Isaac Samuel Wood was one of the first Mayors of Forney, Texas and Justice of the Peace
from 1887 until his untimely death in 1893. At the time he was first elected Mayor in 1886,
Forney had no local police department, so Squire I.S. Wood wore many hats, including
acting as the local enforcement officer. He was very popular with the local citizens of the
town and was held in high regard by all who knew him, so it is no surprise that there were
so many people angered by his killing.
Isaac Wood is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery.
Isaac Wood
—
FATALLY SHOT BY A GAMBLER
Mayor Wood of Forney Falls with Three Wounds
San Antonio Express, Page 3
November 30, 1893
Dallas, Tex., Nov. 29 – (Special) Mayor J.S. Wood [sic] of Forney, Kaufman County, was shot in the mouth,
right hand side, and fatally wounded this morning by a gambler named Bell, a stranger in the village.
Tom Turk, a friend of the mayor, shot four times at Bell and missed. Bell was arrested by Constable Hobbs,
and at last accounts 200 men had assembled and were bent on lynching the gambler.
Col. W.H. Allen and Dr. A.J. Stoval, who came in on the Texas and Pacific train from Terrell, say that a force
of alliances are present and will protect Bell from the mob.
The partner of Bell was arrested yesterday, and today Bell accosted Mayor Wood and was very insolent.
The mayor slapped him in the face. Later in the evening Bell approached Mayor Wood and opened fire,
the first shot disabling his right hand. The mayor handed his pistol to Tom Turk. Bell fired two more shots,
both taking affect. There is intense excitement reported at Forney.
Note: Mayor Isaac S. Wood, not J.S. Wood.
—
Justice Wood is Shot
Galveston Daily News
30 November 1893, Page 2
John Bell Pumps Three Balls Into Him
The Shooter Under Arrest and Spirited Away for Safety – The Town Much Excited – Other Mishaps
Forney, Tex., Nov. 29 – About 6 p.m. Justice I.S. Wood was in the drug store of Royal & Spence, conversing with
Howard Turk. John Bell approached unnoticed and commenced firing at ‘Squire Wood. Three balls took effect,
one entering the mouth and coming out under the chin, one entered the stomach and the other penetrated
the left hand. After discharging his pistol Bell retreated. ‘Squire Wood, realizing that he was too badly hurt to
attempt Bell’s arrest, handed his pistol to Howard Turk, who, after a running fight, in which several shots were
exchanged, captured Bell a short distance from the store. Bell was taken in charge by several citizens.
Excitement runs high, and but for the prompt action of cool heads the prisoner would have been summarily
dealt with.
Squire Wood was removed to his home on a stretcher, where his wounds were examined and their character
ascertained as above. The doctors say there is only a shadow of hope for him. He is bleeding internally and
throwing up blood.
John Bell, the prisoner, was arrested yesterday in connection with the shooting of Charlie Route. Bell was
released later and since has been abusing and in bad temper. He has only resided here a short while, and very
little is known of him.
Bell, it is reported, has been spirited away to Kaufman by the officers, who are apprehensive for the safety
of the prisoner.
Squire Wood has lived here for several years, has held the office of justice of the peace for several terms, and
is very popular.
The town is as excited at this hour as it was immediately after the shooting. Little groups of men stand on the
streets discussing the affair, and the more intimate friends of Squire Wood are crowded around his residence
inquiring ever moment regarding his condition. The latest from his bed side is that in all probability he will die
before morning.
—
Squire Wood Dead
Galveston Daily News
1 December 1893, Page 1
Bell, the Shooter, is in Kaufman Jail
Citizens of Forney Wanted to Lynch Bell, and the Jail at Kaufman is Strongly Guarded
Forney, Tex., Nov. 30 – Justice I.S. Wood, who was shot yesterday by John Bell, died this morning from the
injuries received. He will be buried to-morrow at 10 o’clock under the auspices of the I.O.O.F. lodge, of which
he was a member, as well as the Knights of Pythias. The whole town and county deplore the killing.
Bell was spirited to Kaufman last night to avoid being mobbed.
TALK OF LYNCHING
Kaufman, Tex., Nov. 30 – News of the killing of Justice I.S. Wood was received here last night, and Sheriff Kellar
and Constable Carter left at once for the scene of the tragedy. On their arrival at Forney they found that
Constable Smith and Marshal Keller of Terrell and his deputy, D.J. Laroue, had spirited the prisoner away. The
sheriff and his party returned to Kaufman, arriving here about 4 o’clock this morning. About an hour afterward
the other officers arrived with the prisoner, having walked from Forney to this place. This, through a laborious
task, seemed to them to be the only way to escape the mob. They walked the eighteen miles through pastures,
fields and ravines, and reached here this morning about 5 o’clock. The News reporter called at the jail today
to get, if possible, a statement from the prisoner, but the sheriff had issued positive orders for no one to be
allowed on the inside, as there is strong talk of lynching, especially from people at Forney. There will be a strong
guard placed around the jail to-night, and if the threatened outbreak is made serious trouble will be the result.
HOW IT WAS DONE
Dallas, Tex., Nov. 30 – Mr. Spence, who is in business at Forney, was in Dallas today. To a News reporter he said:
“The town has been very much excited over the killing of ‘Squire I.S. Wood by John Bell, a young man. The squire
was shot in my store last night. He was sitting in there talking with Howard Turk and others, as was his custom,
when Bell entered and commenced shooting. Two balls struck the squire in a vital place, one in the neck and one
in the abdomen. He fell after the shots were fired, and, handing his pistol to Turk, told him to go and arrest Bell.
Turk started after Bell, and after an exchange of shots Bell was captured. At first it was thought the squire was
dead, and the people wanted to string Bell up to the nearest tree, but the officers by prompt action prevented
this. Then it was learned that the ‘squire had not been killed, and, cooler heads were enabled to quiet the feelings
of the people. Officers at Terrell and Kaufman were notified of the shooting and were asked to come and protect
the prisoner. They responded promptly.
“As soon as possible the wounded man was removed to his home. There it was discovered that he was mortally
injured and his death was only a question of a few hours. This was kept from the people as not to inflame them.
All night long, however, bands of citizens moved around the streets and gathered on the corners, swearing
vengeance against Bell. Had they known the condition of the squire it is probable that summary methods would
have been employed.
“The officers, taking advantage of the uncertainty of the people, started for Kaufman across the country with
the prisoner. Nothing had been heard from them when I left, so I suppose they reached there safely.
“The squire died this morning before daylight, and when his death became known the talk of lynching Bell was
strong again, but I don’t suppose any of our people will go to Kaufman after him.
“Bell came to Forney about a year ago, probably less, and went to work as a farmer. He said he came from
Mississippi to Texas. He is about 22 years of age, I should judge, and rather intelligent. Since he has lived at Forney
he has been in trouble but once, and that led to the killing of ‘Squire Wood. Tuesday, while a party of six young
men were engaged in something or other about a mile or so from town, one of the number, Charlie Route, was
shot. Route said he had accidentally shot himself, but the location of the wound made the story seem so improbable
that all five of his companions, one of whom was Bell, were arrested charged with the shooting. Bell was released
yesterday morning and at once began denouncing the officers who had made the arrests and ‘Squire Wood, who
had ordered them to be made. Nothing was thought of this till last night when the shooting occurred. ‘Squire
Wood was an old resident of our place, and was known and esteemed by every man both there and in surrounding
country. He leaves a family.”
—
Brought to Dallas
Fort Worth Daily Gazette
2 December 1893, Page 5
Special to the Gazette
Dallas, Tex., Dec. 1 – Jack Bell, the slayer of Mayor J.S. Wood at Forney, was brought in today by sheriff Jim Kellar
and placed in the Dallas county jail. Woods’ friends threatened to lynch Bell and he was brought to Dallas county
for safe keeping. Bell’s friends say that Woods, who was a hot-tempered man, was the aggressor and provoked
the difficulty.
—
Why He Killed Wood
Bell Says the Squire Kept Slapping Him in the Face
Galveston Daily News
2 Dec 1893, Page 1
Dallas, Tex., Dec. 1 – John Bell, charged with the murder of Squire R. I. Wood at Forney, is in the Dallas jail. He
was brought here from Kaufman this morning on the Trunk train by Sheriff Kellar. The sheriff was afraid that
an attempt might be made to lynch the prisoner if he remained at Kaufman, so hot was the feeling against him,
and so he brought him to Dallas for safe keeping. Bell was very quietly driven through the city and his arrival
at the jail was not generally known.
A News reporter had a talk with Bell. He is a slender fellow, about 5 feet 10 inches high, will weigh about 135
pounds, has light hair, light eyes and is very muscular. There is a two-weeks’ growth of beard on his face, and
an apology for a mustache on his upper lip. When asked to tell the story of the killing and all that happened
after for The News, he said:
“I guess I will no do that till I have seen my lawyers.”
“You do not deny killing Squire Woods?”
“No, sir; I don’t deny doing the shooting, but you see, if I was to tell you my excuses they would commence
to batter them down. One is that Squire Wood kept following me up and slapping me. He slapped me the last
time in Whitewright’s confectionery store the day I shot him.”
“Had you and the squire been at outs?”
“I had never done anything to him that I know of. He fell out with me because he wanted to, I recon, I don’t
know what turned him against me first.”
“Were you arrested for shooting Charlie Route?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Were you present when Route was shot?”
“No, sir; I was not there.”
“Who had you arrested?”
“I don’t know.”
“Were you a friend of Route?”
“Not particularly; we boarded in the same house, and liked each other tolerable well.”
“Were you discharged for the Route shooting?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did you and the squire have any words about that case?”
“He gave me a friendly talk about it.”
“Now tell what happened after the shooting.”
“Well, after the shooting of Wood I ran down the street, and the crowd kept shooting at me. I saw I didn’t stand
any chance, so I ran on till I saw Jeff Davis. He did not have any pistol, and I gave myself up to him. The story that
Howard Turk arrested me is not true. I did not fire a shot at any time after the shooting of Wood. After I gave
myself up to Davis I was carried up into the squire’s office, and sat down. The crowd came around there to get
me. I did not know what was going to happen when Sam Smith jerked me out of my chair and started for his
residence. I could hear the crowd begging my prosecutors to give me to them. I stayed in Smith’s house till
officers from Kaufman and Terrell came, and they started to walk me to Kaufman. There were three men along
with me – Sheriff Joe Keller, Sam Smith, and another man whose name I do not know. We started from Forney
about 10 o’clock, I guess and landed at Kaufman about 5 o’clock in the morning. This was yesterday morning.
We went across fields and pastures all the way, and it was a terrible walk. They were afraid to take me in the
big road because some of the Forney people might cause trouble. They brought me up to Dallas on the Trunk
road this morning.
—
John Bell Five Years
Galveston Daily News
Thursday, 8 March 1894, Page 1
Terrell, Tex., March 7 – The verdict of the jury in the case of John Bell, charged with the murder of Justice I.T. [sic]
Wood at Forney, was rendered today. The jury recommended a five-years term in the penitentiary.
