The following obituary was copied as it was printed. Contributed by FAG member Sue Lilley. Original photocopy work by Jeff Jackson.
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THE LAMPASAS LEADER
FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1898
NEGRO ASSASSINATED
Frank Wells Brutally Murdered By One of His Own Color.
Tuesday night at 10:20 o'clock the revengeful report of a 32-caliber target rifle rang out and found a victim in the person of a negro man named Frank Wells. The fatal shot was fired by another negro named Alex. West, alias Alex. Steele.
Both the victim and murderer are new negroes here, West or Steele having come to Lampasas in May, 1897, and Wells had only been here about two months. West was from Navasota, though he claimed Jackson, Tennessee, as his birthplace. Wells was from Brownwood, though his original home was Little Rock, Arkansas.
Alex. West, the murderer, is a small smoothfaced mulatato, about 22 years old, though he looks younger, usually smiling and laughs a great deal, especially when talking, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high and weighs about 135 pounds. He is comparatively well known about town, having worked for J. W. Moseley, the cattleman, around the courthouse, and at the Skaggs livery stable.
Frank Wells was also a mulatto, about 26 years of age, and did odd jobs about town.
The trouble between the two men dates from Emancipation Day, and originafed over a woman. The negroes closed their emancipation festivities with a dance, and on returning home Wells and the woman accompanying him were stoned. He made complaint, charging West and another negro Bob Smith with the assault. They were arrested and fined, and then retaliated by swearing out a warrant against Wells for carrying a pistol. He was also arrested and fined and lay it out in jail, being released Monday.
West left Lampasas several days ago and went to Temple, returning Tuesday. He told several parties that he was "going to get a nigger," but mentioned no names. About 7 o'clock the evening of the murder he called at Rile McFadden's second hand store and said that he wished to rent a gun. He first asked for a shotgun or Winchester, but was told that all these were rented to hunting parties out on the Colorado river, and that a 32 target rifle was the largest in stock. He took this gun with four rounds of ammunition and went his way. He had frequently rented guns of Mr. McFadden, and nothing more was thought of the matter.
About dark he started out in search of his victim. He went to the colored church in East Lampasas and other places, but failed to find him. He finally located him at the house of Aunt Julia Hayden, an old colored woman, who lives in the extreme southern part of town, on the banks of Sulphur. West walked up near the gate and engaged Dan Hayden, who happened to be at his mother's house, in conversation. They exchanged the usual compliments of the evening, but nothing out of the commonplace passed between them. West never mentioned Wells' name, or acted in any suspicious manner, whatever; in fact, Hayden says he never saw the gun until he raised it to shoot. Wells was in the house talking to the women, and about 10:20 he started to leave, little dreaming of death. He stepped out the gate, and recognizing West in the moonlight, said to him: "Hello, there." West made no reply, whatever, but stepped back a few feet, raised his gun and fired, the bullet striking Wells in the right chest, near the nipple. He groaned and remarked, "You have killed me for nothing." He then saggered back in the house and fell in the naarrow hallway, where he expired in about ten minutes, without uttering another word. After the shooting West walked leisurely away, but shortly broke into a run.
The officers were promptly notified and will leave no stone unturned to effect the murderer's arrest, and his capture is only a question of short time. Sheriff Wolf has printed descriptions scattered all over the country, and will pay $25 reward for his detention in any jail in the state.
Wells was buried Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the colored cemetery, his tragic death drawing a large crowd of his race.
The colored people are very much worked up over what they consider a brutal assassination, and are anxious to see the murderer brought to speedy justice.
----------------------------------------
THE LAMPASAS LEADER
FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1898
NEGRO ASSASSINATED
Frank Wells Brutally Murdered By One of His Own Color.
Tuesday night at 10:20 o'clock the revengeful report of a 32-caliber target rifle rang out and found a victim in the person of a negro man named Frank Wells. The fatal shot was fired by another negro named Alex. West, alias Alex. Steele.
Both the victim and murderer are new negroes here, West or Steele having come to Lampasas in May, 1897, and Wells had only been here about two months. West was from Navasota, though he claimed Jackson, Tennessee, as his birthplace. Wells was from Brownwood, though his original home was Little Rock, Arkansas.
Alex. West, the murderer, is a small smoothfaced mulatato, about 22 years old, though he looks younger, usually smiling and laughs a great deal, especially when talking, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high and weighs about 135 pounds. He is comparatively well known about town, having worked for J. W. Moseley, the cattleman, around the courthouse, and at the Skaggs livery stable.
Frank Wells was also a mulatto, about 26 years of age, and did odd jobs about town.
The trouble between the two men dates from Emancipation Day, and originafed over a woman. The negroes closed their emancipation festivities with a dance, and on returning home Wells and the woman accompanying him were stoned. He made complaint, charging West and another negro Bob Smith with the assault. They were arrested and fined, and then retaliated by swearing out a warrant against Wells for carrying a pistol. He was also arrested and fined and lay it out in jail, being released Monday.
West left Lampasas several days ago and went to Temple, returning Tuesday. He told several parties that he was "going to get a nigger," but mentioned no names. About 7 o'clock the evening of the murder he called at Rile McFadden's second hand store and said that he wished to rent a gun. He first asked for a shotgun or Winchester, but was told that all these were rented to hunting parties out on the Colorado river, and that a 32 target rifle was the largest in stock. He took this gun with four rounds of ammunition and went his way. He had frequently rented guns of Mr. McFadden, and nothing more was thought of the matter.
About dark he started out in search of his victim. He went to the colored church in East Lampasas and other places, but failed to find him. He finally located him at the house of Aunt Julia Hayden, an old colored woman, who lives in the extreme southern part of town, on the banks of Sulphur. West walked up near the gate and engaged Dan Hayden, who happened to be at his mother's house, in conversation. They exchanged the usual compliments of the evening, but nothing out of the commonplace passed between them. West never mentioned Wells' name, or acted in any suspicious manner, whatever; in fact, Hayden says he never saw the gun until he raised it to shoot. Wells was in the house talking to the women, and about 10:20 he started to leave, little dreaming of death. He stepped out the gate, and recognizing West in the moonlight, said to him: "Hello, there." West made no reply, whatever, but stepped back a few feet, raised his gun and fired, the bullet striking Wells in the right chest, near the nipple. He groaned and remarked, "You have killed me for nothing." He then saggered back in the house and fell in the naarrow hallway, where he expired in about ten minutes, without uttering another word. After the shooting West walked leisurely away, but shortly broke into a run.
The officers were promptly notified and will leave no stone unturned to effect the murderer's arrest, and his capture is only a question of short time. Sheriff Wolf has printed descriptions scattered all over the country, and will pay $25 reward for his detention in any jail in the state.
Wells was buried Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the colored cemetery, his tragic death drawing a large crowd of his race.
The colored people are very much worked up over what they consider a brutal assassination, and are anxious to see the murderer brought to speedy justice.
The following obituary was copied as it was printed. Contributed by FAG member Sue Lilley. Original photocopy work by Jeff Jackson.
----------------------------------------
THE LAMPASAS LEADER
FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1898
NEGRO ASSASSINATED
Frank Wells Brutally Murdered By One of His Own Color.
Tuesday night at 10:20 o'clock the revengeful report of a 32-caliber target rifle rang out and found a victim in the person of a negro man named Frank Wells. The fatal shot was fired by another negro named Alex. West, alias Alex. Steele.
Both the victim and murderer are new negroes here, West or Steele having come to Lampasas in May, 1897, and Wells had only been here about two months. West was from Navasota, though he claimed Jackson, Tennessee, as his birthplace. Wells was from Brownwood, though his original home was Little Rock, Arkansas.
Alex. West, the murderer, is a small smoothfaced mulatato, about 22 years old, though he looks younger, usually smiling and laughs a great deal, especially when talking, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high and weighs about 135 pounds. He is comparatively well known about town, having worked for J. W. Moseley, the cattleman, around the courthouse, and at the Skaggs livery stable.
Frank Wells was also a mulatto, about 26 years of age, and did odd jobs about town.
The trouble between the two men dates from Emancipation Day, and originafed over a woman. The negroes closed their emancipation festivities with a dance, and on returning home Wells and the woman accompanying him were stoned. He made complaint, charging West and another negro Bob Smith with the assault. They were arrested and fined, and then retaliated by swearing out a warrant against Wells for carrying a pistol. He was also arrested and fined and lay it out in jail, being released Monday.
West left Lampasas several days ago and went to Temple, returning Tuesday. He told several parties that he was "going to get a nigger," but mentioned no names. About 7 o'clock the evening of the murder he called at Rile McFadden's second hand store and said that he wished to rent a gun. He first asked for a shotgun or Winchester, but was told that all these were rented to hunting parties out on the Colorado river, and that a 32 target rifle was the largest in stock. He took this gun with four rounds of ammunition and went his way. He had frequently rented guns of Mr. McFadden, and nothing more was thought of the matter.
About dark he started out in search of his victim. He went to the colored church in East Lampasas and other places, but failed to find him. He finally located him at the house of Aunt Julia Hayden, an old colored woman, who lives in the extreme southern part of town, on the banks of Sulphur. West walked up near the gate and engaged Dan Hayden, who happened to be at his mother's house, in conversation. They exchanged the usual compliments of the evening, but nothing out of the commonplace passed between them. West never mentioned Wells' name, or acted in any suspicious manner, whatever; in fact, Hayden says he never saw the gun until he raised it to shoot. Wells was in the house talking to the women, and about 10:20 he started to leave, little dreaming of death. He stepped out the gate, and recognizing West in the moonlight, said to him: "Hello, there." West made no reply, whatever, but stepped back a few feet, raised his gun and fired, the bullet striking Wells in the right chest, near the nipple. He groaned and remarked, "You have killed me for nothing." He then saggered back in the house and fell in the naarrow hallway, where he expired in about ten minutes, without uttering another word. After the shooting West walked leisurely away, but shortly broke into a run.
The officers were promptly notified and will leave no stone unturned to effect the murderer's arrest, and his capture is only a question of short time. Sheriff Wolf has printed descriptions scattered all over the country, and will pay $25 reward for his detention in any jail in the state.
Wells was buried Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the colored cemetery, his tragic death drawing a large crowd of his race.
The colored people are very much worked up over what they consider a brutal assassination, and are anxious to see the murderer brought to speedy justice.
----------------------------------------
THE LAMPASAS LEADER
FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1898
NEGRO ASSASSINATED
Frank Wells Brutally Murdered By One of His Own Color.
Tuesday night at 10:20 o'clock the revengeful report of a 32-caliber target rifle rang out and found a victim in the person of a negro man named Frank Wells. The fatal shot was fired by another negro named Alex. West, alias Alex. Steele.
Both the victim and murderer are new negroes here, West or Steele having come to Lampasas in May, 1897, and Wells had only been here about two months. West was from Navasota, though he claimed Jackson, Tennessee, as his birthplace. Wells was from Brownwood, though his original home was Little Rock, Arkansas.
Alex. West, the murderer, is a small smoothfaced mulatato, about 22 years old, though he looks younger, usually smiling and laughs a great deal, especially when talking, about 5 feet 5 or 6 inches high and weighs about 135 pounds. He is comparatively well known about town, having worked for J. W. Moseley, the cattleman, around the courthouse, and at the Skaggs livery stable.
Frank Wells was also a mulatto, about 26 years of age, and did odd jobs about town.
The trouble between the two men dates from Emancipation Day, and originafed over a woman. The negroes closed their emancipation festivities with a dance, and on returning home Wells and the woman accompanying him were stoned. He made complaint, charging West and another negro Bob Smith with the assault. They were arrested and fined, and then retaliated by swearing out a warrant against Wells for carrying a pistol. He was also arrested and fined and lay it out in jail, being released Monday.
West left Lampasas several days ago and went to Temple, returning Tuesday. He told several parties that he was "going to get a nigger," but mentioned no names. About 7 o'clock the evening of the murder he called at Rile McFadden's second hand store and said that he wished to rent a gun. He first asked for a shotgun or Winchester, but was told that all these were rented to hunting parties out on the Colorado river, and that a 32 target rifle was the largest in stock. He took this gun with four rounds of ammunition and went his way. He had frequently rented guns of Mr. McFadden, and nothing more was thought of the matter.
About dark he started out in search of his victim. He went to the colored church in East Lampasas and other places, but failed to find him. He finally located him at the house of Aunt Julia Hayden, an old colored woman, who lives in the extreme southern part of town, on the banks of Sulphur. West walked up near the gate and engaged Dan Hayden, who happened to be at his mother's house, in conversation. They exchanged the usual compliments of the evening, but nothing out of the commonplace passed between them. West never mentioned Wells' name, or acted in any suspicious manner, whatever; in fact, Hayden says he never saw the gun until he raised it to shoot. Wells was in the house talking to the women, and about 10:20 he started to leave, little dreaming of death. He stepped out the gate, and recognizing West in the moonlight, said to him: "Hello, there." West made no reply, whatever, but stepped back a few feet, raised his gun and fired, the bullet striking Wells in the right chest, near the nipple. He groaned and remarked, "You have killed me for nothing." He then saggered back in the house and fell in the naarrow hallway, where he expired in about ten minutes, without uttering another word. After the shooting West walked leisurely away, but shortly broke into a run.
The officers were promptly notified and will leave no stone unturned to effect the murderer's arrest, and his capture is only a question of short time. Sheriff Wolf has printed descriptions scattered all over the country, and will pay $25 reward for his detention in any jail in the state.
Wells was buried Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the colored cemetery, his tragic death drawing a large crowd of his race.
The colored people are very much worked up over what they consider a brutal assassination, and are anxious to see the murderer brought to speedy justice.
Gravesite Details
Burial in this cemetery is assumed, but not documented.
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