they were still on the war-path. The gentleman who brought the information is engaged in business here, and is entirely reliable.



Ft. Worth Daily Gazette
Friday, June 5, 1885
pg.5

GAINESVILLE
The Latest Doings of the Lee Boys - A Big Reward for Their Capture
Special

Gainesville, Texas, June 4, - Reliable parties coming in from a trip in the Nation bring further information of the Lees and matters in that locality.  The stock belonging to Ed. Stein has been disposed of and that gathered by the Lees was driven from their pasture on Sunday night.  A few nights since they stole a horse on Wilson's ranch, the property of John Stewart and turned loose the property stolen by them about 10 days ago.  At another place they gave a man named Baker, on the Roxborough ranch, an order for a gun, with instructions that "if the gun was not sent as per order they would call themselves and ascertain the reason why."  The reward of $5000 offered for the capture of these men is still on deposit, and though their whereabouts is known to many, so far as learned no efforts are being made to capture them, and they are permitted to roam at will.



The Galveston Daily News
Friday, June 12, 1885
pg. 2

SHERMAN
[Special to The News]
Sherman, June 11 - The examining trial of Ed Stein, Tom Lee, and Wm. Bourland, for the murder of United States Marshal Guy and three of his posse, in the Chickasaw Nation, on May 1, was concluded today.  Stein and Lee were held over without bail, and Bourland was discharged.

The Dallas Daily Herald
Friday, June 12, 1885
pg.1

WITHOUT BAIL
Sherman, June 11 - [Special] - The United States Commissioners' Court is still engaged in the examining trial of Ed Stein, Tom Lee and William Bourland.  Ed Stein testified for himself.  He testified to having left the house with Tom Lee and Jim Lee's wife before the shooting and returned after the shooting, and that Jim and Pink Lee were the only ones in the house at the time of the killing.  He also testified that he came over to Texas in company with the accused and returned with them to the Nation and remained with them several days before he came to Denison and surrendered.  He gave no reason for not informing the authorities when in Texas as to who did the killing, and assigned as a reason for remaining with the Lee boys that he was afraid of being mobbed.  The murder was committed on the morning of May 1 and he surrendered on May 7.  Rachel Lee, a full-blooded Indian, the wife of Jim Lee, corroborated Ed Stein in every particular.  Bourland was discharged and Stein and Lee held without bail.



The Dallas Daily Herald
Saturday, June 13, 1885
pg. 1

The CRIMINAL CALENDAR
The Case of Stein and Lee
Sherman, June 12 [Special] - Ed. Stein and Tom Lee will sue out a habeas corpus, expecting, at least, to be admitted bail, if not discharged.



The Dallas Daily Herald
Sunday, June 21, 1885
pg. 2

En Route to Answer to Murder
Ed Stein, one of the alleged murderers and cattle thieves who killed Andy and Jim Roff and Jim Guy and W. Kinksey, officers of the law, in Delaware Bend several weeks ago while they were attempting their capture, was brought here from the Sherman jail yesterday and lodged in jail by United States Marshal Grant to await transportation to Ft. Smith for trial.



Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Sunday, June 28, 1885
pg.4

Hunting the Lee Boys.
Special to the Gazette.
Sherman, Tex., June 27. - From a gentleman just down from the Delaware Bend country, we learn that several squads of officers are hunting Jim and Pink Lee among the hills of the Territory, and one of the parties has three trained blood-hounds to put on the trail as soon as it becomes necessary to do so. Jack Duncan of Dallas is with the party and if anybody doubts that it means business he doesn't know Jack Duncan.



Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Saturday July 11, 1885
pg.3

Jack Duncan, who is employed by the Roffs to run down Jim and Pink Lee, the terrors of Delaware Bend, has returned, His party consists of eleven men, who are in the neighborhood where the Lee boys "run". He says he has been frequently near  the desperadoes and has received messages from them. They say they will never be taken alive and are armed to the teeth. Each carries two Winchesters, two revolvers and three belts of cartridges. They say they have no place to go to and intend to stay where they are, killing as many of their pursuers as they can, or selling for the best price. They declare that they have no hope of escape, and that in the long run they will be killed. Duncan left his men in the bend and will return to them immediately.



The Dallas Weekly Herald
Thursday August 13, 1885
pg.2

Gainesville, Aug. 9 - (Special) - Parties from Delaware Bend bring the information that the outlaws, Jim and Pink Lee, had crossed to this side of the river and gone to the home of Ed Steen, a former "pal", who is now in the clutches of the law.  They interviewed several parties and expressed a determination to die rather than surrender, and repeated their threat of extermination upon all who have endeavored or shall endeavor to secure their capture. Horses were stationed all along the route traveled from their hiding place to Delaware Bend, and friends placed on watch to prevent any possibility of capture.  They cut a number of pasture fences so that there should be no obstruction in case they were compelled to flee to avoid capture.



The Galveston Daily News
Monday, August 31, 1885
pg. 1

DALLAS
[Special to The News]
Dallas, August 30 - Bill Darden and Ed. Stein, charged with being members of the Lee gang, were forwarded today by United States Marshal Cabell to Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Jim Shaw and Tom Lee, of the same crowd, follow tomorrow.
Arrivals: D.D. Ellis, Austin; J.N. Hall, Decatur; J.G. Walker and W.J. Angus, Aberdeen Scotland; Colonel Dan S. Malven, Toledo, Ohio.



Brenham Daily Banner
Tuesday, September 1, 1885
pg. 2

STATE NEWS
---Bill Darden, Ed. Stein, Jim Shaw and Tom Lee, have been sent by U.S. Marshall Cabell to Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  They are all members of the notorious Lee gang of desperadoes and out-laws.



The Dallas Daily Herald
Thursday, September 10, 1885
pg.4

JIM AND PINK LEE KILLED - THE CORPSES AT GAINESVILLE

A Desperate Fight With Detectives Who Came on Them Unawares Near Delaware Bend
Gainesville, Sept. 8. - (Special) - To-day has been the most exciting one ever witnessed in Gainesville. From early morn till late to-night there has been but one subject of conversation, that of the killing of the Lee boys, the notorious outlaws.
This morning, about 3 o'clock, a wagon containing Hook Thomas, general manager of the Fort Worth detective association; Jim Taylor, of Dexter, Cooke County, Jim Shattel, of Cooke county, and the lifeless bodies of two men, stopped on the public square. A crowd soon gathered around the wagon, and in it, lying side by side and

COLD IN DEATH
were Jim and Pink Lee, the outlaws who had so long been a terror to the people of Delaware Bend and vicinity. The vehicle containing the dead men was drawn to the jail, where they were taken out and carried inside. The news spread like wild fire, and a large crowd soon gathered in front of the jail.

CORONER'S INQUEST
The coroner was summoned, a jury empaneled and the following proceedings had:
Heck Thomas being sworn testified as follows: I live at Fort Worth, Texas; about 10 o'clock yesterday morning I was informed by John Strother that the Lee boys were near his house, and he thought they had cut his pasture fence; I tried to find the Lee boys then, but failed; between 12 and 1 o'clock, while at dinner, a runner came and told me that the Lee boys were riding through Strother Brown's pasture; Jim Taylor and Jim Shattels commenced looking for them at once; about 2 or 2:30 o'clock we saw them half a mile off; they were off their horses and on the ground, and we could tell what they were doing; we hurried in that direction, but we couldn't see them; after we had got over the hill and when we struck the lane between Strother Brown's and John Washington's pastures we saw they had cut Strother Brown's pasture fence, and were cutting John Washington's pasture fence across the lane; we had a spy glass; we got as close to them as possible - about 40 or 45 yards away - and ordered them to surrender. They dropped their nippers and fired at us and missed us; as Pink tried another shell on his gun he was killed; we all then were shooting at them and could not tell which killed him; about a second or two later Jim was shot by one of us and about 16 shots were fired; we kept shooting till Jim quit; don't know how many shots struck the Lee boys; no one did any shooting at the Lee boys except Jim Taylor, Jim Shattels and myself; Jack Brown saw part of the shooting, but didn't do any of it.
(Signed) Heck Thomas

IDENTIFIED
A witness was then sworn who identified the dead bodies as those of Jim and Pink Lee.
After the conclusion of the testimony the jury retired and returned the following:

VERDICT:
We, the jury, empaneled and sworn to inquire into the cause and manner and time of the death of Jim and Pink Lee, find that they came to their deaths on September 7, 1885, from gunshot wounds inflicted by Heck Thomas, Jim Taylor and Jim Shattel, J.T. Harris, Foreman.
By the time the investigation was over the crowd outside had increased to several hundred, and, becoming impatient, had managed to get in at the doors and windows until the room was filled. The bodies of the dead men, which were covered with blood, were washed and ordered carried to the court house where HUNDREDS CALLED DURING THE DAY to take a look at the lifeless forms of the men who had terrorized a whole community, and bid defiance to the law and its officers.
An examination of the bodies showed that Pink Lee had but one wound.The ball went in at the right side of the neck, ranged upward and came out behind the left ear. Jim Lee was shot twice, once under the chin, the ball coming out in the back of his neck. The lower part of the right ear was shot off.

DESCRIPTIVE
The men were very much alike in appearance - Jim a little the taller, Pink Lee had sandy whiskers, light hair and weighed about 135 pounds, was about 5 feet 5 inches high, and was 23 years old. Jim Lee had sandy whiskers, light hair, was about 5 feet 6 inches, weighed about 150 pounds, and was about 35 years old. The faces of both would indicate they were mean, desperate men.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT
Mr. Heck Thomas gives the following account of the fight: "I have been after the Lee boys since June 10. Jim Taylor has been out since about May 5. We would have taken them sooner, but the country through which they were accustomed to run is full of thieves and lawless characters, and besides, they had friends on the outside who kept them posted as to our movements. At times we were in close places and could not tell whether the Lee boys were after us or we after them. To come down to the fight: After we demanded their surrender not a word was spoken. The fight was in the grass, in the open prairie, and was as pretty as one as I ever saw. As soon as we called on them to surrender they dropped their nippers and fired on us. We returned the fire and Pink Lee fell forward, dead. Jim then
KNELT IN THE GRASS
beside his brother and continued to shoot at us. He had on a red shirt, which was a splendid mark. We were all separated  and Jim made a triangular fight. He died game, fighting as long as there was breath in his body. Even after he was fatally hurt he fired several shots. None of our party were hurt. It was raining hard all during the fight, and this is why we caught them off their guard. After we were satisfied they were dead we approached them and found Jim on his knees with his head down against the ground, just as he had fallen. Neither of them spoke a word after they were shot. My testimony before the coroner tells the rest.
Among other things found on the persons of the dead men were newspapers clippings giving accounts of their many crimes and telling what ought to be done with them. They were killed on the side of Red river, about six miles from the town of Dexter. The public generally breaths a sigh of relief that these desperadoes are no more.
THE AGED MOTHER
of the outlaws has been notified and is expected to-night to take charge of the remains.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Dexter, Sept. 8. - (Special) - Last night about sundown Mr. H. A. Thomas, of Fort Worth, and one Mr. Shattels, a hired hand on the farm of J. S. Brown, some nine miles north of here and near Delaware Bend, passed through this town with the dead bodies of Pink and Jim Lee; J. T. Taylor, of Dexter, was with Thomas also. They found the Lee boys cutting J. S. Brown's wire fence in broad, open daylight. They had already cut about half a mile of John Washington's fence and commenced on Mr. Brown's when the parties named crept silently along through the grass and weeds till they were within a few paces of  the outlaws. Mr. Taylor called to the Lee boys to "hold up," where upon the Lee boys opened fire on them, but the nerve and marksmanship of the officers soon brought Pink to the ground, then Jim, though they rose and fired again several times after they were shot dead.



Wise  County Messenger
Decatur, Texas
Saturday, September 12, 1885
pg 7

Jim and Pink Lee, noted desperadoes, were killed by some Fort Worth officers in the north part of Cooke county on last Monday. They fought to the last. The Lee gang is now entirely broken up, the balance of the gang being in the U.S. jail at Fort Smith.



The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, September 13, 1885
pg. 1

JIM AND PINK LEE
The True Story of the Death of the Brothers. They were Killed While Sitting on the Ground, and did not fire a Shot.
Not Three, But a Large Posse Were After Them.

When the news of the killing of the Lee boys reached Denison and the particulars of the affair were published not nine persons in town believed the report of the running fight. The general impression seemed to be that the boys were shot down without a chance for their lives, and that they were not called upon to surrender.  The surmises seems to have been correct.
Dayton McSwain, a cow-boy, called at the Gazetteer office Friday and related the circumstances of the killing, he being an eye witness to the affair.  Jim and Pink Lee crossed Red River Saturday and remained in the bottom over Sunday.
The friends of the boys at Delaware Bend advised them to re-cross the River, as a large posse were in pursuit, and would kill them on sight.  About an hour before the shooting occurred the boys left the bottom and met McSwain, who was looking after some cattle on the prairie.  Pink and Jim both remarked that they did not fear the mob who were on their trail.  Pink said, "McSwain the parties who want my life will have to fire the first shot."  Jim turned to his brother with the remark, "we will go and round those fellows up, and see what they want."  The boys then rode leisurely along with McSwain following a short distance behind.  They passed through Brown's pasture until they reached the Washington pasture.  Here they dismounted and sat down on a small track of ground that had been mowed off.  In the meantime Heck Thomas and posse had reached the dwelling of Mr. Brown unobserved by the Lee boys.  There was a corn field that intervened between the dwelling and the prairie, where the boys were sitting.  Heck Thomas and two of his men, armed with Winchesters, crawled on their hands and knees through the corn field to the corner of the fence.  To divert the attention of the Lee boys one of the posse made a skirt through the woods to the prairie where he could not be seen.
From the fence to where the boys were sitting was about 40 yards, perhaps the distance was less.  Heck Thomas and his companions rested their Winchesters on the fence-rails and taking deliberate aim fired.  Pink who was observing the stranger on horseback was shot through the neck, his head dropped forward and he fell back dead.  Jim started to his feet when a ball sent him rolling to the earth, and he fell dead, almost into his brother's arms.
The posse, numbering about 15 men, shouted and discharged their Winchesters, and actually danced with joy around the dead bodies of Pink and Jim Lee.
This is the account of the killing of the brothers, and Mr. McSwain who is a very intelligent young man states that he will aver to the manner of the killing under oath, and that there are other witnesses that will do the same.  He states that the Lee boys met him about a fortnight before they were killed, and declared that they were tired of being hunted like wild beasts, that winter was coming and they should scout no longer.  Mr. McSwain says that a great deal of deviltry has been done under the cloak of the name of the Lee boys.  They never cut wire fences maliciously, but would use the nippers so as to avoid a round-about route.  The boys were armed and equipped at all points for war. They each carried
a Winchester and two Colt forty-five's.

THE CRIME
The following is the history of the crime that made the Lee boys two of the most notorious bandits that ever cursed the soil of our fair State.  On the 1st of last May occurred a massacre that horrified the people of Texas and the Indian Territory.
Some cattle had been stolen from Delaware Bend, and suspicion pointed to certain parties in the Territory as the guilty ones.  A posse of citizens was organized and put under the command of J.H. Guy, sergeant of the Indian police.  They proceeded to Lee's ranch for the purpose of arresting Jim and Pink Lee and Ed Stein.  The Lee's were expecting them, and were well fortified in a log cabin.  As the posse approached the house they were hailed by Ed. Stein from a small window.  The sergeant informed him that they had come to arrest him.  At this juncture a volley was fired from the
house, and Sergeant Guy fell dead.  A regular fusillade followed, but as the sergeant's party could see no one to shoot at they fled, leaving four dead men on the ground.  This occurred before noon, but it was almost 4 o'clock before anyone returned to the scene.  The news spread rapidly and excitement was at fever heat.
Stein kept a small store in Delaware Bend, and hither the gang repaired immediately after the shooting and passed the night.  On their way they informed the Wilson Creek settlement of their bloody work.  It was with great difficulty that men could be collected and induced to go to the fatal spot to look after the unfortunates that were left there, but in the afternoon a large body of citizens repaired to the place. It was too late to render assistance.  They found the dead bodies of James H. Guy, Andy Roff, James Roff, and Billy Kirkland.
For many days the country was searched by a large number of armed men, and although frequent traces of the murderers were met up with, their knowledge of the country enabled them to elude their pursuers.  Stein's store and the log house that served as their strong hold on the ranch were burned.  Large rewards were offered for the arrest of the murderers.
The Roff family offered a reward of $2,500 each for the capture of Pink and Jim Lee and Ed. Stein.  To these rewards the State afterwards added $1,000 each for the capture of the two Lee's.
On the 6th of May Ed. Stein and Tom Lee came to this city and gave themselves up to the authorities.  They are now in the Ft. Smith jail awaiting trial for complicity in the murder.



Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Sunday, November 29, 1885
pg.3

SHERMAN
Friends of Jim and Pink Lee, the Delaware Bend desperadoes, have given notice that the vendetta will be renewed, and have warned their enemies in advance of what may be expected. The following letter was sent by them a few days ago which speaks for itself:
"John Young and Bill Borland, you are hereby notified to hunt your holes, as soon as possible,: If you don't do it you will be put out of the way."
(Signed) FRIENDS OF THE LEE BOYS

The parties warned are of the opinion that this threat means mischief and they have taken every precaution for safety except fleeing from home.



Ft. Worth Daily Gazette
Tuesday, March 16, 1886
pg. 6

Ft. Smith: Ed Stein, Tom Lee and John Davidson of Delaware Bend Fame - No one Trial for the Murder of J.H. Day and Three Companions.

Special correspondence of the Gazette
Ft. Smith, Arkansas, March 13 - The most interesting murder trial that has been before the United States court here for several years is now in progress, Ed. Stein, Tom Lee and John Davidson being the defendants.  In stating the case to the jury yesterday morning, United States Attorney Sandels said the government expected to prove the following: 
That on the 1st day of May 1885, Deputy United States  Marshal James H. Guy, with a posse of 13 men, went to Lee's ranch in Delaware Bend, Chickasaw nation, with writs for the arrest of Jim and Pink Lee and Ed Stein, charged with cattle stealing, and a Negro named Della Humber, charged with the murder of his wife.  All of the Lees were generally regarded as thieves and bad men, who utterly defied the law.  On arriving at a slough or creek some distance from the Lee ranch the men were unable to cross with their horses, whereupon they dismounted and crossed on foot, approaching the house from the side.  On attracting the attention of the inmates, Ed. Stein opened the shutter of a side window and poking his head out asked what was wanted.  Guy replied: "I have papers for your arrest and have come after you.  I don't want to hurt any one or get hurt myself."  Stein withdrew his head for a moment and conversed with some one on the inside, and again poking his head out said: "If you wish to see us about anything, come around to the front of the house," and then pulled the shutter to and fastened it.  Guy and his men walked around to the front, as requested, and the officer was standing leaning against a tree, when suddenly the chinks were punched out of some loop-holes in the building, and a shot from two Winchesters laid him low, and an indiscriminate fire was then opened on the crowd, Andy and Jim Roff and William Kirksey being killed on the spot.  The rest of the posse fled to where the horses were tied, and after getting a safe distance looked back and saw 7 men emerge from the building, who examined the bodies of the dead, took all of Guy's papers, his money and his watch, after which they mounted their
horses and rode away.  These men are supposed to have been the three defendants now on trial, Jim and Pink Lee, the Negro Humber and some unknown Confederate.
The excitement that followed this terrible tragedy is well known in the country. Stein, Tom Lee and Davidson were soon afterwards arrested at Denison, Texas, and a reward of $5000 was offered for Jim and Pink Lee, dead or alive.  They were killed in Cook county, Texas, on the 7th of September last, while cutting the pasture fence of John Washington, by Heck Thomas and Jim Taylor.
The ground of the defense is that Pink and Jim Lee were the only men in the house when the killing took place, and did all the shooting themselves, which will hardly hold good in the case of Stein, as there are 10 witnesses present who will testify that he was the man who did the partying, and was the only one seen before the massacre took place.
The defense is represented by DuVal & Cravens of this city, and Lawyer Persons of Denison, Texas, while Prosecuting Attorney Sandels and ex-Prosecuting Attorney W.H.H. Clayton represents the government.  There are 40 or 50 witnesses present besides Heck Thomas, Jim Taylor, Pat Ware, deputy Sheriff of Cooke county, Texas, John  Washington, Alve and Joe Roff, all prominent Texans.  The trial will last probably a week yet.  The wife and 3 children of Stein are present.  She is a sister of the Lees.



The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, March 28, 1886
pg. 4

Ed. Stein, Thomas Lee and Wm. Davidson, who were arraigned for the murder of Officer Guy and others, at Delaware Bend, were tried at Ft. Smith recently and acquitted.  But few supposed that the prisoners would escape the gallows.  The counsel for the prisoners was Mr. A.B. Persons, of this city, who is complimented on all sides for the masterly manner in which he conducted the case.  The Ft. Smith Daily Tribune speaks as follows of Mr. Persons' connection with the cases:
Messrs. Duvall & Cravens, assisted by Mr. Persons of Texas, concluded the defense.  They worked long and hard for the success they have attained in the case.  The speeches of Messrs. Duvall & Cravens were such as are usually made by them, and which have placed them the distinguished members of the bar that they are.
Probably the argument of no lawyer in the case attracted so much attention, and carried with it the effect as did the argument of Mr. Persons, of Texas.  He is a bright legal light, and is bound to reach renowned fame.  Mr. Persons is no doubt aware of the fact that he has scored a great success, and will return to his home rejoicing.



Sherman Daily Register
Monday, July 11, 1887
pg. 4

THE STEER CASE
The Finale Postponement Until Wednesday

The case of the State of Texas vs Ed Stein, Sam Blankenship, Jerome Copeland and Sam Ragsdale, charged with the theft of a steer from the ranch of Strother Brown, in Delaware Bend, which was on preliminary examination at the time the Register went to press Saturday afternoon has not been completed yet.  The witnesses for the defense could not be procured in time, and the case was, upon the motion of Attorney Persons, of Denison, for the defense, held over.  Sam Blankenship and Ed Stein were admitted to bail in the sum of $500 each, while Copeland and Ragsdale were remanded
in default.



Sherman Daily Register
Friday, July 15, 1887
pg. 4

DELAWARE BEND CASES
Are Completed Before his Honor, Justice Hinkle

The preliminary hearing in the cases of Stein, Blankenship, Ragsdale and Copeland, was completed before Justice Hinkle yesterday afternoon, about 5 o'clock.  These cases are of a very interesting nature, and quite a number have been in attendance since they began.  One side, the prosecution, swears positively as to the guilt; the defense is just as positive as to the innocence of those connected in it.
The preliminary hearing in the cases against Bob Ragsdale and Col. Blankenship, who are charged with the theft of cattle in 1884, were put off until Monday.

UNDER BOND
Sam Blankenship and Ed Stein gave bond in the sum of $500 for their appearance, while Jerome Copeland and Bob Ragsdale were remanded in default in the same case.  Ragsdale and Col. Blankenship were both remanded to jail in default in the case.



Dallas Morning News
"Sherman Shavings"
July 15, 1887

Effects of Wet Weather - Delaware Bend Cases - High State of Feeling

Sherman, Tex., July 14 - The Delaware Bend cases have been about the only thing of importance in the courts to-day.  The entire forenoon was consumed in hearing the evidence for the defense.  The feeling in Sherman is still high over the fiendish occurrence at Gainesville yesterday morning, and each little scrap of news is eagerly grabbed at.  The examining trial of Ed Stein, Sam Blankenship, Jerome Kopeland and Bob Ragsdale was completed to-day in the Justice Court here and each of their bonds placed at $500.  Stein and Blankenship gave bond and the others were remanded in default.  The case against Bob Ragsdale and Cal Blankenship for the theft of cattle in 1884 was held over until Monday.