James Buster Found Dead in Kidd Lake

[Source: Sherman TX Democrat, August 2, 1956]

The body of James D. Buster, former Sherman city attorney and city judge, was found in Kidd Lake Wednesday about 3 p.m.
Buster's body was discovered lying partially submerged about 10 feet from shore by I. L. Grimes, 801 Frisco Road. The lake is located about four miles north of Sherman on Loy Lake Road.
Justice of the Peace Jim Spangler ruled about 2 p.m. Thursday that Buster died from "drowning with suicidal intent." The ruling was made by Spangler after the dead man's family decided against an autopsy.
Minor abrasions were found on the dead man's face around the eyes, and two bruises were found on the head.

Bruises on Head

"The bruises," said Spangler, "were round, about the size of a half-dollar."
Sheriff's deputy Rock Chambers said a taxi cab from Sherman took Buster to the lake about 10:45 a.m. Wednesday.
Grimes said Wednesday afternoon that he went to the lake to see a friend who recently moved into a nearby house.
"I didn't know if my friend had moved into the house yet," said Grimes, "and I left my car at the gate on Loy Lake Road because I didn't know if I could drive over the dam.
"I thought I saw a body in the water and then I looked closer to make sure. I ran back to my car to find help. A man and a boy in a pickup came by. They helped me pull the body from the water."
According to Grimes, the body was in an upright position in the water, face down.

Artificial Respiration

David Gately, of 515 N. Carr, the youth in the pickup, said he hitched a ride with J. A. Barnett of Denison and was coming back to Sherman when they were stopped by Grimes.
The 15-year-old youth said Wednesday that after the body had been pulled from the water, the three tried artificial respiration, but the man was dead.
"He was about ten feet from the edge of the shore in water about five and a half or six feet deep," said Gately.
After failing to revive the man, the men notified the Grayson County Sheriff's office of the death, and Desk Sergeant Pat Robinson of the Sherman Police Department reported the incident to Democrat reporters at 2:52 p.m. Wednesday.

Taken in Cab

Buster's glasses, a ball-point pen, a small pocketknife, and $4.20 were found in a briefcase lying beside his hat on the shore of the lake a few feet from the body.
Deputy Sheriff Chambers said Thursday morning that Buster was taken to the lake by Roy G. Smith, driver for the Clipper Cab Company of Sherman.
Chambers, in quoting the driver, said Buster was picked up in front of the Plaza Theater on Houston Street about 9:15 on Wednesday morning.
Smith said Buster asked to be taken first to McKown and Washington Streets, then to the rock pits at the end of South Gribble Street, and then six miles east of Sherman on Highway 82, and out Travis Street Road.
The driver said he stopped at the Gribble Street rock pits.

To Meet A Man

After driving the man out Travis Street Road to the intersection of Perrin Field Road, Smith said Buster asked him to turn right and go back to town on Loy Lake Road. On the way back toward Sherman, he wanted out at Kidd Lake, Smith said, mentioning, "he was supposed to meet a man there."
Buster paid his fare and the cab driver drove back to Sherman at approximately 10:45 a.m.
Funeral services for Buster will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Dannel Funeral Chapel with W. J. Epting, a Sherman Baptist minister, and Rev. Robert Badgett of the Central Christian Church officiating.
Dannel Funeral Home will be in charge of burial at West Hill Cemetery.
Buster, who lived at 718 S. Walnut, was born August 1, 1893, at Ardmore, Okla., the son of the late W. S. and Maude Cummins Buster. He moved to Sherman in 1913 from Whitesboro.
A veteran of World War I, he married Miss Charlie Kelley in 1915. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sherman.

Bible Class Teacher

For 32 years he was a teacher of the Young Men's Bible Class at the First Baptist Church. Buster was a former city attorney of Whitesboro, former city attorney and city judge of Sherman, past master of Travis Masonic Lodge 117, former past district deputy grand master of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Texas, former state grand master of the International Order of Odd Fellows, and was the first post commander of Charles R. Simmons–Clifford Hardwicke American Legion Post.
He was also former United States Commissioner for Eastern District Federal Court and in charge of land acquisition for the United States Corps of Engineers. While working for the Corps of Engineers, he helped acquire land for Lake Texoma, Convair Aircraft of Fort Worth, and Sheppard Air Force Base of Wichita Falls.
Survivors include his wife; a son, J. D. Buster Jr. of Lubbock; one daughter, Mrs. Daniel E. Flanders of Fort Worth; three sisters, Mrs. W. A. Roberts of Dallas, and Mrs. Fred Mooty and Miss Maude Buster, both of Sherman; and one granddaughter.
Pallbearers will be S. V. Ernest, Rayburn Nall, L. G. Hight, E. G. Graves and J. N. Dickson, all of Sherman; and G. W. Turner of Fort Worth.
Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Grayson County Bar Association.

   

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