The
Denison Daily Herald
Monday, May 14, 1906
pg. 8
YOUTH KILLS HIS BROTHER
Tragedy Occurred
Saturday on a Farm Four Miles East of Denison
Young Man Under Arrest
James Russell Placed in
Jail and Preliminary Hearing Set for 2 O'clock
This Afternoon
Before Justice Preston - Dead Man Leaves a Family
Brief mention was made
in the Herald Saturday afternoon of the killing of Pinckney Russell at
his home, 4 miles east of the city. Deputy
Sheriffs Boyd
Craig and Oscar Poff, Constable J.R. Duer and
Deputies William Hughes and Homer Howard went to the scene
of the tragedy about 3 o'clock and returned
late in the afternoon having in custody James T.C.
Russell,
aged 14 years, who shot and killed his
brother. Young Russell claims that the
discharge of the gun was accidental and was done
while he
was trying to ward off a blow with a rock.
James Russell who
admits that he was holding the gun which killed
Pink Russell,
was placed in the Denison jail t o await a
preliminary hearing today before Justice
Preston. The boy will be 15 years of age in
August. He is large for his age.
According to the story
told to the officers, the brothers had quarreled
over a
cultivator. As a result of the quarrel
James declared that he wanted his brother to give him
back his shotgun and pay him for cartridges which
had been
used. Pink Russell said that he had no
money then, but would pay his brother as soon
as he could. James then went to Pink's house
after the
gun and returned through a horse lot near
Pink's house. He stopped to handle some
harness belonging to Pink and Pink ordered him to quit. The
quarrel was resumed and James finally called
his brother a liar. Pink then reached for a rock
and was holding the rock in his hand when the gun which
James was holding was discharged. The charge
of shot
took effect in Pink's head near the right eye and
blew the top of his head off, as the 2 were
standing close together. T.F. Bradford, a brother-in-law of the
Russell boys was near at hand. Pink's wife
was also
standing in the door of her home when the tragedy
occurred. Bradford went with James to the
house of James' parents nearby and later informed
neighbors of
the occurrence.
The officers were
then notified. They found James seated on
the bed at
his father's home and took him in custody.
Pink Russell's body was lying near a gate where
he had fallen when shot. The body was
carried to
the house.
F.T. Bradford, the
brother-in-law, saw the quarrel but did not see
the shot
fired. He was present, but just as the fatal
shot was fired he had his back turned.
He turned at the sound of the gun and saw Pink
fall. He corroborates the story of James Russell
about Pink having a rock in his hand at the time
he was killed.
James Russell, when
seen Saturday would say but little about the occurrence. He
did not want anything to be "put in the
paper." He said that he did not intend
to kill his brother. Pink had a rock
and was going to hit him, he thought, and he raised the
gun to ward off the blow when it was
discharged. He said that he did not
know the gun was cocked.
The Russell's all live
on a small farm 4 miles east of
Denison. Pink Russell leaves a wife
and 2 children. Near Russell's house
is that of his father and mother, an aged
couple. James lived at his father's home.
The land belongs to the
father and the boys were working it. Justice Preston set the
hearing for 2 o'clock this afternoon.
A charge of
murder has been filed against the boy.
The
Denison Daily Herald
Monday, May 14, 1906
pg. 3
YOUNG MAN KILLED
Telephone Message Calls
Officers to Scene of Alleged Murder
A telephone message
came in this afternoon from east of the city to Justice Preston stating
that Pink Russell, a young man residing on a farm which is a part of
the old Corcoran place, had been killed. A request was made for
officers to come as soon as possible.
Constable Duer and
Deputy Hughes and Deputy Sheriffs I.N. Layne and
Oscar Poff left at once for the scene of the reported
killing.
Pink Russell has a wife
and several children. No details of
the killing are obtainable as the Herald goes
to press.