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David Holderman to Governor Coke, September 7, 1874

This letter from the grieving father of Thomas Holderman, who was shot in the head by Brown Bowen, was written to the new Texas Governor Richard Coke in 1874. The citizens of Texas desperately wanted to end the rampant lawlessness that plagued them.

The transcription of the two page letter is followed by images of the original letter which is kept at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

September 7th, 1874

Richard Coke
Governor of the State of Texas

Dear Sir

On or about the 13th day of June A.D. 1873, Edmund J. Davis Governor of the State of Texas offered a reward of $600 for the arrest and conviction of one Brown Bowen who murdered my Sun Thomas Holderman on the 17th day of December 1872 and was indicted for the same and incarcerated in the County Jail at Gonzales for the same and was broken out of jail by the John Wesley Hardin Party, and is now at large and beyond the limits of the State of Texas in adition to the reward offered for my Sun Thomas Holderman by E.J. Davis Governor they is 2 other inditements for the murder of one Philips. of Gonzales co. and also for the murder of one Freedeman by the name Rob. Taylor also of Gonzales County which was all wilful murder. I also state that Brown Bowen is a Brother-in-Law to John Wesley Hardin and his gang of desporados -
and I further state that the said Hardin was implicated in the murder of my Sun Thomas Holderman. Such is in the proof of the same and I Ernestly request for Humanity Sake and the vindication of the law would ask that you offer offer a Suitable Reward for

the aprehension of the said Brown Bowen to be delivered inside of the county jail door of Gonzales County Texas. If you will offer a reward I am satisfied that the said party can be arrested althoug the said Brown Bowen from good authority is beyond the limits of the State at present but, I think he will return soon if not by a requisition upon the governor of the State in which he now is. Can he arrested for the varasity of my Statement I Refer you to the Clerk of the District Attorney Court of Gonzales County and Burges the District Attorney Court of that district At Seguin and B. Wright at Yorktown Dewitt County Texas. Also John Hancock [?]
hope that you will comply with my Request and that Justice may be done I am

Respectfully,
David Holderman

 

David Holderman to Coke, September 7, 1874, Records of Richard Coke, Texas Office of the Governor,
Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

[ John Wesley Hardin main ]

[ Spellman Collection at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos Texas:The Hardin letters index. ]

[ Bowen family web ]

 

 

 

This url : http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~bowen/mrholdermanletter.html