Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries



The Teague Chronicle - July 11, 1919 edition

ATTORNEY SHOT TO DEATH ON HIS FARM

D. T. Garth was killed by Frank Gilbert east of Teague Monday morning. D. T.
Garth, a Teague attorney about forty-five years of age, was shot and instantly
killed on his farm in the Pyburn community about four miles east of the city
about 11:00 Monday morning. Frank Gilbert, son of P. P. Gilbert, who lived on
Garth's farm near Pyburn surrendered to officers and preliminary trial was held
in Justice Grayson's court Tues. afternoon. Garth leaves a wife in Teague and
his mother in Virginia.

Three shots were fired from a six shooter; one entering the stomach about the
center and passing through; one passing through the body sidewise just below
the arm pits and the other passing through the head sidewise just above the
ears crushing his skull.

According to the evidence the circumstances seem to have been about as follows:
Gilbert, who was working some of Garth's land, had gotten badly in the grass
being the incessant rains of the spring. The landlord had been deeply
interested in the progress of the crop and had sent hands to work out the crop
in the spring. A misunderstanding had arisen over the arrangement and Garth and
Gilbert engaged in a heated conversation on Sunday night before the killing.
When the landlord went to the farm Monday morning the shooting occurred.
Gilbert and his employee, Andy Anderson, were plowing in the cotton field of
Garths farm when he approached and walked about over the field looking at the
cotton when the shooting occurred. R. L. Beeman was plowing in his field 500
yards north of the scene and saw Garth fall and saw the puffs of smoke from the
gun, but saw no one else. Jim Utsey was gathering roasting ears in a field just
west of Mr. Beeman and heard the shooting and saw two men leave the field. Just
what occurred immediately before the shooting and what distance apart the two
men were when the shooting occurred was not brought out clearly in the
investigation. Garth fell upon his face and lay there until Mrs. Garth, the
officers and others arrived on the scene.

One of the men who was near telephoned to Mrs. Garth and the officers. Dr. W.
P. Harrison and Mrs. Garth arrived on the scene shortly after 12:00. The body
was removed to the family residence, embalmed by J. C. Hippel and held pending
the arrival of relatives and arrangements for the funeral. Funeral services
were conducted at the family residence Wed. morning by Rev. S. W. Thomas and
burial was in Greenwood cemetery formerly known as the city cemetery.

Gilbert gave bond in the sum of $3000 and was released Tues. evening.

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Waco Daily Times Herald newspaper 
Tuesday, July 8, 1919 edition

D. T. GARTZ OF TEAGUE IS SHOT AND KILLED

Teague, Texas--  Gartz, attorney of this city, was shot and instantly killed on
his farm, five miles east of Teague, at 11 o'clock today.  Frank Gilbert, a
tenant, surrendered to Sherif Roper.  Examining trial will be held tomorrow.