R.H. Hughes Shot by Son
R.H. Hughes Shot by Charles Hughes, a Youth, Near Forney Yesterday Afternoon
Dallas Morning News
28 December 1905
Forney, Tex., Dec. 27 – At 4 o’clock this afternoon R.H. Hughes, aged about 55 years, was shot by his son, Charles, a youth about 16 or 18 years old. The tragedy occurred at the home of Joe Hughes, an elder son, about two miles west of this place. A shotgun was used and the charge entered the elder Hughes’ left breast and caused almost instant death. It is said the dead man had in his possession a 45 Colt revolver.
Family troubles are said to have been the cause of the tragedy. The boy had for some time been away from his father’s home, about six miles north of town, and refused to return. The father, it is said, was incensed because of this and the boy was afraid of him, so the boy declares. He was arrested, but not locked up, and is in charge of an officer and will so remain until after the preliminary hearing, which has been set to take place after the funeral of the dead man. The boy will plead justifiable homicide.
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Father Dies at Hand of Son
Dallas Morning News
Thursday, 28 December 1905, Page 2
Forney, Tex., Dec. 27 – At 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon R.H. Hughes, aged about 55 years, was shot by his son, Charles, a youth about 16 or 18 years old. The tragedy occurred at the home of Joe Hughes, an elder son, about two miles west of this place. A shotgun was used and the charge entered the elder Hughes’ left breast and caused almost instant death. It is said the dead man had in his possession a 45 Colt’s revolver.
Family troubles are said to have been the cause of the tragedy. The boy had for some time been away from his father’s home, about six miles north of town, and refused to return. The father, it is said, was incensed because of this and the boy was afraid of him, so the boy declares. He was arrested, but not locked up, and is in charge of an officer and will so remain until after the preliminary hearing, which has been set to take place after the funeral of the dead man. The boy will plead justifiable homicide.
Preliminary Hearing Tomorrow
The preliminary hearing of young Hughes, charged with his father’s death, will be held tomorrow. Little doubt is expressed but that he will be released. He has been arrested, but not placed in jail, and public sentiment is strong in his favor.
The Hughes family has had several tragic deaths, two daughters having died by their own hands within the past few years.
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Winchester Ends a Father’s Life
Waxahachie Daily Light
Thursday, 28 December 1905, Page 1
Rufus Hughes While Hunting for Son Shot and Killed
Tragedy Near Forney
Charles Hughes Exonerated for Killing of Father After Evidence Was Submitted to Officers
Forney, Tex., Dec. 28 – Charles Hughes shot and instantly killed his father, Rufus Hughes, yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock and [missing text] of justifiable [missing text] turned by Justice of the Peace T.M. Daniels, who instituted an immediate hearing on the case.
The killing was a culmination of a series of events which followed each other with tragic rapidity and which involved the members of the entire family.
Rufus Hughes was a man about 45 years old. He lived across the boundary of Rockwall county, about seven miles north of Forney. He had the reputation of being a desperate man and was held in fear by many of his acquaintances. He had three sons, Joe, who is married; Charles, aged about 19, and Acie, aged about 16. The father’s treatment was the cause, some months ago, of the two younger boys leaving home, and this enraged the father. The two boys for a time took refuge at the home of their brother Joe. The elder Hughes sent word to them to return home, under the penalty of death if they disobeyed him.
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Houston Post
Thursday, 28 December 1905, Page 1
Charles Hughes shot and killed his father near Forney, acting in self-defense.
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Self Defense
Houston Post
Thursday, 28 December 1905, Page 2
Caused Charles Hughes to Shoot His Father to Death
Was Hidden in Closet
In an Effort to Escape the Wrath of His Parent, Who Had a Gun
Houston Post Special
Forney, Texas, December 27 – Charles Hughes shot and instantly killed his father, Rufus Hughes, this afternoon at 4 o’clock, and the verdict of justifiable homicide has been returned by Justice of the Peace T.M. Daniels, who instituted an immediate hearing in the case.
The killing was a culmination of a series of events which followed each other with tragic rapidity and which involved the members of the entire family.
Rufus Hughes was a man about 45 years of age. He lived across the boundary of Rockwall county, about seven miles north of Forney. He had the reputation of being a desperate man and was held in fear by many of his acquaintances. He had three sons, Joe, who is married; Charles, aged about 19, and Acie, aged about 16.
Some months ago the two younger boys left home, and this enraged the father. The two boys for a time took refuge at the home of their brother Joe. The elder Hughes sent word to them to return home, under the penalty of death if they disobeyed him. They were afraid to do so. Today Acie Hughes left Forney for Dallas, intending to leave this part of the country.
Rufus Hughes came to Forney during the afternoon and later started for the home of his son Joe, which is one and a half miles south of town. On the road he met Joe, with his wife, coming toward town. He drew a gun and declared he would kill Joe, whereupon the latter sprang from the wagon and started to run. The infuriated father compelled him to return, climb into the wagon and turn toward home, asserting that when they reached Joe’s house he would kill them “all in a heap.”
As the terrorized young couple were driving back toward their home the father, who was on horseback, spurred past them, and, arriving at Joe’s home, immediately began a search for his son Charles. He went around the house, peering into the windows, but was evidently unable to see any one. He then entered the house and continued his search. He carried his six shooter in his hand. Unable to find his son in any of the rooms, he opened a closet door. Instant a shot rang out, a puff of smoke curled toward the ceiling, and the desperate parent sank to the floor dead. The hunted son, terrorized, crouched in the corner, fearing to emerge lest, in his blind fear, the shot which he had sent from the rifle, which in his desperation he had hurriedly snatched up when he ran into hiding from his infuriated parent, had gone wide of its mark. Hearing no sound, he finally emerged, and, together with his brother Joe and wife, proceeded to notify the authorities of the tragedy.
No warrant was issued for the young man’s arrest, as Justice Daniels will hold that the killing was justifiable.
The youngest son, Acie, was intercepted at Dallas and returned to his home, where his mother is confined to her bed from the effects of a beating which is is alleged to have received a day or two ago.
Note: Rufus H. Hughes is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery.
