McMullen Co. TX - Indian Depredation Claim of William J. Askins - 6929

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   Court of Claims of the United States
   
   Indian Depredation, No. 6929
   
   William J. Askins v. the United States et al.
   
   Deposition of Francis M. Askins, for claimant, taken at Jourdanton,
   Tex., on the 20th day of November, A. D. 1914.
   
   Claimant's counsel, Harry Peyton, Esq.; defendants' counsel, John A.
   Hendricks, Esq.
   
   FRANCIS M. ASKINS, being first duly sworn, testified:
   
   I am 76 years old; reside at Jourdanton; retired form work on account
   of my age and am nearly blind.
   
   Question. What was your father's name?
   
   Answer. C. M. Askins.
   
   Question. Where was he born?
   
   Answer. He was born in Kentucky and raised principally in Tennessee.
   
   Question. Do you recall a raid by Indians when old man Hinds was
   killed?
   
   Answer. Yes, sir; I was at Hinds's house when he was killed. I brought
   on the fight; shot and killed an Indian, and then the fight occurred
   in which Hinds was killed.
   
   Question. Do you know what kind of an Indian it was that was killed?
   
   Answer. Mr. Hinds-that is, G. F. Hinds-said he was a Comanche. He had
   his quiver of arrows on his back and a shield and was naked.
   
   Question. Do you know if the Indians were followed out of the country?
   If so, which direction did they go?
   
   Answer. Yes, sir; I was with the party, and we followed them to the
   head of the Nueces, and we saw we could not overtake them and came
   back.
   
   Question. Did these Indians get any horses from your father's ranch?
   
   Answer. Yes, sir; my father was dead then and the horses belonged to
   the heirs of the estate.
   
   Question. How many horses did the Indians get belonging to your
   father's estate?
   
   Answer. About 35 and a stallion. This was a horse I used to ride, as I
   knew the Indians could not catch me when I was on him.
   
   Question. Did the Indians kill any of these horses on the trail?
   
   Answer. Yes, sir; we found a colt on the trail where they had killed
   and eat it. This was a fine colt, of a mare that I had taken to Red
   River to breed.
   
   Question. Did you get any of these horses back?
   
   Answer. No, sir; we did not get a single one of them back.
   
   Question. When did this depredation occur?
   
   Answer. Some time in August, 1865; don't recollect exact date, but the
   latter part of the month.
   
   Cross-examination:
   
   Question. Were those stock or saddle horses?
   
   Answer. Mostly fine mares. Some of those horses were worth $150 each.
   
   Question. Were they mixed with Spanish horses?
   
   Answer. No, sir; there was not a Spanish blood among them.
   
   Question. Do you remember what place you quit following the Indians?
   
   Answer. It was away north of Rock Springs.
   
   Question. Who else lost horses at that time?
   
   Answer. Yes; nearly everybody lost horses. The Larue family lost more
   horses than anybody else; also the Hinds lost their cow ponies.
   
   Question. Did you hear anyone else say that this Indian was a Comanche
   Indian?
   
   Answer. Yes, sir; most everybody said it was a Comanche.
   
   Redirect:
   
   Question. Who was William J. Askins?
   
   Answer. He was my brother.
   
   Question. Did he bring this suit for the heirs?
   
   Answer. Yes; he wrote to me just before an explosion in a coal mine in
   Oklahoma and told me if the case was called up to attend to it. We
   have never heard from him since the explosion and suppose he was
   killed.
   
   F.M. ASKINS