A FRUITLESS PURSUIT

A man named Andrew Sheffield killed a peddler down in Falls County under such brutal circumstances that the people were aroused and posted a large reward for his apprehension. Two men, and they were both tough moved here from Falls County and went west out on the Cow House as I remember. One was named Pet--- and the other, Jim Bessley. Pat told John (Judge) Pierson that he knew where Sheffield was, that he was working on a ranch down in Lee County. Probably their law business wasn’t so good so Rutherford and Pierson made the hard trip down there. The ranchman for whom he worked was not favorable to helping them catch Sheffield. He was out at work, and hadn’t come in. They were permitted however, to stay all night in the house. It was a two-story structure with an upper gallery or porch.

Meantime, Sheffield had come in and he went upstairs to his room. They went in after him, but he came out in a hurry and jumped off the top porch. Rutherford, who was a small man, yet very tough. He jumped out and landed right on top of Sheffield and held him till Judge Pierson could get down there, when they tied him up. Then they brought him on to Marlin, possibly there was a railroad part way at that time. They "never got cent for it." Emotion had died down and the State’s part of the reward didn’t amount to much. All of that trouble for nothing. (Probably they should have gone by Marlin to see if they could get security for their fee).

(Lawyers in those days would fight at the drop of a hat.

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