Shooting Near Kaufman

Davy Crockett Arrested, Charged with Shooting Charlie Route

Dallas Morning News
29 November 1893

Forney, Kaufman Co., Tex., Nov. 28 – Charlie Route was shot twice to-day about a mile east of town on the Texas and Pacific railroad. He was brought to town and physicians examined his wounds and found a 38-caliber ball had penetrated the arm, inflicting a flesh wound. The other entered near the collar-bone and ranged downward, inflicting possibly a fatal wound. Route was non-communicative at first, and claimed the wounds to be the result of an accident. He complained of the wound in his side very much.

The officers began to work on the case and went to arrest Davy Crockett, who was on horseback. A lively chase ensued, resulting in Constable Sam Smith finally overtaking Crockett a mile or two in the suburbs. On him was found a 38-caliber pistol, with two chambers empty. Other parties arrested were released after a complaint was made against Crockett.

This evening Charlie Route made a statement before Justice I.S. Wood, charging Davy Crockett with shooting him. When seen by The News reporter, Route said that he and Gret Crocket left town this morning, and that they are engaged in a game, and when had won 50 or 75 cents Crocket stepped to the door, drew a pistol and began shooting. He said that yesterday they played, and that he (Route) won some money from Crockett. He says Crockett came to town with him, and that no one witnessed the shooting that he knows of.

Davy Crockett, the young man under arrest charged with shooting Charlie Route, was seen by The News reporter, who explained that The News always wanted and always gave both sides of every question, and asked him if he had any statement to make, to which he replied that he had nothing to say. However, he said that the pistol found on him was not his own and that he was not with Route when he was shot. This morning, he said, Route, some other parties and he left town together, but he turned back and left them. Crockett has lived here several months. The examining trial is set for to-morrow before Justice I.S. Wood.

Route is resting well this evening.