On Jan. 20, 1898, James Peel, a farmer, was shot and killed at a place in the easter part of this county about 150 yards from the Kaufman county line. Peel was shot five times, and a sixshooter was the weapon used. According to the report published in The News at the time, two men were accused of making an attack on the deceased. Peel shot the gun out of the hand of one of the men, it is said, but the other succeeded in taking his life.

Soon after Sheriff Cabell and his deputies placed in custody two men. Against these men, George Hammil [Hamill] and W.P. Newton, the grand jury returned indictments charging them with the murder of Peel. It was set forth that Hammil did not actually commit the murder, for it is alleged that he is the man out of whos hand Peel shot the pistol. Newton, it is alleged in the indictment, is the man who did the fatal shooting. Peel is alleged to have wounded both of them.

Hammil [Hamill] is now on trial on this charge in the criminal district court before Judge Charles F. Clint. Regarding the trial, County Attorney R.B. Allen said yesterday:

"The contention of the state in this case is that the killing grew out of a cattle stealing case against Newton's son, Bob. The contention grew out of some other cause."