Description:

Elder-Butler Feud, Wild West Texas Legal Document Re: Murder of Sheriff Isham Elder

1p, measuring 8" x 13.5", Karnes County, Texas, dated January 24, 1887. Signed by A. Maley as Clerk of the District Court. Addressed to the Sheriff or Constable of Karnes County, commanding him to summon Daniel Butler to appear at court to answer a petition against him made by Mrs. Elder and her children. The defendants in the case are listed as William G. Butler, M. Lafayette Butler, Newton G. Butler, Daniel Butler, Sykes Butler, Pleasant B. Butler, Eli Harrell, W.C. Harrell, Juan Coy, and Epitacio Garza. The charge against the accused is as follows:

"Suit for Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50000.00) actual damages, for unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, and of their malice aforethought, and in pursuance of previous combination and conspiracy by and between each and all of the defendants, jointly and separately, killing and murdering the said I.L. Elder on the 6th day of September A.D. 1886…by shooting and discharging into the body of said I.L. Elder divers leaden bullets and buckshot…the said I.L. Elder was in robust and vigorous health about 36 years of age, with promise of a long and useful public and private life, he being Sheriff and tax collector of Karnes County, Texas…the said killing of said I.L. Elder was wholly unjustifiable and inexcusable…" With docketing on verso. It is accompanied by a related handwritten document, 1p, measuring 8.25" x 13.75", no place, n.d., which records a settlement between Mrs. P.D. Elder and W.G. Butler et. al. Both documents have flattened folds and light edge toning. Spots of foxing. Very good.

Karnes County Sheriff Isham Lafayette Elder was shot and killed, along with his brother, Deputy Sheriff James J. Elder, and Deputy Sheriff John M. Bailey on September 6, 1886. Elder and William Butler were already at odds prior to this because Butler believed Elder had a hand in killing his son 20 months prior. The conflict on the 6th arose when Coy and Garza, in the employ of Butler, rode into Daileyville carrying Winchester rifles. Sheriff Elder had been seated outside a polling place and approached the men to tell them they were in violation of the law. When Coy and Garza began firing at the sheriff, Sykes C. Butler approached from the rear and shot Elder in the head. Deputy Bud Elder was also ambushed and killed, but not before he was able to wound William Butler. Deputy Baily was shot in the knee during the fight, and his leg had to be amputated. Sadly, he died of his wounds the following day. All three lawmen are buried at Helena Cemetery. William and Sykes Butler were both acquitted of murder in 1888. Coy was also charged with murder but fled before his trial; he was later shot and killed in California in 1892. Although the shootout not as widely known, the event brings to mind the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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