Galveston Daily News, Sunday, September 14, 1873. They in turn had copied the story from "The Dispatch of the 5th"."Lampasas County. - The Dispatch of the 5th publishes the following particulars of the killing of Dixon and Sutton:
"On Friday night last, the 29th of August, deputy sheriff Sweet, summoned a posse of men for the purpose of arresting Bill Dixon, for whose arrest papers had been placed in his hands. The deputy sheriff was informed that there was a probability of Dixon being strongly backed by his confederates, consequently he summoned an efficient force for his assistance. The officer and his party remained over night about one mile and a half from Sutton's, the father-in-law of Dixon, where they were informed that Dixon was making his head-quarters.
On the following morning (Saturday, 30th of Aug.) it was suggested by some of the party in company with the officer, that they should approach the house, Sutton's residence, without him, believing, as they said, that Dixon would be less apt to offer resistence [resistance]. To this proposition the deputy sheriff acquiesced, and accordingly, four men approached the house. Upon their arrival they found Dixon and Sutton absent, but in a few moments they returned. A conversation then ensued between the parties on various topics, when finally the officer, Mr. Sweet, approached the house from the creek west of the place; he and Owens, one of the posse, spoke simultaneously and told Dixon to surrender. Sutton arose instantly from a sitting position, drawing his pistol and firing on the arresting party. Dixon arose about the same time with his pistol drawn, but before he could do any execution, he received his death wound from the hands of one of the opposite party. Sutton continued to fire until he had shot three or four times, when at length he fell lifeless to the ground. There were no papers in the hands of the officer for Sutton's arrest; but he seemed inclined to resist the arrest of his son-in-law, Dixon. We are informed that Dixon had in his possession at the time of the killing a stolen horse, and that for some time past he has been in the habit of handling freely the property of others.
We are also informed by some of the parties present at the time of the inquest, that Sutton had on a false beard. Previous to this we have heard of no accusations of dishonesty against Sutton. During the fracas Dixon fired only once, and received but one shot. Sutton fired three or four times, and received four shots.
Annexed is the verdict of the jury of inquest: 'We, the jury, find that Philip Sutton and Wm. Dixon came to their death at the hand of the deputy sheriff, A. Sweet and his assistants, in the lawful discharge of their duty.' Jury - H.C. Fountain, A.L. Jones, R. Fowler, A.P. Lee, H.B. Anderson, F.G. Morris."∼The following obituary was copied as it was printed. Contributed by FAG member Sue Lilley. Original photocopy by Jeff Jackson.
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THE LAMPASAS LEADER
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1898
About daylight on Saturday morning, August 30, 1873, Will Dixon and Philip Sutton were killed by a sheriff's posse while resisting arrest out on Lucy's Creek, about five miles from town, at what is now generally known as the Trigg place.
Mr. T. C. Bivins made the coffins for the dead men, on the order of the county officials. Shortly after this Mr. Bivins moved away and was gone several years. He presented his claim at several terms of the commissioners' court, but it was always rejected. At the session of the commissioners' court this week, Mr. Bivins again presented his account, detailing the circumstances, supported by the proper affidavit, and the court, recognizing the justice of his claim, allowed him $30. After waiting nearly a quarter of a century for his money, Mr. Bivins certainly has a right to congratulate himself.
Galveston Daily News, Sunday, September 14, 1873. They in turn had copied the story from "The Dispatch of the 5th"."Lampasas County. - The Dispatch of the 5th publishes the following particulars of the killing of Dixon and Sutton:
"On Friday night last, the 29th of August, deputy sheriff Sweet, summoned a posse of men for the purpose of arresting Bill Dixon, for whose arrest papers had been placed in his hands. The deputy sheriff was informed that there was a probability of Dixon being strongly backed by his confederates, consequently he summoned an efficient force for his assistance. The officer and his party remained over night about one mile and a half from Sutton's, the father-in-law of Dixon, where they were informed that Dixon was making his head-quarters.
On the following morning (Saturday, 30th of Aug.) it was suggested by some of the party in company with the officer, that they should approach the house, Sutton's residence, without him, believing, as they said, that Dixon would be less apt to offer resistence [resistance]. To this proposition the deputy sheriff acquiesced, and accordingly, four men approached the house. Upon their arrival they found Dixon and Sutton absent, but in a few moments they returned. A conversation then ensued between the parties on various topics, when finally the officer, Mr. Sweet, approached the house from the creek west of the place; he and Owens, one of the posse, spoke simultaneously and told Dixon to surrender. Sutton arose instantly from a sitting position, drawing his pistol and firing on the arresting party. Dixon arose about the same time with his pistol drawn, but before he could do any execution, he received his death wound from the hands of one of the opposite party. Sutton continued to fire until he had shot three or four times, when at length he fell lifeless to the ground. There were no papers in the hands of the officer for Sutton's arrest; but he seemed inclined to resist the arrest of his son-in-law, Dixon. We are informed that Dixon had in his possession at the time of the killing a stolen horse, and that for some time past he has been in the habit of handling freely the property of others.
We are also informed by some of the parties present at the time of the inquest, that Sutton had on a false beard. Previous to this we have heard of no accusations of dishonesty against Sutton. During the fracas Dixon fired only once, and received but one shot. Sutton fired three or four times, and received four shots.
Annexed is the verdict of the jury of inquest: 'We, the jury, find that Philip Sutton and Wm. Dixon came to their death at the hand of the deputy sheriff, A. Sweet and his assistants, in the lawful discharge of their duty.' Jury - H.C. Fountain, A.L. Jones, R. Fowler, A.P. Lee, H.B. Anderson, F.G. Morris."∼The following obituary was copied as it was printed. Contributed by FAG member Sue Lilley. Original photocopy by Jeff Jackson.
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THE LAMPASAS LEADER
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1898
About daylight on Saturday morning, August 30, 1873, Will Dixon and Philip Sutton were killed by a sheriff's posse while resisting arrest out on Lucy's Creek, about five miles from town, at what is now generally known as the Trigg place.
Mr. T. C. Bivins made the coffins for the dead men, on the order of the county officials. Shortly after this Mr. Bivins moved away and was gone several years. He presented his claim at several terms of the commissioners' court, but it was always rejected. At the session of the commissioners' court this week, Mr. Bivins again presented his account, detailing the circumstances, supported by the proper affidavit, and the court, recognizing the justice of his claim, allowed him $30. After waiting nearly a quarter of a century for his money, Mr. Bivins certainly has a right to congratulate himself.
