The
Galveston Daily News
Galveston, Texas
Thursday October 20, 1887
pg 1
SHERMAN
A Well Known and Prominent Farmer and
Hay-Dealer Arrested on a Serious Charge
Sherman, Tex., October 19 - A charge was made
yesterday by George W. Brawley, a young farmer
and hay harvester,
against John W. Fields, one of the wealthiest
and oldest citizens of
Grayson County. The first complaint
alleged that on or about Sept.
7, 1886, John W. Fields committed incest with
his daughter, Josie
Fields, aged 14. The second charge
alleged that the same crime
was committed Sept. 11, 1887. The man against
whom these two charges
were filed was arrested at the home of his
son-in-law, J.D. Hall, eight
miles southeast of the city by Constable
Wright this morning. He was
taken before Justice Henekle this afternoon at
1:30 o'clock and his
bond placed at $3,000 in the two cases, which
holds him to appear
before the justice court of Sherman to answer
in a preliminary
examination next Friday.
Mr. Field has been a citizen of Grayson county
for the past thirty
years, and he has become generally known as
one of the heaviest hay
dealers in the southwest. His wealth is
estimated from $75,000 to
$100,000. The fact that he is pretty well
known has caused the matter
to become general street talk.
Fort Worth
Daily Gazette
Fort Worth, Texas
Tuesday October 25, 1887
pg 2
INCEST CASE
The Trial of John W. Fields at Sherman
Resumed.
Special to the Gazette
Sherman, Tex., Oct. 24 - The famous case
of John W. Fields, a citizen of this county,
charged with the horrible crime of
incest with his daughter, the preliminary
trial which began on Friday last, was resumed
to-day in Justice Kinkle's court.
A number of witnesses were examined and the
case was continued till
Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. John W. Fields
is almost fifty years of
age, is one of the leading farmers of the
county and is the owner of
about $100,000 worth of real estate. His wife
has been dead for some
time and his daughter who is about fifteen
years of age and who was
educated in the colleges in this city lives
with him at his home on his
farm, where the crime is charged to have been
committed. The evidence
introduced by the prosecution thus far is very
damaging to the
defendant, while that introduced for the
defense has a strong tendency
to exonerate the accused. The case is watched
with a great deal of
interest, and during its investigation the
courthouse is crowded to overflowing with
visitors.
Fort Worth
Daily Gazette
Fort Worth, Texas
Sunday October 30, 1887
pg 3
SHERMAN
J. W. Fields Exonerated
Special to the Gazette
Sherman, Tex., Oct 29. - The famous case in
which J. W. Fields, one of the leading and
wealthiest farmers in this county
was charged with the horrible crime of incest
with his daughter, fifteen years of age, which
had been on preliminary trial
before Justice Hinkle in this city for several
days past, was concluded to-day, resulting in
a discharge of the defendant.
The case has caused a great deal of excitement
in this city and county,
and while the prosecuting witnesses swore
positively against the
defendant, the evidence of the two family
physicians exonerated him,
hence his acquittal.