All Credit for this article
goes to The Galveston News
goes to The Galveston News
Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Galveston News – 1885
A Bloody Affray Near Rockdale
Rockdale, Feb. 25, 1885 – News reached here this morning of a desperate affray which occurred about 15 miles southwest of here last night involving the serious if not fatal shooting of three persons. It seems that there was a dance at the house of W. S. Davis. One Ted Stephens, who was formerly a deputy sheriff, started to go outside with Buck Seales, at the latter’s request to talk over an old difficulty. As they passed out of the door Stephens pulled a forty-five caliber and shot Seales through the bowels, and then again through the breast. After he fell, a third shot from Stephen’s pistol passed through the chin of a 10-year old child of a Mr. Sibley who was near by.
Stephens was seized by bystanders, thrown to the floor, and his pistol taken away.
A brother of Seales, who got the pistol from him, pursued him into the yard where he shielded himself behind a wagon and begged piteously for life. Seales got one shot at him but missed him when he broke and ran around the house an into a back door, when, seizing Mr. Davis’ gun loaded with turkey-shot, he fired at a young man named Hodge, an innocent bystander, lodging the full load in his right breast. Stephens then made off and escaped in the excitement.
The whole country out there is searching for him and, if caught, it is not believed he will ever reach the safe refuge of a jail.
Seales, Hodge, and the child are probably dead by this time, while Mr. Sibley, the child’s father, is slightly wounded.
Stephens is a man of medium size, dark complexion, with curly hair; about 5 feet nine inches high, black mustache, and about 25 years old.
Later – Hodge is reported as being dead.
The Buck Seales, mentioned above was formerly a resident of McDade, this county and we believe raised in this county.
.
A Bloody Affray Near Rockdale
Rockdale, Feb. 25, 1885 – News reached here this morning of a desperate affray which occurred about 15 miles southwest of here last night involving the serious if not fatal shooting of three persons. It seems that there was a dance at the house of W. S. Davis. One Ted Stephens, who was formerly a deputy sheriff, started to go outside with Buck Seales, at the latter’s request to talk over an old difficulty. As they passed out of the door Stephens pulled a forty-five caliber and shot Seales through the bowels, and then again through the breast. After he fell, a third shot from Stephen’s pistol passed through the chin of a 10-year old child of a Mr. Sibley who was near by.
Stephens was seized by bystanders, thrown to the floor, and his pistol taken away.
A brother of Seales, who got the pistol from him, pursued him into the yard where he shielded himself behind a wagon and begged piteously for life. Seales got one shot at him but missed him when he broke and ran around the house an into a back door, when, seizing Mr. Davis’ gun loaded with turkey-shot, he fired at a young man named Hodge, an innocent bystander, lodging the full load in his right breast. Stephens then made off and escaped in the excitement.
The whole country out there is searching for him and, if caught, it is not believed he will ever reach the safe refuge of a jail.
Seales, Hodge, and the child are probably dead by this time, while Mr. Sibley, the child’s father, is slightly wounded.
Stephens is a man of medium size, dark complexion, with curly hair; about 5 feet nine inches high, black mustache, and about 25 years old.
Later – Hodge is reported as being dead.
The Buck Seales, mentioned above was formerly a resident of McDade, this county and we believe raised in this county.
.