Mr. Williams said he could never understand why so many men seemed to
be after Old Man Asa Langford to kill him. That it has worried him and
puzzled him, though in those days he didn’t wonder or care in
particular. Surprised at some of them whose names he wouldn’t mention.
Once the old man came through in a two horse wagon on the way to see
William Snell, and two fellows followed to kill him, but he out drove
them.
Then one time Sam Nations (?) shot at him on the way from Gatesville to
Evant; shot through his covered wagon and killed Langford’s little boy
sitting beside him. Langford whipped up his horses and got away. That part
of the people out there thought him a fine fellow. He helped lots of
people. Others were afraid of him; and others always trying to get him. He
did not think, as I suggested, that it was because he was against
Secession. Belonged to the "Houston Party."
That he and Snell were acquainted and pretty good friends. He had
mentioned some other time, I believe, that Langford first lived also down
on the Leon River. He did not know of Snell ever going to see him. The old
man was not part of any mob or gang there. Inasmuch as men were after both
of them, I wondered if there was any connection. He said again Snell
meddlesome, but a good man, a good man."
(One night Old Man John Hammack, of Gatesville, once sheriff was riding
horseback along the road through Gholson
Gap near Evant
at the time narrow and fringed with bushes. He heard the sound he knew to
be the cocking of a musket and yelled out, "This is the wrong man;
this is John Hammack." And he heard no more. (Judge R. B. Cross
to writer.)
