Dear Readers, At present there is no one else besides my daughter, Zella, and I in my family line doing Genealogy and I wish for this story to survive me, as a light to those who search this Andrew D. Coffman (b.1824-1873) line in the future. Right now we are the only two who know the rest of the story. So grab a cup of coffee, searchers, and read on. Merry Christmas Carl Coffman 12/23/1999 COPY-RIGHTED Dec. 10/1999 By Zella and Carl Coffman AND AWAY WENT THE RABBIT--PART TWO CONTINUING Greetings, You know it's so close to Christmas I forgot how part One ended, and you'll have to stand by while I go look. (Pause). I believe I better add a bit of part One, to catch you up, for those of you that are like me and forget a bit. Do you remember how they used to do it on Saturday Morning Movie Serials. Lets see we were saying:"Well, It looks like the Rabbit is slowing down. I don't think he is looking over his shoulder as much as he usually is. He married Laura F. Brown, who lived in Bonham (which is in Fannin Co., TX) March 19, 1871 under his correct name,(Andrew D.Coffman)and also sold three plots of land, that had been in Magdaline's name, as Andrew D (Rabbit). See what 4 wives, and a girl friend, in Grayson, Co., Sherman,Tx., and on the run can do to you. What? You want to hear about the girl friend? And you want to know about how this case of mis-direction was solved? (To Be continued.) That was how it ended, but I can't answer those two questions Quite yet. We have to go back and look at some county history in Polk county and some hot saddles on the Military Road. Also a bit more about these outlaws in Polk that took the Army Road to Oklahoma Terr.,Louisiana, and Texas to continue their crime spree. They were finally stopped in Bonham by getting hung. And last, where was the rabbit from 1850-1866. I don't like to read history either, Therefore I will try to give this a shot in the rear-end where ever I can. I think I will put in the two para. of exact history, so that you can see just how bad things were in frontier Missouri before the Civil War, and I have read they didn't differ much from Tenn. and Alabama. Another reason for the exact history is to show Andrew Jones actions,in Missouri, that were repeated in Texas with others. And we begin: The Missouri Militia in the past, when there was a Civil upset, could go in and make a few arrests and things in the County would quieten down. Not so with the Slickers and Anti-Slickers. On the Term of Court, in Warsaw Mo. The Courts were full of Lawsuits and between 75-100 armed, About half of each, men stood a round in a camps facing off each other. Anti-slicker Andrew Jones pulled a gun on slicker Thomas Cox, but did not fire, not that he hadn't shot a lot of people in the past, the Army was watching. Mackey shot a Jones supporter who hand knifed a Turk supporter. Two Slickers, Turk and Hobbs, clubbed a Anti-slicker. Militia Captain John Holloway some how stopped a big the outbreak of violence. Lots of the group that was charged by the Army for crimes, had make bond, and ran to the Military Road, which is west of there a few miles, and made a left turn and burned leather going south into Texas and the Oklahoma Terr. At that time the law could not go into a Terr. and bring you back to trial. The Military Road would be what is now US 69. Remember these outlaws were having a nice day, because the law and Army was watching. The cases that brought these two group to town read like a roll call of Slicker war participants. The spring term of court was to hear a large variety of cases- Abraham Nowell was to be tried for murder; Henry Hodge, Hilton Hume, and the Keatons, also for murder; Archibald Cock for conspiracy; Andrew Jones for stealing, assault, and assault with intent to kill; Morgan Traham for stealing cars, Opps, I mean horses; Tom Turk for kidnapping; and Tom and other Slickers for assault. Wow, what a bunch of bad boys, and a lot of them will be on their way to Texas. You see they could pull crimes in Texas, step across the Red River into Oklahoma and be safe from the law. We will be out of the Show-Me-State real quick now, just a bit more on the Baptist Church at Aldrich and the up-roar with the Slickers. You see preachers changed towns a lot and his name may be important somewhere else. One other thought- "The people were left a A legacy of violence and bitterness that would take years to subside". Lots of the Slickes would remain in Polk Co. and that's why Andrew D. Coffman, I believe, may of been on the run, for his life. Maybe the Rabbit did the right thing. The Baptist Preacher in Aldrich, Mo. was Richard Ownings. This was about 1843 and at that time you had hard working and respectful people trying to build a country for their children and a place for their selves. In Polk you also had the slickers, most of the Anti-slickers had been run out by then, (Jones in on his way to Texas). The Slickers took exception with the sermon Ownings was giving. One of them stood up in front of Church and said "If the Baptist took sides against them, the Baptist would be run out of the County too". This was their undoing. Peace was soon to be, but the Slickers would never forget how powerful they were once, and to forget who took them down. The slickers even went as far as to make phony graves along the road with Baptist's names on a wooden cross to try to scare them. It didn't work, good prevailed in the end. But at what a great cost it was! We now go back to the Rabbit and the Red River Valley. Isn't it real interesting how the Anti-Slickers and the Rabbit's trails keep crossing; The Rabbit was married in Harrison County, and then went to Shreveport; The Slickers (you will read in a bit)went to Shreveport to sell their loot. The Anti-Slickers pulled crimes in Fannin Co.; The Rabbit and wife, Magdaline, bought land in Fannin, Co. There are some years between the times, but the Rabbit was missing from 1850 to1866. The Rabbit may not of been to afraid of the Anti-Slickers, but more so of the Slickers back in Missouri, but I find the Slickers had a reach into Texas and Caddo, La. It seems that Shreveport was like a Capital to the whole area. I don't know why, because of the water way near by maybe? Now on to the sad crime wave of the Anti-Slickers. Besides what follows, Andrew Jones and others were also reported to of been in Arkansas doing a murder for hire type thing. So when you read his last words before getting hung you will understand more on what he was saying. After this story about the crime wave we will nail down the Rabbit and take away his running shoes. Remember the Rabbit was my Great-GrandFather and I sure would like to have a talk with him. Does anyone know a Swami? Also keep in mind this is the crime Jones got caught doing, and there were many more he didn't get caught doing. Fate caught up with Andy Jones in 1844. After leaving Missouri in 1842 with his family, Andy along with Loud Ray, Harvey White, and many other men, went on a rampage in present day Bonham, TX. One of their sprees turned out to be a fatal mistake, Jones etal entered an indian campsite pretending to be friendly and killed three members also seriously injuring one. One of the indians they killed was a little boy whom was reportedly held at arms length by Reed while Mitchell gutted him with a knife, all the while the little boy pleaded for his life and those of his family. What loot did they carry off for this disastrous deed? Twelve horses, four guns, and some knives. Their mistake was soon evident when Mitchell, who lived just seven miles south of the crime scene, was arrested. It seems he was recognized and identified by two of the survivors of the camp. Either Mitchell ratted on his buddy or Loud Ray was also recognized because he was soon hunted down and captured by a posse. He was found on his return trip from Shreveport, Louisiana where he had sold off the stolen goods and stolen more on the way back. Caught red handed with his newly stolen merchandise Loud Ray had no choice but to talk, and talk he did. Acting on Loud Ray's information, Andy Jones and Harvey White were retrieved by a posse of twenty men. White and Jones were found passed out from too much liquor in Fort Houston, near Bonham. The pair were surprised and disarmed before they were fully awakened. Andy shrieked and fought as he awakened, and when later questioned he revealed that he thought the Turks had him and relayed many of the events in Missouri. Jowland, Harris, and Bob Jones were also apprehended, and they were all presented to South Sulphur in Fannin Co, Tx were a "trial" took place. The impartial jury, haha, was selected right out of the crowd of Two Hundred. Most of whom had at one time or another been either directly or indirectly victimized by Jones and his gang. Loud Ray, Harvey White, Mitchell, and Andy Jones were sentenced to hang on the charges of murder and theft. Bob Jones, Harris, and Jowland, who were only found guilty on the charge of theft, were sentenced to hang the others and get out of the county in ten days. Old Andy went out subdued, very calm if not somewhat remorseful. An Eyewitness account was published in a Texan newspaper, it read: "Andrew Jones told his wife, who was present, that he had expected this for the last six years, and that he considered his arrest a providential event, by which he had been saved more crime, and men's lives had been saved, as had they been awake (he and Harvey White), at least four men would have been killed. He commenced praying and preparing for death, and said, finally, that he believed he was going to a better world. The tenor of his, and his wife's conversation, was an admission of long and continued guilt, without specification of acts committed." What of the Turks? Well Nathan Turk, who was said to have a hand in apprehending Andy, was killed in Shreveport, Louisiana in a brawl over a card game. He was never again seen or reported as being in Missouri after Andy's death. Ironically his death place in Shreveport was not far from where Andy was laid to rest. But the fighting continued for many years after the end of the Slicker's War, bad blood between neighbors took many generations to fade. Those who escaped the law, such as Reed, Harris, and others in Missouri, vowed never to give up on their mission for revenge. Wow,what a story to send at Christmas time! Maybe it could make us thankful for our law and order today, and also that we are not at war somewhere in the world this year. We must continue this story with the ending next time. If you have questions thus far, e-mail us. Submitted by Zella and Carl Coffman in Wichita, Kansas Dec.23rd./1999, wishing you the best ever. Regards: Carl and Zella (daughter) Coffman 1448 S Handley St. Wichita, KS 67213 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com