RACE WAR IMMINENT IN TEXAS
Brother of Congressman Shot Down.
NEGRO FIRED FROM CHURCH
One Hundred Angry Whites Are in the Field in Pursuit of Murderer and Grave Trouble Is Feared.
Houston, Texas, April 11. — News from Walter (sic) county, sixty miles north of here, indicates that race feeling is very high, owing to the murder near Hempstead of Tucker Pinckney, a brother of Congressman J. M. Pinckney of Houston district. It appears that Pinckney and a companion were riding by a negro church when they were fired upon. While the dead man's body lay in front of the church, a negro with a shot gun rode by and informed the crowd, that he did the shooting, after which he disappeared. This negro had a finger shot off which indicates that Pinckney and his companion, whose name is not known, returned the fire. George Goss, who was with Pinckney says he thinks the negroes mistook the dead man for him. Over one hundred armed whites are in the field after the negroes.
Congressman Pinckney wired that he would leave Washington today and will arrive at home Wednesday.
The dead man was one of the leading planters and stockmen of this section.
The Official Version.
Hempstead, Texas, April 11. — Warrants have been issued for two negroes, charging them with the murder of Tucker Pinckney, brother of Congressman John M. Pinckney at a church eight miles from here. It is expected that there will be a number of other arrests. There is much excitement over the entire county.
Pinckney and Geo. Groce rode up to the church late in the afternoon. There had been troble (sic) between Groce and some of the negroes who were at the church at the time and as Pinckney entered the church to get a drink of water, shooting was opened by the negroes of the church. Seven shots were fired in the building and all of them took effect in the body of Pinckney, who fell dead just outside the door. Groce shot two of the negroes who were outside but neither of them was fatally wounded. The remainder of the blacks scattered and they were keeping close to their homes.
Congressman Pinckney and his sister are to arrive here Wednesday and the funeral of the dead man will be held at that time. If there is any further trouble, it is not likely to happen until after the funeral.
"Race War Imminent In Texas", The Albuquerque Morning Journal. (Albuquerque, NM), Tuesday, April 12, 1904, p. 1, col. 3.