ADAMS-SHARP TRAGEDY

An Old Quarrel Renewed with Fatal Effect

Dallas Morning News
17 July 1890

ADAMS’ ARM WAS SKATTERED

By the Leaden Contents of a Shotgun and Before Surgical Aid Could Reach Him Death Ensued from Hemorrhage.

FORNEY, Tex., July 16 – The town is in a fever of excitement over the killing of John T. Adams by Geo. Sharp. The facts, as near as could be learned by THE NEWS reporter, are as follows:

Sharp and Adams were near neighbors, both renting farms about four miles south of town. They had some misunderstanding some time ago and abuse has been the result.

This was repeated several times within the last few days, and to-day when Adams learned that Sharp had gone to the lake fishing, he quit work and told parties that he was going there to see Sharp. He met Sharp on the Nell league, this side of the Daugherty lake and abuse was renewed. Sharp in a mortified tone said:

“Go away, Adams, I do not want to have any trouble,” and Adams being moved by the gentle tones replied, “Well, we will make up as friends,” to which Sharp agreed, and everything was fixed up and they turned to ride off, when it seem that Adams again flew off again in a rage and began to curse and vilify Sharp who raised his gun to shoot.

Adams jumped from his horse and as he did so Sharp fired, the load taking affect in his left arm, shattering it near the elbow, and from which he bled to death before medical aid could reach him.

Adams leaves a large family who are very poor. He was a man of violent temper. Sharp is considered a hard working, honest man.

THE NEWS reporter visited the home of Adams. As his remains were being brought into his home the scene presented was very affecting. The fond wife and loving children were nearly distracted with grief.

Mr. Sharp was seen by the reporter and he said he regretted the affair very much, but under the circumstances it could not have been avoided.

Sharp surrendered to the authorities and will have his examination trial to-morrow.

Note: According to the Kaufman County TXGenWeb site, Sharp was acquitted on December 24, 1890.

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Weekly Times-Herald (Dallas, Texas)
Saturday, 19 July 1890
Page 4

Forney was the scene of a killing yesterday. John J. Adams was shot to death by George Sharp. The murdered man leaves a wife and a large family of children unprovided for, and his slayer pleads self-defense. The hangman will get in his work some day in Texas, but until he begins operations men will murder with impunity.