1860 Census, Loss Creek, Union County, TN:
Wesley L. Moore 29 M Farming 50 VA
Elizabeth Moore 29 F Housewife VA
Martha J. Moore 4 F VA
William R. Moore 3 M VA
Infant Moore 2/12 M VA (probably Bige/Biga)Living next door to John Wilson, 60 and family.
1870 Census, Jacksboro, Campbell County, TN:
Elmore Wesley 38 M W Farmer 300 200 VA
Elmore Martha 26 F W Keeping House TN
Elmore Martha 14 F W House Keeper TN
Elmore William 12 M W Farm laborer TN
Elmore Biga 10 M W At Home TN
Elmore John R. 6 M W TN
Elmore Andrew 3 M W TN
Elmore Francis 1 M W TNThe census taker must have thought he said Wesley Elmore instead of Wesley L. Moore.
1880 Census, Page, Campbell County, TN:
Wesley L. MOORE Self M Male W 48 VA Farmer VA VA
Martha J. MOORE Wife M Female W 38 TN Keeping House TN TN
Biga C. MOORE Son S Male W 19 TN Farm Hand TN TN
John R. MOORE Son S Male W 15 TN Farm Hand TN TN
Andrew J. MOORE Son S Male W 13 TN Farm Hand TN TN
Frances M. MOORE Son S Male W 11 TN Farm Hand TN TN
James MOORE Son S Male W 9 TN At Home TN TN
Jacob MOORE Son S Male W 7 TN At Home TN TN
Lafayatt MOORE Son S Male W 5 TN At Home TN TN
Rufus MOORE Son S Male W 10M TN At Home TN TN
1860 Census, Loss Creek, Union County, TN:
Wesley L. Moore 29 M Farming 50 VA
Elizabeth Moore 29 F Housewife VA
Martha J. Moore 4 F VA
William R. Moore 3 M VA
Infant Moore 2/12 M VALiving next door to John Wilson, 60 and family.
Courtesy of Keith Reed:
The Death of George R. Edwards.
For many years our relatives in the Clark family have heard of a tragic event that occurred shortly before 1900. This event was the death of a young man named George R. Edwards and then a murder conviction of his brother-in-law named Benjamin Franklin Clark, Jr. Records relating to this tragic event have finally been found in Coryell Co., Texas, and copies of the court documents have been gathered in an attempt to assemble the events that transpired before, during, and after the murder.
Stories have been handed down through generations of our family relating to young Benjamin Franklin Clark, Jr. being sent to the home of his sister and brother-in-law to bring her and her baby back to her parents. The couple had had a fight and she was in the process of leaving him to return home. The sister's name was Isom Anne (Clark) Edwards and her husband was the above named George Edwards. These stories have related that young Benjamin killed George with a knife by cutting open his abdomen. It was said that George then fell into the crib with his baby and his insides spilled into the crib. Throughout the years of hearing these stories, there was never a mention of several witnesses to this event. I will try to the best of my ability to explain what I understand the facts to be relating to this event.
One must remember that in 1893 there were no court reporters to prepare a transcript of the case as it moved through the Court System. There is therefore no record of direct testimony for the case. There are however, many documents that list persons who are going to testify and what the intent of their testimony is going to be. After reading almost 100 pages of handwritten documents being about 110 years old, here is my understanding of this event.
During the month of June, 1893, the family of Benjamin Franklin Clark, Sr., (I will call him B. F. hereafter), was living in McLennan Co. That fact is listed in the documents of the court. While I do not know exactly where in McLennan Co. they lived, I would suspect that he lived in the town of Moody. This supposition is based on the fact that his daughter named Annis Lorena Clark was born on October 4, 1884 in the town of Moody in McLennan Co. B. F. moved away from McLennan Co. for some time, but later came back prior to 1893. By living in Moody, he was very near the county line separating McLennan and Coryell Co's. B. F.'s daughter named Isom Anne Clark had married George R. Edwards in Burnet Co, Texas on December 14, 1890. After their marriage this couple had moved to Coryell Co. and by June of 1892 had a young child. (I do not know if this child was a boy or girl and do not know when the child was born.)
Apparently Anne and George had a rather difficult marriage because she had planned to take the baby and leave George to return to the home of her father and mother in McLennan Co. On June 10, 1893, young Benjamin, his mother Martha F. Clark, (aka Matt) and their cousin, Richard Henry Coleman Clark, (aka Henry Clark), went to the home of Anne and George to escort Anne and the baby back to McLennan Co. While at the home of George Edwards, a violent argument erupted between George and young Benjamin. This argument eventually turned to violence and the records indicate that George had a knife in his pocket and that young Benjamin eventually got possession of the knife and stabbed George and cut open his abdomen.
The court records indicate that this event was witnessed by Henry Clark, Matt Clark, Anne Clark and another man named Thel Stephens. (I have no idea as to why this man was at the Edwards residence). Young Benjamin was arrested and put into the Coryell Co., Jail on June 12, 1893. Henry Clark was arrested and put into the jail on June 16, 1893 and Mrs. Matt Clark, (Mrs. Martha F. Clark) was arrested and put into the jail on July 21, 1893. At the time of this murder, young Benjamin was 16 years, 8 months and 15 days old. The records of the County Jail show him to be 18 years old. But there is evidence that witnesses testified as to his exact age. Those witnesses were Bolen Perry and B. A. Perry, relatives of William K. Perry who had married Nora Clark, a sister of young Benjamin.
During the July 1893 term of the court, the Grand Jury of Coryell Co. issued the following indictment. "IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. The Grand Jurors for the County of Coryell aforesaid, duly organized as such at the July Term, A.D. 1893 In the District Court for said County, upon their oaths in said Court, Present that Frank Clark, Henry Clark and Mrs. Matt Clark on or about the 10th day of June, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-Three, and anterior to presentation of this indictment, in the County of Coryell, and State of Texas did then and there With malice and forethought - kill George Edwards by then and there cutting and stabbing him, the said George Edwards, With a knife" It would appear that the District Attorney for Coryell Co, a man named J. T. Daniel was trying to set the trial as soon as possible and try all three of the defendants at the same time as a group.The records also indicate that the State had secured the testimony of Mr. Thel Stephens, the man who witnessed the killing at the Edwards home. In rushing to trial, the Sheriff of Coryell Co. was instructed to gather a pool of 70 prospective Jurors. Just prior to the trial date, the Sheriff had served papers on only 40 or so prospective Jurors. With the lack of the required number of Jurors, the case was then postponed by motion of the Attorneys representing the trio. Each of them had separate attorneys. Henry Clark remained in Coryell Co. Jail from June 16, 1893, through September 4, 1893. The records indicate that he posted Bond and was released. Mrs. Matt Clark remained in Coryell Co. Jail from July 21, 1893 until August 12, 1893. The records do not name the conditions under which she was released.
Young Benjamin remained in the Coryell Co. Jail during the entire time that the trial was being conducted. He was arrested and put into the Coryell Co. Jail on June 12, 1893. During the next several months there were many legal moves to try to get the three cases separated and each to be tried individually. It was felt by the Defense Attorneys that this would be the best defense. Finally there was an agreement that the three cases be separated and each tried individually with Mrs. Matt Clark being tried first and then Henry Clark being tried next and finally, young Benjamin being tried last.. We can find no record of what happened to the trial of Henry Clark. The records also do not reflect that his bond was forfeited. Remember that he posted Bail and was released from jail. His case seems to have simply disappeared.
One of our group of researchers, Mary Jackson in Burnet, had told me several years ago that Henry and his wife left the state and moved to Arkansas so that he would not have to testify in the trial of young Benjamin. This is possibly what happened. We do know that Henry's second child was born in Arkansas. The case against Mrs. Matt Clark was settled in January of 1894. The jail records indicate that she was arrested again and put into jail on January 22, 1894, being charged with murder. The jail records indicate that she was released on January 27, 1894 with the reason for release being "Acquitted". We can find no evidence that a trial was ever held concerning her original charge of murder.
At the January 1894 Term of the Court, District Attorney Daniel requested, and received, a continuance of the case against young Benjamin because one of his witnesses named Mrs. Dora McKee was sick and could not attend the Court. The records do not indicate the subject of her proposed testimony. During the next several months, the attorneys for both sides prepared affidavits from many persons who were called to testify. While the records do not give the topic of testimony of the persons for the prosecution, the records do reflect the names, residences and basis for testimony of those testifying for the defendant.
One affidavit filed by the defense lists names of witnesses to be called and topics that they will testify on relating to the case. This group is as follows: NAME RESIDENCE RELATIONSHIP B. F. Clark, Sr. McLennan Co. Father of young Benjamin William K. Perry Burnet Co. Bro-in-law of young Benjamin David Isaacks Burnet Co. Cousin of young Benjamin Mrs. David Isaacks Burnet Co. Sister of young Benjamin Jim Sexton Burnet Co. Cousin of young Benjamin Barnett Young Williamson Co. Cousin of young Benjamin Sam Donnell Williamson Co. Cousin of young Benjamin The above named individuals signed an affadavit that was submitted into evidence with the following statement. "The deceased was a fractious and dangerous man amongst other facts which defendant will establish by said witnesses. By W. K. Perry and Jim Sexton defendant expects to prove that the deceased made threats against the life of Frank Clark prior to the homicide."
Another affidavit was filed with the following names: Bolen Perry Burnet Co. Cousin (by marriage) B. A. Perry Burnet Co Cousin (by marriage) That affidavit contained the following statement: "Defendant Frank Clark was under the age of 17 at the date of the alleged homicide and that Mrs. Matt Clark took no part in the difficulty in which the deceased Edwards was killed." Another affidavit was filed with the following names: Marion Boren Bell Co. Cousin (By marriage) William Isaacks Bell Co. Cousin of young Benjamin James Clark Bell Co. Cousin of young Benjamin Frank Cox Burnet Co Cousin of young Benjamin Jack Wilcox Hamilton Co. Cousin of young Benjamin I. J. Clark Burnet Co. Uncle of young Benjamin (This I. J. Clark is my g grandfather. This is the first written proof that found that he was related to B. F. Clark. What a hell of a thrill for me.) That affidavit contained the following statement: "In connection with other facts that said witnesses were in the main well acquainted with deceased George Edwards, and that said Edwards was a high tempered and fractious man and dangerous when mad, and a man able to execute and carry out a threat."
There was one other document that I found quite interesting when reading the filing. It was one of the original flings in July of 1893, by the attorney for young Benjamin requesting that the case be continued due to the delay in gathering witnesses. This particular filing enumerated the importance of gaining the testimony of Bolen and B. A. Perry to counter the testimony of Thel Stephens. Remember that Thel Stephens was a witness to the homicide. This filing outlined the steps in the process that was used to notify both Perry men of their requirement to appear in court in Coryell Co, but they had not received the papers mandating their appearance. Some of that filing language is as follows: "…….to show the materiality of the testimony of said Bolen and B. A. Perry, defendant shows to the court that the State relies for a conviction in this case chiefly upon the testimony of one Thel Stephens who will swear, as the defendant is informed and believe, that at the time of the homicide that this defendant was the aggressor and brought on the difficulty in which deceased lost his life. By the witnesses Bolen & B. A. Perry, defendant expects to prove, and can show by said witnesses, that shortly after the homicide said witness, Thel Stephens, came to the residence of said witnesses in Burnet County and made a detailed statement to them of the difficulty in which deceased was killed and that said Stephens stated to them that Edwards, deceased, was the aggressor and struck defendant before defendant made any attempt at violence upon him. By his witnesses, this defendant can show that deceased Edwards provoked the difficulty and jumped upon and struck defendant at a time while defendant was sitting down and doing nothing to authorize an assault on him by the deceased, and that deceased had an open knife in the watch pocket of his pants and made an attempt to draw same at that time."
There was one other list of Charater witnesses to be called in the defense of young Benjamin. Those witnesses were members of his direct family: Benjamin Franklin Clark, Sr., his father Martha "Matt" Clark, his mother Marvin Clark, his brother Missouri Clark, his sister Ida Clark, his sister Emma White, I do not know who this is. It could have been his sister Mary Emma Louise Clark who eventually married Richard Henry Clark. I had never heard that she had been previously married to someone named White before marrying Richard Henry Clark. One thing that I find quite puzzling is that there is no statement concerning Isom Anne (Clark) Edwards in any of the records. Her name is listed only in one case and it is never stated if she was a witness to the homicide. Like I said in an earlier part of this narrative, there were no court reporters in those days and we will never know what was said what the jury based their decision on.
On August 4, 1894, the Jury Foreman delivered the following verdict to the presiding Judge: "We, the Jury find the defendant, Frank Clark, guilty as charged in the indictment of manslaughter and assess his punishment at confinement in the State Penitentiary for a term of five years" C. McGinsley Foreman On August 19, 1894 the jail records of Coryell County record that Frank Clark was transferred to the State Penitentiary. He had been in Coryell County Jail for approximately 14 months.
There is a historical plaque on his grave. It reads:
John Cherry
(November 23, 1808 - April 12, 1891)
Soldier in Capt. William Logan's
company, 2nd regiment, volunteers
Texas War for Independence, 1836.
Born in Highland County, Ohio.
Came to Texas with his father,
AAron Cherry, 1818. Settled near a
Coushatta Indian village. In 1838
by commission of President Sam
Houston, he was interpreter for
Indians in a treaty parley. He
received 2 Texas land grants.
Married (1) Matilda Bridges (2)
Roxy Line White (3) Frances Holt
Smith. Had 14 sons, 7 daughters.
Recorded - 1972
1930 Census, 7 J-Pct, Spring, Harris County, TX:
McGinnis Chas M. Head M W 47 M 24 TX LA LA Laborer Timber
McGinnis Idella Wife-H F W 39 M 15 TX OK OK None
McGinnis George D. Son M W 22 S TX TX TX Timber
McGinnis Charlie W. Son M W 18 S TX TX TX Laborer High Line
McGinnis Odis Son M W 20 S TX TX TX Laborer Laborer High Line
McGinnis Teddie Son M W 14 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Clarisie Daughter F W 11 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Pat M. Son M W 9 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Oliver? Son M W 7 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Stella Daughter F W 5 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Lewis Son M W 3 S TX TX TX NoneAdditional Child for Charlie McGinnis and Idella Stringer:
Lou Rana McGinnis b. Feb 3, 1914 d. Jun 20, 1918.Charles' death certificate lists "Rafe" McGinnis as father and "Della" as wife.
In the 1900 Census of San Jacinto County, TX there is a Isable Turner with her son, brother and mother, and Idella Stringer, 10 years old, an orphan, living next door to Narcissa's brother William.
Also, there is a Charles M. McGinnis in the 1930 census with a wife named Idella about the right age. I was unable to obtain Idella McGinnis' full Social Security application but there was information on it about a John Stringer. So it appears she was indeed Idella Stringer.
Idella McGinnis' death certificate states that her father was John Stringer.
1900 Census, Evergreen, San Jacinto County, TX:
Turner Isable Head W F July 1843 56 Wd 2 6 5 MS NC MS Farmer
Turner Andrew Son W M Sept 1881 18 S TX GA MS
Gray Elizabeth Mother W F Aug 1821 88 Wd 11 6 MS TN TN
Gray Johnie Brother W M Apr 1854 46 Wd LA NC MS Day Laborer
Stringer Idella Orphan W F Oct 1889 10 TX TX TXLiving next door to William Hall and family.
1930 Census, 7 J-Pct, Spring, Harris County, TX:
McGinnis Chas M. Head M W 47 M 24 TX LA LA Laborer Timber
McGinnis Idella Wife-H F W 39 M 15 TX OK OK None
McGinnis George D. Son M W 22 S TX TX TX Timber
McGinnis Charlie W. Son M W 18 S TX TX TX Laborer High Line
McGinnis Odis Son M W 20 S TX TX TX Laborer Laborer High Line
McGinnis Teddie Son M W 14 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Clarisie Daughter F W 11 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Pat M. Son M W 9 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Oliver? Son M W 7 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Stella Daughter F W 5 S TX TX TX None
McGinnis Lewis Son M W 3 S TX TX TX NoneIdella's death certificate lists John Stringer as father but "Unknown" for mother.
1910 Census, 5-Wd, Oakland, Alameda County, CA:
de Sanno Raymond F. Head M W 23 M 0 CA US US Architechual Draftsman Architechts Office
de Sanno Lilibellie? Wife F W 19 M 0 0 0 OR NY OH None1920 Census, Oakland, Berkley, Alameda County, CA:
de Sanno Raymond F. Head M W 32 M CA PA PA Draftsman Architechtual
de Sanno Libbie Wife F W 28 M OR NY OH None
de Sanno Raymond F. Jr. Son M W 2 2/12 IL CA OR None