On this date in our extended family history . . . the 12th day of September . . . in the year 1892 . . . the news is reporting that Sheriff John T. Olive has been shot while waiting to catch a train at the Echo depot in Bell County, Texas . . . this Sheriff Olive is a 3rd cousin four times removed to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . one of the news reports about that shooting is as follows . . .
The Galveston Daily News.
Galveston, Texas.
Vol. 51, No. 172, Ed. 1.
Monday, September 12, 1892
GEORGETOWN, TEX., Sept. 11. -- A gloom has been cast over the city since early this morning when the news first reached here that Sheriff John T. Olive had been dangerously and probably fatally wounded at Echo in Bell county last night by receiving the contents of a shotgun in the body while waiting on the platform for the southbound train. Great crowds of people have stood around the telephone, all talking to parties at Taylor, where Mr. Olive now lies in a dying condition. His family has gone to his bedside. John T. Olive is about 40 years of age, and has lived in this county since boyhood. He was elected sheriff of this county in 1884 and re-elected in 1886. In 1888 he refused to make the race; was again elected in 1890 and is now the nominee of the democratic party for re-election. Perhaps he has caused more criminals to be brought to justice than any man of his age in the state.
On this date in our extended family history . . . the 12th day of May . . . in the year 1902 . . . the following news items were published in various Texas newspapers . . . the deceased, John H. Connell, is a 1st cousin four times removed to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .
Dallas Morning News, May 12, 1902. Bell County Killing. . . . Special to The News. Belton, Tex., May 11. -- John H. Connell, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of this city, died last night from the effects of a knife cut. The knife struck him in the left arm, severing an artery and passing on out almost to the hollow about the heart. His son, John Connell, was arrested, and is now in jail.
JOHN H. CONNELL DEAD
Of wounds Which Were Inflicted by His Son.
Belton, Texas, May 11. -- Mr. John H. Connell died from his wounds last night at 10 o'clock.
This is the most deplorable tragedy that ever occurred in this community. The facts leading to the sad affair as they can be gathered are that the father and son had gotten into a dispute over some trivial matter when the son gave his father the lie, whereupon he slapped him in the face. The son at once drew his knife and cut his father in the arm between the shoulder and elbow, severing the brachial artery which caused so much loss of blood before medical aid could be had that death was inevitable.
Mr. Connell served throughout the war as a Confederate soldier and was conspicuous for his daring and bravery. He leaves a wife, three sons, two daughters, and many relatives to mourn his death. He will be laid to rest at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon in the North Belton cemetery. Funeral services conducted by Dr. H.A. Bouslard.
- The Houston Daily Post (Houston, Tex.), Vol. XVIIITH YEAR, No. 38, Ed. 1, Monday, May 12, 1902
- Shiner Gazette. (Shiner, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 49, Ed. 1, Wednesday, May 14, 1902
On this date in our extended family history . . . late in the day on the 10th of May in the year 1902 . . . John Connell, Jr. bleeds to death from a knife wound following an unfortunate domestic disagreement with his son and namesake, John Connell III . . . the decedent is a 1st cousin four times removed to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . the Connell killing and subsequent legal proceedings are mentioned in numerous issues of the Dallas Morning News . . . the following biography is from A Memorial and Biographical History of McLennan, Falls, Bell, and Coryell Counties (Chicago: Lewis, 1893; rpt., St. Louis: Ingmire, 1984) . . .
J. H. Connell, a capitalist of Belton, was born in San Augustine county, Texas, when Texas was a province of Mexico, April 3, 1833, son of John H. and Matilda T. (Roberts) Connell, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky respectively.
John H. Connell's father, a native of Ireland, came to America at an early day and settled in Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade, that of blacksmithing. John H., leaving home when a youth, came in 1826 to Texas and engaged in the mercantile business near Austin, where he was married in 1830. Mr. Connell came to Texas with Sterling C. Robertson, and both secured large tracts of land.
The Roberts family were also among the pioneers of this section of the country. Elisha Roberts [4th great-grandpa of the Keeper of this blog] went from Kentucky to Louisiana in 1819, and in 1820 came to San Augustine, Texas. Elisha Roberts was one of the earliest settlers within the confines of the State.
Mr. Connell died at Viesca in 1834. He was truly a self-made man, and during his lifetime acquired considerable property. Belton is located on a portion of the land on which Mr. Connell once lived. Mrs. Connell having donated to the county of Bell 120 acres, in 1850, on which to establish the county seat. John H. Connell and his wife were the parents of two children: Josephine, wife of Anderson Hamblin, both being now deceased; and J. H., the subject of our sketch.
After the death of Mr. Connell, Mrs. Connell was married in 1835, to Samuel T. Allen, of New York, and their union was blessed in the birth of two children: Thomas R., deceased; and Eunice A., widow of Colonel John T. Coffee, of Missouri. Samuel T. Allen was killed by the Indians at the three forks of the Trinity, in November, 1838, and in the fall of 1847 Mrs. Allen married his brother, Thomas J. Allen. Her death occurred April 3, 1879, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Coffee, in Georgetown, Williamson county, this state.
The subject of our sketch was reared amid the frontier scenes of what is now San Augustine, Milam, Williamson and Galveston counties. In 1854 he went to California, making the trip from Galveston by water; spent two years in the southern part of the Golden State, and while working in the mines lost his health. He was, however, financially successful. Returning home in the latter part of 1855, he engaged in farming and stock-raising in Texas up to the year 1861. The war coming on in that year, he joined the Confederate forces; was in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and participated in numerous skirmishes and battles.
Returning to his home in the latter part of May, 1865, Mr. Connell set about repairing his wasted fortune, and with renewed energy engaged in his old occupation of farming and stock-raising. He continued his operations in Williamson county till January 28, 1884, when he rented his farm and moved to his property in Belton. He owns considerable valuable real estate, his Belton home place consisting of some 250 acres adjoining town. He has a handsome residence, an intelligent family, and is comfortably situated to enjoy life, having practically retired from active business.
Mr. Connell was married September 15, 1869, to Miss Jennie Howlett, a native of Texas, born in Milam county, October 5, 1844, daughter of James and Sarah (Moore) Howlett, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee respectively. Both the Howletts and the Moores were among the early pioneers of Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Connell are the parents of five children: John H., Jr., T.E., Susan, May T. and Albert L. T.E. is now a student at the State University of Texas. Mr. Connell and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and are held in high esteem by all who know them.
Dallas Morning News. December 20, 1902. Murder in Second Degree. Verdict of Jury in Connell Case at Belton -- Twenty-Five Years in the Penitentiary. Special to The News. Belton, Tex., Dec. 19. -- "We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of murder in the second degree and assess his punishment at twenty-five years in the penitentiary," was the verdict of the jury in the John Connell homicide case. Connell was charged with the killing of his father in May last.
See also :-
Dallas Morning News. December 19, 1902. Awaiting the Verdict. Jury in Connell Case at Belton Out All Day with No Prospect of Agreement Before This Date. Special to The News.
Belton, Tex., Dec. 18. -- A night session of the District Court was held last night, when District Attorney W.W. Hair closed the argument in the Connell homicide case. Judge Furman delivered his charge to the jury at about 11 o'clock. The jury has been out all day, with no prospect of a verdict before tomorrow.
See also :-
Dallas Morning News. December 18, 1902. State Brevities. Special to The News. . . .
Belton, Tex., Dec. 17. -- The entire day has been consumed in argument of the Connell homicide case. John B. Durrett opened for the State and was followed by Hon. Winbourn Pearce and Judge T.S. Henderson of Cameron for the defense. District Attorney W.W. Hair will close for the State tomorrow.
See also :-
Dallas Morning News. December 17, 1902. M'Connell [sic] Homicide Case. Testimony All in and the Argument of Counsel Begins Today at Belton. Defendant Examined.
Special to The News. Belton, Tex., Dec. 16. -- The testimony in the John Connell homicide case was concluded at 6 o'clock this afternoon. Court adjourned until tomorrow, when argument of counsel will begin. Much of today was spent in the examination of the defendant. This is the eighth day of the case.
See also :-
Dallas Morning News. December 16, 1902. Belton Court Proceedings.
Special to The News. Belton, Tex., Dec. 15. -- The taking of testimony in the John Connell homicide case was resumed in the District Court this morning. Much of the day has been spent in the examination of Mrs. Jane Connell, wife of the deceased. It is likely that both sides will conclude their testimony tomorrow.
See also :-
Dallas Morning News. December 14, 1902. Connell Homicide Case at Belton.
Belton, Tex., Dec. 13. -- The State rested this afternoon in the John Connell homicide case, and the defense began the introduction of its testimony.
See also :-
Dallas Morning News. December 13, 1902. Connell Homicide Case. Jury Empaneled and Taking of Testimony Begins at Belton.
Special to The News. Belton, Tex., Dec. 12. -- It was not until 3:30 this afternoon that a jury was completed in the John Connell case. At the night session of court last night the special venire was exhausted with only ten jurors. Judge Furman adjourned court until today at 1:30 o'clock, and forty additional men were summoned from which the jury was completed and the taking of testimony was begun. There are a large number of witnesses fro this and Williamson County and the case will consume a greater portion of next week.
See also :-
Dallas Morning News. December 12, 1902.
Page 3. Newspapers as Evidence. Publishers of Bell County Press Summoned in Connell Case.
Special to The News. Temple, Tex., Dec. 11 -- The District Court at Belton is engaged in trying the case of John Connell, charged with the murder of his father at Belton. The defendant is seeking a change of venue, and all the publishers of newspapers in Bell County were served yesterday with instanter summons to appear before the court with copies of their papers of the dates about the time the offense was committed, in May of this year.
Page 10. Connell Homicide Case. Judge Furman at Belton Overrules Motion for Change of Venue. Special to The News. Belton, Tex., Dec. 11. -- At the opening of court this morning, Judge Furman overruled the motion for change of venue in the John Connell homicide case and Connell was placed on trial for the alleged killing of his father. The entire day has been consumed in the examination of special venire for jurors, and up to the adjournment of court at 6 o'clock this afternoon, only seven jurors had been secured. A night session is being held tonight, and it is likely that the remaining five jurors will be secured. A great deal of interest is being manifested and large crowds are in attendance owing largely to the fact that the deceased was well known in Bell and Williamson Counties, where he had lived for more than forty years.
See also :-
Dallas Morning News. December 7, 1902. Notes Cases at Belton. Special to the News. Belton, Tex., Dec. 6 -- The John H. Connell case is set for the 9th instant. Connell is charged by indictment with the killing of his father in May last. A special venire of 200 men has been ordered.
See also . . . Son kills father in 1902 . . .
