On the morning of the thirteenth Mr. Lynch, living about fifteen miles from Hempstead, was called from his bed and asked to step to the door.  He did as requested, and was shot as soon as he stepped into the opening.  the shot struck him in two places, one in the throat and one through the lungs.  He fell, and by the would-be murderers was doubtless thought to be dead, as they went deliberately to work about burning down the building.  After it was well on fire the victim had sufficiently recovered to crawl out and escape death by the devouring flames.  He had several little children in the house whom it is supposed were burnt to death, as they had not up to the latest information been found anywhere.  The man had lost his wife about two weeks previous by sickness, and when he was just able to save himself by crawling away, the little ones were left without anybody to guide them from the tortures of a merciless element.  Parties with whom had some litigation are suspected.  There is great excitement at Hempstead about it.

(This is the family of George Lynch, b. ca. 1840 TX.)

"Mr. Lynch shot, family murdered." Weekly Democratic Statesman, (Austin, TX), Thursday, September 19, 1878, p. 2, col. 5.

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