Though some might not be interested in the story itself, this article just about sets out the town tract of McDade and building owners. You could probably make a street map from the descriptions. Bastrop Advertisor 1/1884: Special Telegram to the Post: AUSTIN, TX, January 22-A few days after the recent killing at McDade, which created such a sensation throughout Texas, Marion Beatty, brother of Jack and Az Beaty, killed at that time, left for parts unknown, alleging as his reason that because of his relationship to the dead men, he feared for his personal safety. It now transpires that he had more weighty reasons for his departure in that a charge of robbery was resting against him. His whereabouts remained a secret until a few days ago, when he was discovered at Taylor, in Williamson county. Sheriff Jenkins, of Bastrop, telegraphed the Marshal of Taylor to arrest Beatty on the charge of robbery, which was done, and Beatty was brought to Austin this evening in charge of Marshal Olive. LATER-The Marshal received a telegram asking him to bring Beatty to Bastrop. This he declined to do and neither will he consent to turn him over to any subordinate officer or committee. Sheriff Jenkins must either take him in person or he will turn him loose. Marshal Olive fears violence to Beatty if he should attempt to carry him to Bastrop by way of McDade. Felix McLemore, brother to the men hanged at McDade, is also in the city and was with Beatty when the latter was arrested at Taylor. Milton and Bishop, concerned in the shooting at McDade, were also at Taylor when Beatty was apprehended. The prisoner is held here subject to Sheriff Jenkins demand in person. EXAMINING TRIAL The preliminary examination of Haywood Beatty, Chas. Goodman and Robert Stevens, charged with assult with intent to murder and murder, at McDade, Christmas day began in Justice T. C. Baird's court, at Bastrop, Monday, January 14th, 1884, and was concluded Friday, January 18th, 1884, resulting in placing Haywood Beatty under two bonds, aggregating $7500; Robert Stevens, two bonds, aggregating $5000; Chas. Goodman, two bonds; aggregating $1000 in default of which all three were remainded badk to jail. County Attorney W. E. Maynard represented the state and Messrs. Jones, Johns & Scott the defense. The attorneys for the defense have sued out a writ of habeus corpus, before Hon. L. W. Moore, district judge. We give below the statements of Haywood Beatty and Robert Stevens made in open court together with all the important evidence for the state and the defense: HAYWOOD BEATTY "I, in company with my two brothers, and Robert Stephens, Charley Goodman and Byrd Hasley, went to the town of McDade on the morning of December 25, 1883. I went to get some money I had at Mr. Milton's -thirty five dollars. I carried my pistol with me , so as to get some cartridges to fit it. I did not have but four cartridges in my pistol. I wanted to kill some hogs in a few days; they were running in the woods. I went into Milton's store and was talking to Wilson Hollman, and intended to speak to Milton in a few minutes about the money. I heard a pistol fire out of the door on the street; and thought it was a firecracker when I first heard it. I then stepped to the door and Thomas Bishop and Az Beatty had hold of a pistol and Az Beatty was shot. I says, what do you fellows mean and said stop that now. About that time my brother, Jack Beatty, stepped up and commenced to talk to them. Mr. Milton was coming to the door with a pistol in his hand and I thought from the way he acted that he was going to shoot me. I said "hold up, Mr. Milton''. and he turned around and went back into the house and I went out to where the boys were. I said, "Tommie, what is the row about? and he said "what are you coming out here for with your pistol out?' I then threw up my hands and said, "I ain't got it out.' About that time Milton came to the door with a double-barreled shot gun and said, "get away from there, everybody.' I then started to run in the direction of Bassist's store and the shooting comenced. Both of my brothers were shot down. I was off about thirty steps when Milton shot me twice with a shot gun. I was running' when he shot me. The last time I pulled out my pistol and shot at him twice. I do not recollect seeing Griffin during the fight. If I shot Griffin I did it accidentally. I and Griffin, and Bishop and Milton had always been good friends and on good terms. I had always sold Milton my cotton and traded with him. After I was shot I went below town, crossed the railroad and through Milton's pasture home afoot. ROBERT STEVENS On the 21st day of December 1883, I went down to my place on the Yegua seven miles from where my mother-in-law (Mrs. Beatty) lives, to see Mr. Tannyhill about renting my place to him. I left Mr. Tannyhill's about 3 o'clock in the evening, and went to Mrs. Beatty's. Got to Mrs. Beatty's about sundown. My family was at Mrs BEatty's. I ate my supper there and then went to the Christmas tree, at the Knobs. I went from the Knobs to Baggetts store and remained there about an hour. I went from there to my mother-in-law's and got there about 10 o'clock in the night of the 24th of Dec. 1883. I remained there until after breakfast next morning. My wife told me I had to go to McDade to get some medicine for one of my children and to take a pair of boots and exchange them at Mr. Billingsley's store. When I got there Mr. Billingsley asked me if I had seen anybody hanging to a tree. I told him I did not see anyone. I then asked him if anybody was hung. He said, yes, either hung or killed. I asked him, who it was? He told me that it was Thad McLemore, Wright McLemore and Henry Pfiefer. I then went to the bar where there was a lot of men talking. I stayed there a few moments, then went and untied the boots from my saddle and went up to Mr. Billingsley's store to get them exchanged. While I was looking for the boots I heard a gun or pistol fire. I stepped to the door and looked down the street and saw that somebody was shot. I started down there and saw that it was Az Beatty shot. I then run up to where he was, I asked if he was shot? Jack Beatty, I think, had hold of him under the arms and was holding him up. Jack Beatty said that he (Az Beatty) was shot in the hip. About that time he turned loose of Tom Bishop's pistol. then Tom Bishop says to Az Beatty, "What do you mean by coming here and jumping on me? Az Beatty never said anything. About that time Haywood Beatty stepped up in front of Tom Bishop. Bishop said 'What did you come up here for?' Then Tom Bishop commenced shooting. About that time Mr. Milton came to the door with a double barrel shot gun. He said 'get away from there?' Then I started off looking backward and then they began to shoot; then I met Willie Griffin, close to the beef market; with a six shooter in his hand. I then ran off below the blacksmith's shop and below Oscar Nash's livery stable. There were two other men who ran off down there when I did. I did not know who they were, I told them to go up there and see if the boys were killed. I told them that I was afraid to go back up there for fear they would kill me. They said they were afraid, too. I then went back to the north side of Billingsleys store. I stood there a few moments and then I went up to Mr. Westbrook's lumber yard. I saw Milt. Kennedy. I asked him if the boys were killed. He said, 'yes and Willie Griffin, also'. Kennedy said for me to go away from there. I then broke to run, and Bishop and Milton saw me as I ran and shot me as I run. As well as I recollect there were three shots fired at me. Two shots hit me, one in the left hip, and one in the right leg just above the knee. I was unarmed and in my shirt-sleeves all the time I was in McDade. I went from there home and left my horse in McDade; got home about 2 o'clock, in the evening; my wounds were getting very sore when I got to Mrs. Beatty's. Haywood Beatty was at Mrs. Eatty's when I got there. I knew nothing of any trouble until I heard the shot fired, while I was at Billingsley's store. I thought Bishop and Milton were good friends of mine. I did not think I had an enemy in the world. GEORGE MILTON being duly sworn for the state, says; I am acquainted with the three defendants, Haywood Beatty, Bob Stevens, and Charley Goodman. On the morning of the 25th of December last as I came into my store, I noticed four men ride into town from across the railroad and stop at the saloon. The four men were Az Beatty, Haywood Beatty, Charles Goodman, and Bert Hasley. As they stopped and began to dismount, Az Beatty turned his horse and loped out of town. Directly he came back and in a short time afterwards Jack Beatty and Robert Stevens came in riding from the same direction. Tom Bishop, Dr. Vermillion and Hollman and myself were on my store gallery and some one made the remark, 'wonder what they are coming in so early for.' and I said I suppose it is Christmas times and this is the reason. I went back to my desk and began writing letters and attending to my business. In about fifteen or twenty minutes Jack Beatty came in the store and came right back to the safe where I was standing, he on the outside of safe and I back behind the safe. He began to talk to me about Haywood Beatty being accused of being accessory to the murder of Bose Heffington. He seemed to be considerabley excited, and said some G_d d_d s-s of b-s in McDade had been accusing Haywood Beatty of being concerned in the killing of Bose Heffington, and it was a God damned lie. That he believed old Kige Highsmith was one of them, but there were others that were accusing Haywood Beatty of this. I told him that I had not beard anyone accuse Haywood of being in the killing but that I had heard it reported ar9ound that Haywood Beatty had carried Jeff Fitzpatrick out of town behind him on his horse the night he killed Heffington. Jack Beatty then said that report was a damned lie too; that Haywood had nothing to do with it. Jack BEatty then asked me if Heffington in his dying statement had accursed Haywood with having anything to do with the killing. I told him no. He said, well there have been three men taken out of this town last night, and as he made this remark the firing commenced. I heard the struggling just abut the time the shot fired. I turned my face in that direction and I saw Haywood at the left of the door advancing toward the inside. Charles Goodman and Bert Hasley on the other side of the door. I advanced towards the door from behind the counter. Jack Beatty also advanced toward the door, he being in front of the counter. As I advanced I hollowed to them several times not to do that. When I got to the end of the counter about the middle of the store I turned out from behind the counter, to go towards the door. Jack Beatty was then ahead of me, and he turned on me. Fronting me and said several times that I should not or must not go out. I drew my pistol and told him to back. He wheeled then and run out of the front door. I then discovered Haywood Beatty to the left of the door, and right at the door with his pistol drawn on me. Bert Hasley and Charley Goodman were on the other side of the door with pistols drawn had them up in their hands ready to shoot. I backed then, with my pistol drawn towards the door pointing first to one side of the door and then the other. to keep them from shooting in it. I backed behind the counter to where my gun was, dropped my pistol into my pocket, took up my gun and cocked both barrels and then advanced to front of the store as soon as possible. I kept the gun pointed to the side of the door where Haywood was and would point it to the other side when I would see them poke their heads in. I fired on them at the left of the door before I got to the front of the store. Haywood left thsat side of the door then and ran back out into the street. I then went to the door and Charley Goodman and Bert Hasley were backing off from the store to the left with their pistols drawn. I noticed at this time Bob Stevens about the market house, about fifty feet distant and near my fence. I heard a report at this time from the right and turned my head and saw Az. Beatty fall and I then heard another report to my left and in the direction of Stevens; I then heard a pistol shot to my right, and looking saw smoke coming from Haywood Beatty's pistol. I then saw Griffin down and Haywood Beatty's pistol pointing in the direction of Griffin. He was lowering his pistol and I saw the smoke coming from it. Haywood Beatty was running backwards and firing as he ran back. All this time there was a stuggle going on between Tom Bishop, Jack Beatty and Az Beatty. Bishop and Az Beatty were down on their knees. About the time that Willie Griffin fell a report of a pistol shot came from where Bishop and Az. and Jack Beatty were struggling, and Jack Beatty fell. During this time Haywood Beatty was firing as he retreated backwards. I threw my shot gun down and shot at him. I turned then and fired at the others as they backed off. At the time, Jack Beatty came back in o my store where I was writing I noticed Haywood Beatty, Bert Hasley and Charles Goodman about the front of the store. While talking to me Jack Beatty seemed to be excited and mad. Jack, while talking to me, put his righthand into his left bosom several times. I don't know what he meant by it. The parties at the door with pistols drawn and Jack Beatty seemed to have for their ogject to keep me from coming out of my store. I did not notice anyone else at the place where Robert Stevens was standing at the time I heard a shot fire about where he was. As soon as I heard this shot fire I saw Robert Stevens run in behind the building. If Haywood Beatty shot at me he shot immediately after he shot Will Griffin. At the time Haywood Beatty fired I had my face turned in another direction and when I looked toward Haywood Beatty he was facing me and lowering his pistol, the barrel being pointed towards me and I saw the smoke coming from it. This was before I shot at Haywood Beatty. I saw Haywood Beatty shoot at Tom Bishop. After Haywood Beatty downed Willie Griffin and shot at me he then shot at Tom Bishop several times. Tom Bishop was struggling with Az and Jack Beatty at the time Haywood Beatty shot at him. There were forty or fifty shots fired. When I started to the front door, Haywood Beatty was standing right at the door, with his body behind the door facing, and he would look around and point his pistol in the door, and he then told me that I should not go out there. AT this time there was struggling going on outside. This occurred on the 25th day of December 1883, in Bastrop county, Texas. Continued in next email. Tammy Owen Bastrop CO, TX Coordinator Bastropcc@aol.com http://www.rootsweb.com/~txbastro/bastrop.htm http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~txtammy/bastrop/bastropmain.html