outlaws and crimes – TEXAS HISTORY NOTEBOOK

Jim McIntyre & Jim Courtright

As unlikely as it might seem, the Saturday, May 16, 1885 edition of the Stratfordshire (England) Sentinel Daily and Weekly carried an article with the title “A Pair of American Desperadoes” about the search for two criminals, Jim Courtright and Jim McIntyre, the latter of whom had just been apprehended.

The Spikes Brothers Murders

The January 23, 1902 article was widely reported in United States newspapers that in New Mexico, three brothers had been ambushed while riding horseback on the way back to their homes. Dick and John Spikes were killed and Fred Spikes was badly wounded, but managed to make it to the home of a neighbor who helped him to obtain medical treatment. The Arkansas Gazette article shown below ended by stating that Fred Spikes said that he knew the attacking party but would give no names.

Texas Special Investigators, “Hod” Roberson and Dave Allison

On April 1, 1923, special investigators of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Roberson and Allison had come to Seminole, Texas to testify for the Gaines County grand jury in a cattle theft case the following week. It was April Fool’s Day, of course, but it was also Easter Sunday.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

In the mid 1800s, settlers began claiming land in Texas and accumulating herds, many of which were made up of free roaming cattle that inhabited the area. For many years, rustling was a problem and was one of the reasons why the Stock-Raisers’ Association of North-West Texas was formed in late 1876 and early 1877 in Graham, Texas by some of the area ranchers.

Ralph Fults

Ralph Smith Fults was born January 23, 1911 to Audy Barlow Fults and Sophia Delia Bush Fults in Anna, Texas in Collin County. The couple resided in North Texas as early as 1900, per the federal census. Audy Fults was a mail carrier in Collin County and Ralph was the third of eight children born to the couple. Shortly after Ralph was born, the couple moved the short distance to McKinney.