Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1883 — A BORDER VENDETTA. [ARTICLE]

A BORDER VENDETTA.

AfFather’tt Death Avenged.—A Fend Which Began with the Late War. Denver Tribune. Wm. 0. Fletcher, passing through Little Rock, en route to the Texas border, where he has been for more than ten years past engaged in the cattle business, gave a correspondent a history of a tragic event whioh occurred recently on the border of the Lone Star State, the particulars of whioh have never before been made public. At the beginning of the late civil war, Abraham Hall lived in one of the thinly settled border counties. He was seventy years old, and reputed to be wealthy, owning a large tract of land, great numbers of cattle, and a large but by no means costly residence. He had a family comprising one boy, aged ten, and four girls, ranging from eight to sixteen years. Though the State was in a tumult, the old man claimed to be neutral, and while his neighbors were buckling on the armor, Hall remained at home. The South called for every man capable of bearing arms. Texas was scoured. Hall was called on to volunteer, but declined. One night a party of twelve persons rode up to the house and repeated the demand for volunteers. The old man said he preferred death. He was taken from the house to a little ravine 200 yards away, a rope put around his neck, the end of which was thrown over the limh of a tree, and Hall was once more asked to reconsider his refusal The old man declined, whereupon he was drawn up and let down senseless. Reviving, he again refused, and again he was drawn up. This horrible scene was continued until the victim ceased to breathe, and the party rode away. The son of Hall had followed the party when they dragged his father from the house, and hiding himself behind a clump of bushes he was a silent and horrified spectator. He saw everything, and, more, he recognized every actor in that cruel affair. When the men galloped away he ran from his hid-ing-place, cut down the body and, flinging himself upon it, he registered an oath to slay every man who had taken part in his father’s death. Time passed, the war ended; young Hall managed his father’s estate and prospered. His sister aided him in the work. Almost their nearest neighbor was Frank Parker, who led the band that hung old hall in 1865. Twenty miles east lived John and James Mantooth, two members of the party. The remainder were scattered throughout the State.

One day in October, 1878, young Hall bade his sister bood-by forever, saying: “The time for revenge has oome,” and, without further explanation, mounted his horse and rode swiftly away. An hour later he drew rein in front of Frank Parker’s dwelling. Parker was in. the yard. “I oome to ask, you why you killed my father,” Hall said to him. Parker gave the reason, adding that his conscience had troubled him ever since. Hall asked him if he was armed, and when the man drew a pistoi.Hall did likewise and fired. Parker dropped in the agonies of dea% •‘tf he day Hall visited the jMantooths. John Man tooth he shot dead on the open prairie, after explaining the object of his visit. Thomas Man tooth met a similar fate on the public highway Before spring another of the twelve had

been slain. Hall killing hie man in * sa Emwixn oan Antonio, uj tins time the remaining members of the band had become alarmed, and Hall suddenly paused in his oereer of For more than a year nothing was heard at him, and the surviving objects of his hatred were beginning to think he had perished, when he suddenly reappeared. This time his victim was named Kindred Bose, one of the twelve, but hedied only after a desperate struggle. The men met one afternoon in the winter of 1880 in a little village on the Mexican border. A street fight ensued and Rose was killed, falling from his hone and dying on the street, while Hall, though wounded in three places, pat spare to hie horse and dashed away. The friends of Bose punned him into Texas. The pursuit was continued three days, friends of his former victims joining in the ohase. Hall at last was run to oover in sight of his home, and near the spot where sixteen years before the father had met his death. Here Hall turned on the pursuing party and fought until he was riddled with bullets. His oldest sister was a horrified spectator of ofthetragio end of her brother. A year after she met one of the party in a neighboring town; she was in oompany with a female friend, and despite the entreaties of her companion, called the man to her, slipping her hand into the pocket of her drees as she did so. "Captain Davis,’ said she, when the man oame up, "you helped to kill my brother; take that!” and drawings revolver, she fired at him. Davis was seriously wounded, but the girl escaped. This act alarmed all who had taken part in the death of young Hall, and they resolved upon the extermination of the entire family of Halls, of whom only three were living—the eldest girl and two sisters. One night after Davis’ life had been attempted, the Hall homestead was surrounded by masked men, the barred doors were broken down, and the three girls were mercilessly -murdered. The assassins then fired the house and disappeared. The tragedy oaussd a sensation, but the explanation by interested parties that Indians or Greasers had murdered the grls, plundered the house and set afire. This was generally accepted, and only lately have the facte in the case leaked out