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Fannin County TXGenWeb

This article was sent in by Jim Wheat.
note:
The John Laster/ Lester mentioned in this article as the
murder victim is John Lasater 15 Feb.1873-19 Mar.1893
who is buried in Whiterock Cemetery

March 21, 1893, Dallas Daily Times Herald,p. 1.
"A Leonard Killing."
Southern Afternoon Press.

LEONARD, Tex., March 21.-

Yesterday afternoon at Savage school house,about five miles east of here, a difficulty occurred between John Laster, Flach Jacobs and two Smalley brothers, Sam and Dave. Sam Smalley and Jacobs had some words, when Dave Smalley came up and joined in. Laster ran up to Dave and asked him is he wanted anything. Dave answered him with

a blow in the face with brass knuckles. Laster, knife in hand, was attempting to slash his antagonist, when Sam Smalley ran up behind him and hit him on the head with a piece of scantling. This was too much for Lester; he broke away and started to run.

Dave Smalley then drew a revolver and fired four shots at Laster, one ball striking him in the back and passing though his body. He ran about 100 yards, fell and expired. In a few minutes when picked up, Laster had his knife so tightly clutched in his hand, that it was with difficulty released from his death grip. Dave Smalley, who did the shooting, was arrested, but succeeded in making his escape.

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