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Letter from Catherine Whitley Smith to her son, Sharp Mattison Smith

April 12, 1889

My Dear Children with a broken heart and troubled mind do I write to to let you no your pa is murdered him and me & Jimie Ned Wingate & Ben Edwards went to San antonia on the 29th March Started back on the 31st got a few miles from town and Ned and your pa was drinkin and got mad at each other and Ned Struck him on the head with a rock knocked him down he got in his wagon drove till nite bleeding in a large stream all the time he got so Sick he done we camped he cold (could ?) not drive Jimie and me Sat up all nite thinking he wold (would ?) die he was crazy with pain and whiskey he bled till midnite next day he drove home got home in the nite he was still drinkin and wold (would ?) not have nothing don for him he went to bed next day Sent for a doctor he come and tended on him till he died he died on the 10th inst (?) no tongue can tell what he first suffered he never was easy only when he took Something to ease him he kept strong and in his mind till the last but sed (said ?) nothin about dieng he died

So hard oh children my troubles is grater than I can bear to no how he was murdered and had to suffer as he did oh let us trust and pray he is in heaven at rest and let us all try to be prepared to meet him thene when we are called to go I cold (could ?) not go to see him buried the girls and boys all went the(y?) held and inquest over him at the grave The doctors sed (said) his skull was busted in several places they was affecent and Smart Jurors they all sed (said) it wold (would ?) hang Ned they will all be witness for your pa they took Jimies evidence there Court is goin on in San antonio now I m lookin for and affencen (efficient?) even minit to attach me to go to court Ned went away day after he struck your pa and come back nite after he was buried Jimie seen him he sed (said?) he was goin to Stock dale to try to get a bond and then he wold (would ?) give up but I dont no that he will Jim Henson went to the offencing and told them he was home they had sent papers to San antonio and they wold (would ?) have to have papers from there to arrest him ever(y) body says there is no chance for him it is so hard non(e) of his boys cant be there they girls ses (says?) he was buried nice I coldnt (couldn't ?) see him I was caried out of the hous before he died and have never ben in it till last nit and I was came out again I dont fell (feel) like I ever can go in it again oh I wish I was...........

(And there, my copy ends. This was a partial photocopy of a letter from Catherine Whitley Smith to her son, Sharp Mattison Smith. Viola, a daughter of Sharp M. Smith, has the original. The copy in my sources from Sue Cravy. I've tried to guess at the correct meaning of words while still preserving the originality of the letter. I hope it was readable.)



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