TWO CORSICANA

YOUTHS CHARGED

RAPE BY NURSES

ONE IN JAIL AND OTHER

BEING SOUGHT BY COUNTY

OFFICERS

   Lester Paulk is in the Navarro

county jail, charged by complaint

with rape in connection with the

alleged attack on two student

nurses, attaches of the Navarro

County Hospital, on a road north-

east of Corsicana, late Friday

night.  It is alleged that Paulk and

Pete Alexander took three student

nurses for a ride and the alleged

attack is said to have occurred

while on the trip.  One of the

girls is said to have escaped by

running and arousing a farmer who

brought her to Corsicana, and se-

cured Constable J. J. Howard and

City Officer Grady Spencer, who

went in chase.  The officers are

said to have missed the two cou-

ples and returned to Corsicana to

find that the two girls had been

brought back to the hospital by the

two men.

   One of the girls was formerly

of Frost, another from Blooming

Grove and the third from Austin.

According to County Attorney Ballard

W. George the girls made statements

concerning the affair late Saturday

afternoon.

  Paulk was arrested late Saturday

afternoon.  Alexander is said to

be still at large.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Monday, August 10, 1925

ALEXANDER STILL

AT LARGE TODAY

OFFICERS STATE

NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN

CASE DURING PAST SEVERAL

HOURS

   According to the sheriff's and

county attorney's offices, Wednesday

afternoon at press hour, no

trace has been found of Pete

Alexander, wanted here on a

formal complaint of rape in connection

with an alleged attack

made upon two young women Friday

night.

   County Attorney Ballard W.

George stated this afternoon that

nothing had been heard from

Governor Ferguson concerning the

request from here to offer a reward

of $250 for the apprehension

and conviction of the accused

man.

   A reward of $100 has been orffered

by Sheriff John W. Stewart

and $100 reward has been offered

by the, staff doctors of the Navarro

county hospital for the arrest

of Alexander.

   The State-wide search for the

accused man is still being made

officers stated today.

   Lester Paulk is still in the coun-

ty jail in connection with the same

affair for which Alexander is

wanted officers stated.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Wednesday, August 12, 1925

MAN HELD LAREDO

SUSPECTED BEING

WANTED CORSICANA

MAN ARRESTED SAID TO

ANSWER DESCRIPTION

PETE ALEXANDER

   A white man answering the description

of Pete Alexander, wanted

in Corsicana on a formal complaint

for a statutory offense, the

alleged attack said to have been

made upon two young women Fri-

day night, has been arrested in

Laredo according to information

given out this afternoon at the

sheriff's office.

  A telegram was received late

Wednesday night from Sheriff A.

J. Condren of Laredo, stating that

a white man answering the description

of Alexander had been arrested

there. In telephone conver-

sation today with officers at La-

redo, Deputy Sheriff John R. Car-

rington was advised that the man

arrested there answered the des-

cription of Alexander and photos

of the suspected man were taken

today and were forwarded to the

Corsicana sheriff’s office, it was

stated this afternoon.

   Sheriff Condren of Laredo advised

local officers today that the

suspected man would be held until

advised by the local officers

whether he was the man wanted

here.

   It was stated by officers that, the

suspect at Laredo was arrested on

the freight train in Laredo late

Wednesday afternoon. The suspected

man alleges that his name

is not Alexander and gives his

home address as Dallas.

   Meanwhile, the state-wide

search continues for the accused

man, officers stated.

   Lester Paulk  is still in the Navarro

county jail in connection with

the same offense for which Alexander

is sought, officers stated this afternoon.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Thursday, August 13, 1925

MAN WANTED HERE

ALLEGED CAPTURED

IN FLORIDAY CITY

COUNTY ATTORNEY GEORGE

AND SHERIFF STEWART TO

GO AFTER MAN

By Associated Press.

   Key West, Fla., Aug. 18—A. R. (Pete)

Alexander wanted in Corsicana, Texas

on statutory charge punishable in Texas by

electrocution, was apprehended her last

night by Chief Police J. W. Albury.

_____________________

   County attorney Ballard George and Sheriff John W. Stewart will leave tonight for  Key

West Floriday, for Pete Alexander, wanted

here on statutory charges, it was announced

today.

   According to information given out at the

sheriff’s office this morning.  Alexander was alleged to have been apprehended late Monday afternoon.  The local sheriff’s office located the man wanted here,  it was stated,

Monday afternoon about 5 o’clock and

immediately dispatched telegrams to the chief of police at Key West.  Deputy Sheriff John R. Curington telephoned to Key West early today and offices are confident that the man held there is the man wanted here.

  Sheriff John W. Stewart has spared no expense in the effort to apprehend the wanted man and has spent time and money since the alleged occurrence of the deed for which Alexander is wanted.  A state-wide and nation-wide search was instituted and telegrams, telephone calls and circulars had been distributed over Texas and in several other states.

   A check dated August 7 and cashed in Wichita Falls August 10 was said to have been given by the man wanted here.  The check was for $1.50.  The search was redoubled in the the northern portion of the state and Alexander is said to have been seen in Houston several days ago.

   Deputy Sheriff John R. Curington wired the officers in Key West where the wanted would be found and he was arrested and lodged in jail.  The arrest in Key West is said to have been made by Chief of Police J. W. Albury.

   Sheriff John W. Stewart stated that Alexander would be returned to Navarro County jail.

   County Attorney Ballard W.

George stated this morning that in

view of the facts of the case the

men, Alexander and Lester Paulk,

were not entitled to bail and no

bail will be granted by the county

attorney’s office.  Paulk is still in

the Navarro county jail

   It is not known whether the ac-

cused man will waive extradition

papers for his return to Texas and

it is understood that Governor

Ferguson will send extradition pa-

pers to the Governor of Florida to-

day.

   Officers of the sheriff’s office

stated today that many rumors

had been circulated concerning the

whereabouts of the accused man.

   Three cash awards totaling $500

had been offered for the capture

of Alexander.  The staff doctors at

the Navarro County Hospital of-

fered $100;  John W. Stewart,

sheriff of Navarro county also of-

fered $100 and Governor Miriam

A. Ferguson of the State of Texas

has offered $300.

   The interest in the case has been

at fever heat since the alleged crime

was committed and every man, woman,

and child in the county have been

watching the reports for Alexander’s

capture.

   Alexander was wanted in connection

with an alleged statutory

charge in which three young women

were the victims.  The alleged victim

of Alexander is said to have been

considerable mistreated.

   The alleged crime is said to

have been committed the night of

Friday, August 7, and Alexander

has been a fugitive since that date.

   Lester Paulk companion of Alexander

at the time of the alleged crime was apprehended Saturday evening soon

after the complaint was filed.  He is

still in the county jail.  Alexander

made his get away and according to various

rumors he has “been captured” in a

number of cities in the United

States.

   According to reports Alexander

and Paulk took three girls for a

ride in Alexander’s automobile.

While on the trip two of the girls

are said to have been attacked

while the third made her escape

and spread the alarm.  Paulk’s

arrest followed but Alexander escaped.

   The two girls were said to have

been brought back to town

following the alleged attack.

   One of the girls was formerly of

Frost, another of Blooming Grove

and the third was from Austin.

All three of the girls are said to

have made statements in connection

with the affair to County Attorney

Ballard W. George.  They are

student nurses at the Navarro

County hospital.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Tuesday, August 18, 1925

REQUISITION PAPERS

SIGNED FOR ALEXANDER

By Associated Press.

   Austin, Aug. 21,--Requi-

sition for extradition of Pete

Alexander, wanted in Na-

varro county on a charge of

criminal assault, was issued

Thursday on the governor

of Florida by Governor Mir-

iam A. Ferguson, Alexander,

known in Central Texas oil

fields as “Two Gun Pete,” is

under arrest at Key West.

About 10 days ago Govenor

Ferguson offered $300 reward

for his arrest.  He is charged with

having assaulted a young girl

on the night of Aug. 7, near

Corsicana.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Friday, August 21, 1925

OFFICERS ARRIVED EARLY TODAY WITH

PETE ALEXANDER

RECENTLY TAKEN IN

KEY WEST

   Pete Alexander, wanted here

on a statutory complaint, was

returned to Corsicana at an

early hour today from Key West,

Florida, where he was arrested

by Chief of Police J. W. Albury,

August 17.  The accused man

was brought back to Corsicana

and lodged in the Navarro county

jail by Sheriff John W. Stewart and

County Attorney Ballard W. George

who went to Key West for the

accused.

   Sheriff Stewart and County attorney

George made the trip to Key West

by rail but returned via boat from Key

West to Galveston.  Alexander was

arrested after a nation-wide search

of ten days in connection with the

alleged attacking and mistreating

of two young women on the night of

August 7, on a lonely road northeast

of Corsicana.  Lester Paulk said to

be the companion of Alexander at the

time is in the Navarro county jail in

connection with the same affair.  He

was arrested August 8.

   A reward of $300 was offered by

Governor Ferguson, $100 by Sheriff

John W. Stewart, $100 from a group

of local physicians, and $100

from William Clarkson, sr. for the

arrest and conviction of the accused

man.

   Governor Ferguson issued extra-

dition papers for the return of the

accused man to Texas but it is  under-

stood that Alexander waived extradition

proceedings to return to Texas.

   County Attorney Ballard W. George

states that the offense for which the

two youths are held is not bailable and this afternoon no more has been made to secure bail for the two youths, officers

state. 

   The offense that the youths are

charged with is one punishable by

electrocution under the laws of Texas.

   There were three young women in

the car on the night the alleged attack

occurred. One escaped.  The young

women were from Frost, Blooming

Grove, and Austin.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

 Wednesday,  August 26, 1925

ALEXANDER AND PAULK

WILL BE TRIED IN WAX-

AHACHIE DISTRICT COURT MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Texas, Sept. 9.—

Trial dates were set for Monday,

Sept. 21, in Ellis county district

court of Judge W. L. Harding for

criminal assaults cases against A.

R. (Pete) Alexander and Lester

Paulk of Navarro county.

   True bills of indictment were re-

turned against the Corsicana

youths here into Monday by the

Ellis county grand jury.

   Five witnesses were examined in

fixing the bills for alleged assaults

on two student nurses of the Na-

varro County Hospital on the night

August 6.

   Special vonires of 100 men each

will be summoned for the cases,

one of which will come to trial on

Monday, September 21, and the re-

maining case on the following

Thursday, according to Ellis coun-

ty authorities.

   Alexander and Paulk were trans-

ferred from Navarro county to the

Ellis county jail Monday night fol-

lowing the billing on the assault

charges.

   Alexander and Paulk, defendants

names in the indictment were taken

to Waxahachie early Tuesday

night by Sheriff Joe Lee, of Ellis

county.  The Ellis county sheriff

came to Corsicana immediately

following the returning of the indict-

ments armed with the necessary

papers to take the accused men

back with him.  They are now held

without bail in the Ellis county

jail.

   With the case set down for trial

September 21, the earliest date

possible after an indictment is

returned, means the cases will be

disposed of earlier.  The court here

does not convene till the first Monday

in October at which time a grand jury

will be impaneled.

   The prosecution will be repre-

sented by County Attorney Ballard

W. George of Navarro county,

County Attorney Tom Ball of Ellis

county, and J. C. Sharp, who has

been retained as special prosecutor.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Wednesday, September 9, 1925

PETE ALEXANDER

CASE IS RESET FOR

FIRST OF OCTOBER

CASE OF CORSICANA MEN

CHARGED WITH RAPE BE

TRIED WAXAHACHIE

Special to Daily Sun.

   Waxahachie, Sept. 10.--
Trial for Pete Alexander and Lester

Paulk, of Navarro county, charged

by an Ellis county grand jury in-

dictment with criminal assault,

has been re-set for October 1, it

was announced here Thursday by

County Attorney Tom Ball.

   The reason for delaying the trial

date on the calendar is that the defense attorneys could not get ready for trial

by September 21, on account of being

engaged in court matters in Henderson

county at that time.  Also one of the de-

fense attorneys is out of the State

and no word has been received when

he expects to return.

   County Attorney Ball stated that

by re-setting the cases would give

the defense ample time to be ready

for trial when the cases are called.

   Three weeks from today the trial

of the cases will come up.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Thursday, September 10, 1925

ALEXANDER-PAULK

CASES COME BEFORE

COURT OCTOBER 1^ST

ATTORNEYS IN CASE ASKED

DELAY TEN DAYS IN

LOCAL CASE

By Associated Press.

   Waxahachie, Texas, Sept. 15,--

Seven Cases in which pleas of guil-

ty of felonies are to be entered will

be brought to trial in the district

court here Monday, Sept. 21,

it was announced Tuesday, follow-

ing the continuance of the criminal

assault cases against two Corsicana

youths until October 1.

   Attorneys in the cases against

A. R. (Pete) Alexander and Lester

Paulk for alleged assaults in Nav-

arro county, to be tried here re-

quest that the cases be continued

until October when the attorneys

found the original date of Sep. 21

conflicted with other cases already

set in other counties, according to

county officials today.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Tuesday, September 15, 1925

APPLICATION FOR

BAIL FOR YOUTHS

WAXAHACHIE JAIL

Special to Daily Sun.

   Waxahachie, Sept. 21.—The first

step for bail in the Alexander and

Paulk cases was taken by the de-

fense here Saturday when applica-

tion was made for a writ of habeas

corpus.

   The hearing on the application will

come before Judge Harding Wednesday

morning.  It was stated at the county

attorney’s office Monday.

   Defense lawyers were here from

Corsicana Saturday in behalf of the

two Navarro county youths held on

criminal assault charges.  Indictments

were recently returned against Pete

Alexander and Lester Paulk, who are

being held in jail pending trial on the

indictments.  Trial of the cases has

been set for October 1.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Monday, September 21, 1925  

HABEAS CORPUS FOR

ALEXANDER-PAULK

BE HEARD MONDAY

GRANTING OF BAIL WILL BE

BITTERLY CONTESTED, IT

IS INTIMATED

Special to the Sun.

Waxahachie, Texas, Sept. 22,—

Habeas corpus proceedings to se-

cure the release on bond of A. R..

(Pete) Alexander and Lester Paulk,

Corsicana youths, who are being

held in the Ellis county jail pending

trial in the Ellis county district

court  on October on a transfer

from Navarro county on charges of

criminal assault, will be heard in

Judge Harding's court Monday,

September 28, according to definite

arrangements completed here Tuesday.

   The application for a writ of habeas

corpus was made by the defense

attorneys Saturday.

   Although it may be necessary for

the state to show its hand in the

habeas corpus proceedings, the

youths will be denied bond, even

at the cost of the entire state's

case, it was intimated at the office

of County Attorney Tom Ball today.

   According to a statement this

morning by B. W. George, county

attorney, the habeas corpus hear-

ing for Pete Alexander and Lester

Paulk, Corsicana men being held

in the Ellis county jail on an indictment

on a statutory charge alleged

to have been committed in

Navarro county, that was scheduled

to be heard Wednesday will

be heard Monday morning, Septem-

ber 28.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Tuesday, September 22, 1925

SEEK TO ADVANCE HEARING ON PAULK

AND ALEXANDER CASE

Special to Daily Sun.

   Waxahachie, Texas, Sept. 24—

Aplication for a writ of mandamus

inay be made by the defense at-

torneys in the Alexander and Paulk

cases following Judge Harding’s ac-

tion in overruling defendant’s mo-

tion to advance the hearing on the

writ of habeas corpus.

   Defense attorneys Wednesday

made a motion to advance the hearing

on the application for a writ of

habeas corpus, which has been set

for next Monday, and was over-

ruled by the court.

   The trial date is next Thursday

when Alexander and Paulk, Navarro

county youths, will be arraigned

on recent Ellis county indictments

charging criminal assault.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Thursday, September 24, 1925

HABEAS CORPUS IN

ALEXANDER-PAULK

CASES UNDER WAY

TAKING OF TESTIMONY IN

EFFORT TO GET BAIL CON-

SUMED ALL MONDAY

Special to Daily Sun.

   Waxahachie, Sep. 28.—Hearing

of testimony was begun in district

court here today on the habeas

corpus hearing in the cases of

Alexander and Paulk, transferred

here from Navarro county.  Court

convened at 10 o’clock and the

morning session was taken up in the

testimony of two of the State’s

witnesses.  Court reconvened at 2

o’clock this afternoon and additional

testimony is being taken.  Indications

are that the hearing will not be com-

pleted before Tuesday.

   The defense is represented here

by J. S. Callicutt and Fred Up-

church of Corsicana, and Bowd

Farrer of Waxahachie.  The pros-

ecution is being represented by

County Attorney Tom Ball of Wax-

ahachie, County Attorney Ballard

W. George of Corsicana and John

Sharp of Ennis, who is retained as

special prosecutor.  The hearing is

conducted before Judge W. L.

Harding.

   Trial of the cases is set for

Thursday of the present week.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Monday, September 28, 1925

PAULK-ALEXANDER

HABEAS CORPUS IS

DRAGGING TODAY

TRIAL OF CHARGES AGAINST

CORSICANA MEN SCHEDULED

FOR THURSDAY

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Texas, Sept. 29.—

The taking of testimony from eye-

witnesses continued Tuesday in

the habeas corpus hearing for Lester

Paulk, Corsicana youth charged

by indictment with criminal as-

sault and being tried in the Ellis

county district court of Judge W. L.

Harding on transfer from Navarro

county.

   The trial of Paulk and A. R. (Pete)

Alexander similary charged, in a

companion case in connection with

the alleged criminal assault on two

young women of Navarro county

near Corsicana on the night of

August 7, is scheduled for Thursday,

October 1, with the Alexander case

first on the docket.

   Conclusion of the habeas corpus

hearing was not yet in sight Tuesday,

as the taking of testimony dragged.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Tuesday, September 29, 1925

ALEXANDER CASE

POSTPONED; PAULK

JURY BEING CHOSEN

CONTINUANCE IS GRANTED

ALEXANDER PENDING HABEAS

CORPUS HEARING

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Texas, Oct. 1—With

the continuance of the trial of A. R. (Pete)

Alexander, pending a habeas corpus hearing,

the impaneling of a jury from 300 veniremen

began in the Ellis county district court at

1:15 o’clock Thursday for the trial of Lester

Paulk, charged by the grand jury indictment on a companion case of criminal assault alleged to have been committed near Corsicana August 7.

   Both cases were brought to the Ellis county courts on a transfer from Navarro county.

   Alexander’s case was scheduled for Thursday morning at 10 o’clock and veniremen had been summoned to appear at that time, but were excused until Monday, October 19, with the continuance of trial.

   After the Paulk case has been disposed of the Alexander petition for a habeas corpus will be heard and the court agreed.

  Habeas corpus proceeding had failed to secure bond for Paulk earlier this week.

   The jury was not expected to be impaneled before noon, Friday court observers said.

   A formal motion for continuance in the Paulk case was overruled by the court at 4 o’clock.

   Work of examining the talesmen of the sperial venire started immediately afterwards.  Defendant’s motion to quash the indictment was not entered but may be presented later among the dilatory pleas.

   Lawyers said a number of witnesses connected with the Alexander and Paulk cases went to Waxahachie Thursday morning to be

on hand when the cases were called.

   The action of the court means that the case against Paulk will be tried first.  Following disposal of the Paulk case a habeas corpus proceeding will be heard in behalf of Alexander.

   Trial of the Alexander case has been postponed till Monday, October 19.  This will give time to try the Paulk case and hear the application for a writ of habeas corpus in the other before trial date.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Thursday, October 1, 1925

FIVE JURORS HAVE

BEEN ACCEPTED IN

LESTER PAULK CASE

JURY NOT EXPECTED TO BE

COMPLETED BEFORE LATE

FRIDAY

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Oct. 2—Five jurors

had been impaneled at mid-after-

noon Friday to sit in the trial of

Lester Paulk of Corsicana, charged with

criminal assault, and to be tried in the

Ellis county district court on transfer

from Navarro county.

   Examination of jurors began

late Thursday and continued until

10 o’clock with four of the five taken

before adjournment.

   The fifth juror was chosen Friday

morning.

   Sixty of one hundred veniremen

remained from which to choose the

remaining seven jurors.

   Paulk’s case was brought here

with a companion case of criminal

assault with A. R. (Pete) Alexander

whose trial was continued until Oct.

19, pending habeas corpus proceedings.

   Paulk was brought to trial after a

motion of continuance by the defense

was overruled by the court.

   All of the five jurors chosen until

2 o’clock were farmers or farm owners

as follows:  Angus Arnold, Palmer;

C. L. Verheyden, Waxahachie; T. W. Luke,

Waxahachie; J. J. Borders, Bardwell; and

J. D. Adams, Palmer.

   Witnesses in the case Friday morning

were dismissed until Saturday at 9 o’clock

when it appeared in the eyes of the court

that the jury would not be impaneled before

late Friday.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Friday, October 2, 1925

ELEVEN JURORS IN

PAULK CASE SECURED

3:15 THIS AFTERNOON

EXPECT TAKING OF TESTIMONY TO BEGIN

MONDAY MORNING

Special to Daily Sun.

   Waxahachie, Oct. 3.—Eleven jurors had been obtained in the Lester Paulk criminal assault case at

3:15 o’clock Saturday afternoon,

which is on trial here in district

court.

   The special venire of 100 men

had been exhausted and another

venire of 25 additional men was

summoned by the court.  At the

mid-afternoon recess all but nine

of the 25 men had been used up

and one juror yet to be selected.

   Court announced that a night

session would be held Saturday if

necessary to complete the jury.

Witnesses in the case who appeared

Saturday were excuses till 10

o’clock Monday morning, when it is predicted the taking of testimony

would begin.

   Conscientious scruples against

invoking the death penalty in a

criminal assault case disqualified

the greatest number of those re-

jected.

   The eleven jurors are Angus

Arnold, Palmer; C. L. Verheyden,

Waxahachie; T. W. Lake, Waxa-

hachie; . J. Borders, Bardwell;

J. D. Adams, Palmer;  W. W.

Marshall, Waxahachie; H. Hank,

Midlothian; L. M. Penrod, Ennis, and G. O. Walker, Waxahachie.  Court was

in session till 10 o’clock Friday night

and the work of the jury select-

tion was resumed Saturday morning.

   A large number of witnesses both for the state and defense have been subpoenaed to testify in the trial of the case

   Paulk’s mother sat by the side of her son in the court room throughout Friday and Saturday and evinced considerable interest in the questions put to the prospective jurors.  From the nature of the questions asked the talesmen the state evidently intends to ask for the death penalty.

   The Paulk case was transferred to Ellis county from Navarro county.  A. R. (Pete) Alexander who is charged by indictment in a companion case remains in the county jail here.  An application for a writ of habeas corpus will be heard in his behalf immediately following disposal of the Paulk case.  the Alexander case trial date is set down for Monday, October 19.

   A large array of lawyers are in the courtroom.  The prosecution is represented by Ballard W. George, attorney for Navarro county; Tom Ball, attorney for Ellis county; Assistant County Attorney Anderson of Waxahachie;  J. H. Sharp and Archie Gray, of Ennis, who are retained special prosecutors.  The defense is represented by J. S. Callicutt, Richard Mays, A. P. Mays, Fred Upchurch of Corsicana; Bowd Farrer and Y. D. Kemble, of Waxahachie.

   Court observers are looking forward to a heavy court battle between the array of legal talent when the taking of testimony and actual

trial of the case begins.

   Several interested spectators were present from Corsicana, watching the selection of the jury Friday and Saturday.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Saturday, October 3, 1925

ALLEGED VICTIM

OF PAULK WITNESS

FOR PROSECUTION

YOUNG GIRL TELLS OF

ALLEGED ATTACK IN

NAVARRO COUNTY

Special to Daily Sun.

   Waxahachie, Oct. 5—Miss Bessie

Hildebrandt, nurse at the Navarro

County Hospital took the stand in

district court here Monday morning

as the first witness in the trial of the case of

Lester Paulk, who is charged by indictment

with criminal assault.  Miss Hildebrandt

was on the witness stand the entire forenoon

session during which time the witness was

carried through three hours of direct

examination by the State’s lawyers.  She

is the main prosecuting witness in the case.

   The witness resumed the stand at the

afternoon session and defense lawyers started their cross-examination, and at the mid-

afternoon recess the cross examination

had not been completed. To complete the

testimony of this witness will require the

entire day court observers said.

   The jury in the case was completed late

Saturday night.  The twelfth man is W. W.

Jones of Waxahachie.  The jury is composed

of ten farmers and two salesmen.

   The direct examination is being conducted

by Ballard W. George, attorney for Navarro

County, where the alleged assault took

place.  The cross-examination is being con-

ducted by John S. Callicutt, also of Corsicana,

leading defense counsel.

   Miss Hildebrandt in detail related a story of

how herself and two other girls accepted a

ride in an automobile with Paulk and

Alexander.  She told that the girls were

driven to Tucker Lane northeast of Corsicana

on the night of August 7, and there said she

was criminally assaulted three times by

Paulk.  One of the girls escaped from the

company and fled to a nearby farm house,

where the farmer arose from his slumber

and took her back to town.

   In the testimony it was brought out that

Alexander similarly assaulted Miss Mary

Butler, the complaining witness in the

companion case which is set for trial here

October 19, while Miss Opal Downing

fled from the scene to the farm house.

  When Miss Downing was brought to

town by the farmer, Corsicana officers

were notified who went in search of the

girls and the accused men.

   In the meantime Paulk and Alexander

are supposed to have brought the girls

back to the hospital, Paulk was arrested

next day, and Alexander fled to be later

apprendhended

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Monday, October 5, 1925

TWO INDICTMENTS

RETURNED MONDAY

IN ASSAULT CASES

LESTER PAULK AND PETE

ALEXANDER INDICTED IN

NAVARRO COUNTY

  Two indictments each were re-

turned late Monday afternoon by

the Navarro county grand jury

against Lester Paulk and Pete

Alexander on statutory charges

in connection with the alleged as-

sault said to have been committed

against two young women on the

night of August 7, it was learned

today.

   Deputy Sheriff Clyde Walker

took the papers to the sheriff of

Ellis county late Monday to be

served on the two accused men

who are being held in Ellis county

jail on indictments returned in Ellis

county recently.  The trial of

Paulk is being conducted in Wax-

ahachie this week.

   The sheriff’s return on the serv-

ing papers had not been received

by the district clerk’s office today.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Tuesday, October 6, 1925

CONTINUE TAKING

TESTIMONY PAULK

CASE; END NOT NEAR

LARGE PART OF TESTIMONY

OFFERED SAID TO BE UNPRINTABLE

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Oct. 8—Hearing of evidence, details of which are largely unprintable, continues in the trial of the Lester Paulk case in district court here.

   Paulk is on trial for criminal assault in connection with the mistreatment of Miss Bessie Hildebrandt, nurse at the Navarro County Hospital, Corsicana, after his case was transferred here for grand jury indictment, a few days ago.  The alleged criminal assault took place on the night of August 7, a few miles northeast of Corsicana in what is known as Tucker Lane near the intersection of Corsicana Oil Ridge road.

   A number of State witnesses have been heard and at the afternoon session Thursday Miss Jessie Armstrong, superintendent of the hospital where Miss Hildebrandt works, was on the stand.

   Miss S. L. Corbell was on the stand Wednesday afternoon and testified to the condition and medical treatment of the prosecutrix the following day and several days thereafter.

   Scientific evidence offered by

the witness, Dr. R. C. Curtis laboratorian and chemist, by the State, endeavored to show the state of defendant’s health with reference to veneral disease.  Smears made on glass slides prepared by Miss Corbell and Dr. Curtis were introduced.  The State alleges that Paulk was

venereal iv infected at the time of the assault.

   This phase of the testimony is being attacked by the defense who allege the Paulk was not venereal infected.  Dr. Curtis and

Miss Corbell’s testimony was offered in a follow-up of Dr. T. A. Miller who made physical examination of the prosecutrix the next day and who testified to the alleged carnal abuse.

   Miss Mary Butler was on the stand for four hours.  A. R. (Pete) Alexander, is in jail awaiting trial for a similar offense in which Miss Butler is complaining witness, Alexander, Paulk and the three young women are said to

have gone for an automobile ride with the result that two of them were mistreated while the third made her escape to a nearby farm house, and was brought to Corsicana by the farmer, who also notified the officers.

   Dr. Miller, in addition to his evidence given testified to the good character and reputation of Miss Hildebrandt.

   The boarding house woman where Miss Hildebrandt stayed for a time in Corsicana was also used as a character witness.

   Miss Butler was put through a grilling

cross-examination at the hands of J. S. Callicutt, leading counsel for the defense, Thursday morning.  The details of the fateful trip were gone over carefully.  She told a corlaborative story of that by Miss Hilderbrandt.  Each girl maintained steadfastly that they were overcome by force at the hands of the two men.

   The State has a number of additional witnesses to be heard, it developed in court Thursday.  It may be as late as Friday night before it rests its case.  The defense may get started on its evidence by Saturday morning.  The case will not likely come to a close for at least a week.

   Indictments for criminal assault returned Tuesday by the Navarro county grand jury against Paulk and Alexander were served on the two men late Wednesday.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Thursday, October 8, 1925

DEFENSE IN PAULK

CASE INTRODUCED

WITNESSES TODAY

EXPECT TESTIMONY TO BE

COMPLETED BY SATURDAY

NIGHT IN CASE

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Oct. 9.—At the conclusion of the testimony, of Miss Jessie Armstrong, superintendent of the Navarro County Hospital, in the trial of Lester Paulk in district court here Thursday afternoon.  The prosecution announced it would rest the State’s case, with the understanding that several other witnesses would be offered at the conclusion of hearing the defense witnesses.

   Paulk is on trial here on a charge of criminal assault on Miss Bessie Hildebrandt, nurse at the Navarro County Hospital.

   The defense started with its testimony late Thursday and consumed all of Friday morning and had other witnesses to put on the stand at the afternoon session.  At press hour Watt Stewart, street superintendent of Corsicana, was on the stand.  His testimony delt largely with the lay of the streets of Corsicana, and the relation they bear each with each, in mentally picturing the routes covered by the automobile that figured in the case on the fateful night of August 7.

   Other witnesses called by the defense were Percy Blackburn, Jewel Henderson, Benny Thomas, negro; Ben Johnson, negro; Joe Alexander, Mexican; Mrs. Grace Butler, J. W. Lawhorn, Frank Wilson, E. W. Lichyter,

Bruce Nutt, J. S. Roth, W. F. Odom,

Mrs. Joe Magness, Mrs. E. J. Jeffers,

Roy Harrison, H. R. Harrison, Mrs. A. F.

Odom, Calvin Browning, Emmett Miller,

W. E. Presley, J. R. Bailey.

   A number of these were fact witnesses

and others were character witnesses in behalf

of defendant.

   Dr. L. H. Graham of Waxahachie, testified

to having assisted in making a physical

examination of Paulk Wednesday in which

he failed to find him infected by venereal

disease, but admitted on cross-examination

that he may have dormant germs of disease

that might be emitted by excitement or other

cause.  He was questioned closely as to the possibility of dormant venereal germs making themselves shown under such circumstances supposed surrounding the case and he said it was possible.

   The defense expects to complete its testimony late Friday or early Saturday.  It is likely that all the testimony will be in Saturday.  The charge of the court will not likely be given the jury before Monday morning.  The arguments of counsel will follow the charge.  Three hours argument will be given to each side Judge Harding announced.

The courtroom remained crowded with spectators.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Friday, October 9, 1925

PAULK TOOK STAND

TODAY IN HIS OWN

BEHALF IN CASE

DEFENDANT IN ASSAULT

CASE PLACED ON STAND

BY HIS COUNSEL

Special to Daily Sun.

   Waxahachie, Texas, Oct. 10.—In

an effort to weaken the evidence

of Miss Hildebrandt, prosecutrix,

in the trial of Lester Paulk, who is

on trial here for criminal assault,

the defense apparently played

their main trump card when they

put the defendant on the stand to

testify in his own behalf.

   Paulk took the stand shortly be-

fore 11 o’clock Saturday morning and at press hour the defense had not

completed their direct examination

of the defendant late Saturday.  The

defense is expected to rest its

case with the conclusion of

Paulk’s testimony.

   The State have several add-

itional witnesses to introduce Mon-

day, and the arguments may be

reached Monday afternoon, al-

though it may be Tuesday before

all the evidence is in.

   Other witnesses offered by the

defense were their own attorneys,

with the exception of Fred Up-

church and Bowd Farrer.  The

line of questioning tended to show

an effort to prove a difference in

Miss Hildebrandt’s manner in giv-

ing her testimony before the jury

than that assumed while testifying

in the habeas corpus hearing sev-

eral days ago.  John S. Callicutt,

Richard Mays, A. P. Mays and Y.

D. Kemble were the witnesses used.

On completing this testimony on

motion of the prosecution it was

thrown out by the court.

   Richard Mays offered a chart of

the city of Corsicana covering the

routes covered by Alexander and

Paulk’s automobile on the night

of the alleged assault.  This in-

cluded the street leading from the

hospital to town, a portion of East

Fifth Avenue and the road leading

out from Fifth avenue in the vi-

cinity of the county farm, and the

Chatfield road leading out of town

at the northeastern limits of the

city.  This was in connection with

the testimony of Watt Stewart,

Corsicana street superintendent,

who testified to the locations of the

streets mentioned in the trial  of

the case.

   Paulk was questioned at length

concerning the statements made by

the main prosecuting witness in

her testimony.  He mentioned that

on the return trip from the scene

of the assault, the two men and

women engaged in a “petting par-

ty” as the car brought them to

town.  He declared the witness

seemed “worried” about nothing.

only was uneasy that she might

lose her job by showing up late

for duty.”  He declared Alexander

asked the girls where they wished

to be taken and they signified their

desire to be let out of the car near

the Corsicana Coca-Cola Bottling

Works on South Ninth street.  It

was at this point, he said, the girls

got into the car with he and Alex-

ander.

   It appears the girls walked from

the point they were let out of the

car to the hospital and reported for

duty.  Paulk ws arrested the fol-

lowing day, while Alexander left

the country and was later appre-

hended at Key West, Fla., and re-

turned to Corsicana.

   Seated with Paulk in the court-

room are his mother, father, brother

and the latter’s wife.

   The courtroom remains crowded

with a large number of spectators.

   No women, other than Paulk’s

near relatives and the women wit-

nesses have appeared in the court-

room since the trial started Mon-

day Morning.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Saturday, October 10, 1925

ARGUMENT SLATED

START IN ALLEGED

RAPE CASE TODAY

PAULK RIGIDLY CROSS-EX-

AMINED BY ATTORNEY

BALLARD GEORGE

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Oct. 12.—At 3:30 o’clock Monday afternoon the arguments in the Lester Paulk trial had not started.  The judge and lawyers in the case have been working on and going over the Court’s charge all day.

   The Court’s charge will likely be read to the jury late this afternoon, and indications are that only one speech will be heard before court adjourns till Tuesday morning.  Judge Harding indicated today that he would not hold a night session.  The defense will likely put on one more witness before it finally rests its case, after which the charge will be read and Ballard W. George will open the arguments for the State.

   The defense rested its case late Saturday with the completion of Paulk’s testimony.  Paulk was rigidly cross-examined by Ballard W. George in behalf of the State.  Following the completion of the cross-examination, the State attorneys announced they would put on no additional witnesses, as they had previously announced.  The charge is quite lengthy. covering various points of the law.

   The defense lawyers stated they might put the jailor where Paulk has been incarcerated on the stand to question him concerning knowledge of Paulk’s physical condition with reference to venereal disease.

   Much significance has been attached to the venereal phase of the testimony, the State attorneys maintaining that Paulk was venereally infected at the time of his alleged assault of Miss Bessie Hildebrandt on the night of August 7.

   Four hours’ time has been allotted to either side of the case for arguments.  The case will likely go to the jury by the middle of Tuesday afternoon.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Monday, October 12, 1925

PAULK GIVEN 99 YEARS BY JURY

DELIBRATIONS OF JURY IN

PAULK CASE FINISHED EARLY TODAY

Special to Daily Sun.

   Waxahachie, Texas, Oct. 14.—“We, the jury find the defendant guilty. as charged in the indictment, and assess his punishment at 99 years confinement in the State penitentiary,” so ran the verdict in the case of State of Texas against Lester Paulk, in District Judge Harding’s court here Wednesday morning.  the verdict was signed by T. W. Lake foreman.

   Paulk received the verdict unmoved, His mother fell upon her son’s shoulder and wept.  His father made no statement.

   Paulk was led back to the county jail where he had been held for the verdict since the case went to the jury Tuesday night.

   The jury received the case at 9:35 o’clock, and in exactly twelve hours the verdict was read in open court.  A poll of the jury indicated it was unanimous.

   The court room was about half filled with spectators, when Sheriff Loe announced that a verdict had been reached.  Judge Harding rapped for order.  The twelve Ellis county men filed quietly into the jury box.  Lake handed the sealed verdict to Judge Harding who immediately read it aloud.  A pindrop could have been heard over the room as the judge unfolded the paper that told of Paulk’s fate.  Attorneys Y. D. Kemble and Bowd Farrer of the defense were present when the verdict was read.  The court warned against

any demonstration at the announcing of the verdict, and the crowds slowly and silently left the courtroom as the defendant was led away by the sheriff.

   A motion for a new trial is being filed by the defense lawyers.

   The case was closed Tuesday night with a two hours speech by Ballard W. George, county attorney of Navarro.  The courtroom was jammed with people as the prosecutor went over the evidence and the circumstances attending the case and  asked that the death penalty be assessed.

   The jury was composed of the following:

   W. W. Jones, C. L. Verheyden, T. W. Lake, W. W. Marshall and G. O.

Walker, all of Waxahachie; Angus Arnold, J. G. Adams and J. J. Borders, of Palmer;  H. Hanks, H. A. McAlpin and H. E. Baker of Midlothian, and D. M. Penrod, Ennis.  Jones is a merchant.  The others are farmers.

   The array of legal talent is composed of Ballard W. George, Tom Ball, A. D. Emerson, John M. Sharp and Archie Grap, representing the prosecution, and J. S. Callicutt, Fred Upchurch, Richard Mays, A. P. Mays, Bowd Farrer, and Y. D. Kemble for the defense.

   Paulk was indicted by a grand jury here and the case tried in Ellis county after it was transferred from Navarro county.  He lived in Corsicana.

   The charge was criminal assault on Miss Bessie Hildebrandt, nurse at the Navarro County Hospital on the night of August 7.  With him was indicted A. R. (Pete) Alexander, also of Corsicana for similar offense committed against Miss Mary Butler, student nurse at the County Hospital.

   The evidence tended to show that the two men passed the two young women and a third young woman student nurse on the street near the hospital on the fateful night and asked them to get into the automobile in which the men were riding, who offered to take them to town.  The three young women got in the car, and instead of being brought to town, were taken to a lonely road northeast of Corsicana and there Miss Hildebrandt and Miss Butler were assaulted, it was said.

   Paulk was arrested the following day and lodged in the Navarro county jail.  Alexander left the State and was later apprehended in Key West, Fla.; following a wide search for him and cash rewards totaling $600 offered for his arrest and conviction.  Sheriff Stewart of Navarro county offered $100; doctors of the hospital staff duplicated it;  the governor offered $300 and Wm. Clarkson Sr., made an offer of $100.  The Ellis county court assumed jurisdiction of the cases due to the fact that the grand jury was convened in regular term at Waxahachie several days before the Navarro county grand jury was impaneled.

   Alexander’s case is set for next Monday.

  His is a companion case and the evidence is expected to be practically the same as that deduced in the trial of Paulk.

   A habeas corpus hearing will be started in Alexander’s behalf at 10 o’clock Thursday morning.  A habeas corpus proceeding in behalf of Paulk prior to his trial resulted in no bail and he was remanded to jail by Judge Harding until his trial day.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Wednesday, October 14, 1925

PETE ALEXANDER SHOT TO DEATH

FATHER ALLEGED

ASSAULT VICTIM IS

CHARGED WITH DEED

KILLING OCCURRED IN LOBBY

OF ELLIS COUNTY COURT

HOUSE

   Waxahachie, Texas, Oct.

15—A. R. (Pete) Alexander

is dead.

   With an indictment of

criminal assault against him

Alexander died with the

case untried.  He was 19

years old.

   W. A. Butler, of Blooming

Grove, surrendered to off-

icers.  He is the father of

Miss Mary Butler, student

nurse at Corsicana.  Miss

Butler was the complaining

witness against Alexander.

   Alexander’s trial was set down

for next Monday morning .  Thurs-

day habeas corpus proceedings

started in Ellis county district

court here by his lawyers in the

hope of getting bail for their

client.

   “I am not going to shoot any-

more,” Butler is quoted as saying

when Deputy Sheriff J. O. Tolle-

son and Superintendent White of

the county farm, grabbed him to

prevent a third shot.  Alexander

was shot twice with a 38 calibre

pistol, both shots are said to have

entered the back.  The first shot

was fired when Butler is said by

officers to have lunged from be-

hind a supporting column in the

court house lobby and fired.

Alexander fell to the floor at

the foot of the stairs and the

second shot was fired after he had

sprawled on the floor.

   Court had adjourned at noon till

1:30 o’clock, and the officers were

en route from the jail with Alex-

ander to resume the hearing.  The

trio, Tolleson in the lead, and

White following a few paces be-

hind Alexander, entered the court-

house and walked only a short dis-

tance to the stair steps leading

from the lobby to the district court-

room on the second floor.

   A charge of manslaughter has

been filed against Butler in Justice

of the Peace Orce  (not legible) court

and his bond set at $1000.  He made

bond a few hours later and was

released from jail.  Newspapermen

were not allowed to talk to Butler

while held in the jail.

   Sheriff Joe Lee stated a num-

ber of special deputies had been

put on Thursday morning as they

feared trouble when the Alexander

hearing started.

   Alexander was picked up and

taken to the west steps of the

courthouse  where he was pro-

nounced dead by physicians.  An

ambulance took the body to a local

morgue where it is held pending

funeral arrangements.  Two bullet

holes were found in the body and

there were four undischarged bul-

lets in Butler’s pistol when exam-

ined by the officers when he was

taken into custody.

   Alexander’s pal, Lester Paulk,

Corsicana youth, was given 99

years in the penitentiary by a jury

in Judge Harding’s court, Wednes-

day morning on a companion case

and he is held in the county jail

here until a motion for a new trial

is acted upon.  Alexander was

facing an indictment in a companion

case.

   The men were indicted by the

grand jury here September 7 on

charges of criminal assault on

two young women in Navarro

county on the night of August 7.

   Habeas corpus proceedings were

heard in behalf of Paulk which re-

sulted in his being remanded to

jail without bail.  His trial opened

Monday of last week, and a large

number of witnesses heard.  The

jury was out exactly twelve hours.

   Testimony deduced in the Paulk

case tended to show the two Corsicana

youths inveigled the two nurses and a

third nurse companion into Alexander’s

car under pretense of an offer of taking

them to town from a point near the

hospital where they overtook the

young women walking.

   Instead of being taken to town

it is alleged Alexander steered his

car to a point in a lonely road sev-

eral miles northeast of Corsicana.

   It was there, it was said, Miss

Hildebrandt was criminally as-

saulted by Paulk and Miss Mary

Butler was similarly treated by

Alexander.

   The third girl Miss Opal

Downing of Frost, who escaped

the designs of the two men by run-

ning to a nearby farm house.

Screams were heard by three dif-

ferent farmers in the community

where the assault took place.  It is

alleged.  Early next morning a

farmer went to the scene and later

testified to seeing strong evidences

of a struggle.

   When Miss Downing appeared at

the farmer’s house that night, he

arose from his slumbers and

brought the terrified girl to town.

He also notified the officers who

went in search of the quartet. Al-

expander skipped the country and

was later arrested in Key West, Fla.,

and brought back to Corsicana.

Paulk was arrested the day

following the assault.

   The Ellis county grand jury as-

summed jurisdiction in the cases on

the grounds that it convened one

month earlier than the grand jury

in Navarro county.

   The trial of both men was set

down for September 21, but was

later reset.

   An entry will be made on the

court trial docket, “dismissed,

account death of defendant.”

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Thursday, October 15, 1925

FUNERAL SERVICES

FOR PETE ALEXANDER

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

SLAYER OF CORSICANA MAN

RELEASED ON BAIL AND

RETURNS HOME

Special to Daily Sun.

   Waxahachie, Oct. 16.—W. A.

Butler charged with manslaughter

in connection with the fatal shooting

of A. R. (Pete) Alexander, Corsicana

youth, here Thursday afternoon,

went home following the making

of his bond, which was in the sum of $1,000.

   Signing Butler's bond were J

G. Gidden, L, D. Johnson, C. H.

Windham and W. H. Clopton of

this city. A number of citizens

of Blooming prove, where Butler

lives, telephoned the sheriff's office

authorizing their signatures

to be placed on the bond. They

were R. I.  Harris, E. J. Glenn, R.

L. Martin, G. A. Patterson, J. R.

Griffin, S. M. Woodard, E.. S

North. W. B. Rutherford, C. L.

Tillman. J. H. Atchison, J. N.

George. J. E. McClure, Wm. F.

Ervin. J. T. Glenn. Dr. E. B. Low-

ery, F. H. Simpson, Joe McSpadden,

Jr., C. L. Beard, W. T. Freeman

R. E. Frederick, Ray Langston,

and H. O. Timmons.

  The body of Alexander was tak-

en to Corsicana in an undertak-

er's hearse early in the night.

   Funeral services for Alexander

will be held at the residence of

his father. T. H. Alexander, 1701

West Sixth avenue, at 2:30 o'clock

Sunday afternoon. Rev. H. B. Caraway.

Baptist minister of Blooming Grove

and Rev. W. T. Bratton, Pastor of the

Hope Baptist church, of Corsicana.

will conduct the services. Burial will be

in the Kerens cemetery.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

October 16, 1925

FUNERAL SERVICES

PETE ALEXANDER AT

HOME SUNDAY 2:30

   Funeral services for A. R.

(Pete) Alexander will be held

Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock

from the family residence at 1701

West Sixth avenue with interment

in Kerens cemetery.  The ser-

vices will be conducted by Rev.

W. T. Brattor, pastor of the Hope

Baptist church and Rev. H. B.

Caraway, Baptist minister of

Blooming Grove.

   Immediately after the service at

the home the cortege will leave

for Kerens.

  Alexander died as the result of

pistol shot wounds received Thursday

afternoon.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Saturday, October 17, 1925

APPLICATION FOR NEW

TRIAL IS POSTPONED

ELLIS COUNTY GRAND JURY

IS INVESTIGATING KILLING

ALEXANDER

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Oct. 19.—The mo-

tion for a new trial in the case

of the State of Texas vs. Lester

Paulk, charged by grand jury in-

dictment with a statutory offense,

recently tried and convicted by a

jury here with his punishment as-

sessed at ninety-nine years in the

penitentiary, was not heard Mon-

day morning by Judge Harding on

account of illness of the judge.  It

is expected the hearing will be

disposed of Tuesday morning.

   The Ellis county grand jury is

investigating the shooting of A. R.

Alexander by W. A. Butler which

occurred Thursday afternoon in

the courthouse.  Alexander’s case

which was a companion case to

that of Paul’s was to have come

up in the district court Monday.

Butler was arrested, charged with

manslaughter, and released on a

$1000. bond.  It is indicated by his

attorneys, R. D. Johnson and Will

Handcock, both signers of his bond,

that an effort will be made to have

Butler indicted and tried at once.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Monday, October 19, 1925

GRAND JURY ELLIS

COUNTY INDICTED

SLAYER OF YOUTH

BLOOMING GROVE FARMER

IS CHARGED WITH MAN-

SLAUGHTER TODAY

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Texas, Oct. 23—

Manslaughter was charged in an in-

dictment returned by an Ellis

county grand jury against W. B.

Butler, Blooming Grove farmer,

who surrendered following the fa-

tal shooting of A. R. (Pete) Alex-

ander, aged about 20, of Corsicana

charged by indictment with criminal

assault by force upon Butler’s

daughter, Mary Butler, a Corsicana

student nurse.

   The shooting took place in the

Ellis county court house and was

one of the most sensational slayings

ever to occur here.

   Alexander was killed while he

was being escorted by officers to

the court room for habeas corpus

hearing.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Friday, October 23, 1925

TRIAL W. A. BUTLER

SET FRO NOVEMBER 5

WAXACHIE COURT

ACCUSED INDICTED FOR MAN-

SLAUGHTER AFTER DEATH

A. R. ALEXANDER

   The case of W. A. Butler, charged

by grand jury indictment with

manslaughter in connection with

the fatal shooting of A. R. Alex-

ander, Oct. 15, has been set down

for trial for Nov. 5, it was made

known here today at the sheriffs

office .

   The case will be tried at Wax-

ahachie in the district court of

Ellis county. A total of 90 defense

witnesses are being summoned to

appear in the trial. The defense

witnesses practically all live in

the Blooming Grove and Barry

communities.

   W. A. Butler lives near Bloom-

ing Grove. Alexander, of Corsi-

cana, was killed in the Ellis coun-

ty court house while being taken

to the district court room from the

county jail for a habeas corpus

hearing.

   Lester Paulk remains held in the

Waxahachie jail pending the hearing

of a motion for a new trial in

a case tried a few days prior to the

death of Alexander.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Thursday, October 29, 1925

MANY WITNESSES

SUMMONED BUTLER

TRIAL WAXAHACHIE

   Ninety-one witnesses in the

Blooming Grove community were

summoned this morning by Deputy

Sheriff Rufus Pevehouse to testify

in the case styled the State of

Texas vs. W. A. Butler of Blooming.

Grove in Waxahachie in con-

nection with the fatal shooting of

A. R. (Pete) Alexander of Corsi-

cana in the courthouse of Ellis

county several weeks ago.

   Alexander was shot as he was

being taken to the district court-

room for a habeas corpus hearing.

Alexander was indicted for the al-

leged mistreatment of a daughter

of Butler near Corsicana on the

night of August 7.

   The trial of Butler is scheduled

to be held in Waxahachie, Thursday,

November 5.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Monday, November 2, 1925

MANY WITNESSES

CALLED BY DEFENSE

IN BUTLER TRIAL

   Defense witnesses numbering

ninety-five have been summoned,

the majority of Blooming Grove

community, by Deputy Sheriff.

Rufus Pevehouse for the trial

Thursday of' W. A. Butler of

Blooming Grove, charged with

manslaughter in connection with

the fatal shooting of A.R. (Pete)

Alexander of Corsicana in the

corridor of the Ellis county courthouse

on the afternoon of October

15 while in the custody of officers

en route to attend the habeas corpus

hearing prior to his trial that

was scheduled to be heard Oct. 19.

   Alexander was charged by indictment

with a statutory offense in

connection with the alleged mis-

treatment of Miss Mary Butler,

daughter of W. A. Butler, on the

night of August 7 near Corsicana.

This was a companion charge to

that on which Lester Paulk, Corsi-

cana youth was given a sentence of

ninety-nine years in the penitent-

iary, in connection with the alleged

mistreatment of Miss Bess

Hildebrandt on the same night.

Another girl  escaped and gave the

alarm.  The three young ladies

were student nurses of the Navarro

county hospital.

   Paulk was arrested here August

8 and lodged in the county jail,

while Alexander escaped ane was

arrested in Key West, Florida,

after a nation-wide search and

rewards totaling $600. had been

offered.  The two men were taken

to Waxahachie where they were

indicted by the grand jury there

as the district court of Navarro

county was not in session at that

time.

   Butler is said to have stepped

from behind one of the columns

in the courthouse and fired two

shots into the body of Alexander.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

November 4, 1925

PETE ALEXANDER’S

SLAYER ENTERS PLEA

GUILTY IN COURT

CASE DISPOSED OF IN SHORT

ORDER WAXAHACHIE

TODAY

Special to Daily Sun.

Waxahachie, Nov. 5.— W. A.

Butler, Navarro county farmer,

charged by indictment with man,

slaughter in connection with the

fatal shooting of A. R. (Pete) Alexander,

Corsicana youth, here October

15, was given a two years'

suspended sentence following a

plea of guilty in district court here

Thursday afternoon. The jury

was out five minutes.

   Butler was represented by Will

Hancock and L. D. Johnston, Waxahachie

attorneys. A total of 94

witnesses had been summoned,

mostly, from Blooming Grove, to

testify in behalf of Butler but

only a few were used to get the

case before the jury.

   The State heard the testimony

of Deputy Sheriff Tolleson

and County Farm Superintendent

White, eye-witnesses to the shoot-

ing of Alexander. Butler, took the

stand at the behest of the defense

and in a few minutes told why he

shot Alexander. He testified he

had not heard the details of the

assault made on his daughter, with

which Alexander was charged, until

the trial of Lester Paulk. He

killed Alexander, he said, because

he could not bear to see his daugh-

ter carried through the court trial.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Thursday, November 5, 1925

LESTER PAULK WAS

DENIED NEW TRIAL

WAXACHIE TODAY

NOTICE OF APPEAL WAS W

WILLED BY ATTORNEYS

FOR THE DEFENSE

Special to the Sun.

   Waxahachie, Texas, Dec. 3.—A

motion for a new trial for Lester Paulk was over-ruled by Judge Harding in district court here Thursday afternoon.  The defense gave notice of appeal.  The case will be taken to the court of criminals appeals on appeal from the decision of the trial judge.  Time was given for preparing the bill of exceptions and getting the record up.

   Paulk is under conviction for rape and had his punishment assessed at ninety-nine years in the penitentiary by a jury in the court here early in the present court term.  The case was brought here from Navarro County.

The Corsicana Daily Sun

Thursday, December 3, 1925