Grayson County TXGenWeb

John Ayers

McKinney Weekly Democrat-Gazette
McKinney, Texas
Thursday, April 15, 1909
pg 1

IS FATALLY STABBED

Westminster, Texas. April 12 - (Special) - Homer Hale, aged eighteen years, died Sunday from the effect of a knife wound received late Saturday night while north of Graybill, near the Oxford school house, just north of the Collin county line. It is stated that Hale, John Ayers and a number of other residents of that community had been joking one another rather severely and that Ayers became incensed over something Hale said. Later, while Hale was riding horseback toward his home north of Graybill, it is stated that Ayers met him in the road, asking him what he meant by what he said and after a few more words Hale was stabbed near the heart with a knife. He fell from his horse and walked to the home of Mr. Griffith, about two hundred yards distant, where he was taken in and medical assistance summoned. He lingered until about 9 o'clock Sunday morning, when he expired as a result of the wound.

The sheriff's department here has been on the alert for Ayers, as have also the officers of Grayson county, but at the time of this dispatch he has not been apprehended. Ayers is about forty-two years of age and has a family. Both men are well known and highly connected. The funeral of Hale took place at 3 o'clock this afternoon, the interment of the remains made at Elm Grove cemetery.

McKinney Weekly Democrat-Gazette
McKinney, Texas
Thursday, April 22, 1909
pg 2

VERDICT OF CORONER
Inquest Over Remains of Homer Hale
Who Was Fatally Stabbed.

At the inquest held over the body of Homer Hale near Pilot Grove, just north of the Collin county line, by Justice
of the Peace Caldwell, acting coroner, the witnesses were Mrs. John Ayers and George Griffin.

Mrs. Ayers testified that she and her husband had been to the home of a neighbor sitting up with a sick child. Upon returning home about 12 o'clock Sunday night when they had reached the gateway to their premises they saw Homer Hale coming toward them on horseback and that her husband stopped to wait for Hale. Fearing some sort
of trouble she says she tried to get her husband to go into the house but he would not do so. When Hale got near them Mrs. Ayers says her husband asked him why he, Hale, had been cursing around his, Ayers, house, to which Hale replied: "I have not done so." That then she saw her husband rush at Hale.

Mr. Griffin's testimony was that Hale had come to his home shortly after 12 o'clock Saturday night and had told
him, the witness, that "Daddy" Ayers had stabbed him to the heart.

The same witness detailed subsequent statements made by Hale prior to his death, in which he, Hale, had said
that Ayers had inflicted the knife wound upon him.

Justice Caldwell entered upon his docket the following finding as coroner:
"Having inquired into the time, manner, cause and circumstances of the death of Homer Hale, I find that the deceased came to his death on Saturday, April 11. 1909, from a knife wound in the left breast and that the same was at the hands of "Daddy" Ayers."

It also incidentally developed at the inquest that Ayers had gone into his home after the meeting between him
and Hale in the roadway and had almost immediately left and up to the time the inquest was held no one had been found who had seen him after that time. Also that at the time of the meeting Hale had been to a singing and was returning to the home of his parents. Hale was 21 years of age and Ayers is 45.

Constable Nichols of the precinct in which the affair occurred, lodged formal complaint before Justice Caldwell charging "Daddy" Ayers with the murder of Homer Hale and a warrant was issued for Ayers thereon.

It appears that Ayers who is fairly well acquainted with the country left on foot and is believed to have had ample time to reach a railroad before the officers began their pursuit of him.

The Eagle
Bryan, Texas
Tuesday May 18, 1909
pg 1

MAN HUNTED WITH BLOODHOUNDS
Alleged Murderer Hiding in Dense
Thicket to be Hunted Down

Special to the Eagle
McKinney, Texas, May 18. - Sheriff Eubank hurried to Whitewright this morning with bloodhounds to aid in the search for John Ayres, charged with killing Jim Hale near Gray Hill two months ago. It is reported that Ayres is hiding in a dense thicket near Van Alstyne.

McKinney Weekly Democrat-Gazette
McKinney, Texas
Thursday, May 20, 1909
pg 12

DOINGS OF THE COURTS

Left Before Dogs Arrived
Sheriff Eubank and Deputy Sheriffs Albert McCauley and I. A. Eubank who went to the northern part of the county Tuesday with the bloodhounds, in response to a summons from Constable Nickles of Whitewright and Spears of Van Alstyne, stating that John Ayres, charged with the killing of Jim Hale north of Graybill about two months ago, was hiding in a thicket in that vicinity, returned that evening. It was later discovered that before then officers had been summoned with the dogs, Ayres boarded the 7:10 morning Interurban car, passed through without being recognized and escaped. The killing occurred in Grayson county and the officers of that county are vigilantly prosecuting the search.

McKinney Weekly Democrat-Gazette
McKinney, Texas
Thursday, June 3, 1909
pg 2

JOHN AYRES RETURNS HOME
Takes Wife and Flees in Dark and
Storm Monday Night

We take the following from the Van Alstyne Leader:
The community in which Homer Hale was killed by John Ayres a few weeks since, eight or nine miles east of
Van Alstyne, was startled at the appearance there of Ayres Monday night just after dark and during the storm. He
is said to have first appeared at the home of Jim Andy Simpson under the impression that Ed Simpson lived there. Ed Simpson moved, however, to the place formerly occupied by Ayres. Ayres next appeared at the home of Mrs. Simpson, mother of his wife, and with whom his wife was staying. This was about 8 o'clock Monday night.

Ayres took his wife aside and talked to her a short time, when she informed her mother that she was going with him and they left in the storm. Mrs. Ayres, it is stated, had been under treatment of a physician for several days and was not by any means a well woman.

Ayres and his wife were tracked from Mrs. Simpson's through the mud to the home of little Jim Hendrix, two miles southwest of Sedalia. The next heard of them was on the railway track south of Anna. Andrew Pair and Mr. Pigg
had been sitting up with a sick person and were returning to Anna along the railroad about 4 o'clock Tuesday morning when they met Ayres and his wife.

It was learned from the Interurban train men that Ayres and his wife boarded the first southbound car Tuesday morning shortly before 8 o'clock at the third stop south of Anna and got off at Dallas. No further trace has been found.

This information was furnished the Leader by Constable Spears of this city, who has been in the chase.

The Courier-Gazette
McKinney, Texas
Tuesday, August 9, 1910
pg 1

HOMICIDE TRIAL

John Ayers Case is Called at Sherman for Trial

Sherman, Aug. 9 - In the Fifty-Ninth district court yesterday Judge J. M. Pearson called the case of the State vs. John Ayers, charged with killing Homer Hale. The State, represented by County Attorney Cal. T. Freeman, announced ready. The defendant, represented by Joe Cobb and Joe Cox Sr. and Joe Cox Jr. took the roll call of witnesses for the defense. Mr. Cobb was not present in person, being sick.

Young Hale was killed early in the morning of April 11, 1909, near the Collin county line, being cut with a knife. At the time of the killing Ayers made his escape, a few days later returning to the Pilot Grove community, where the killing occurred, and taking his wife away with him. He was afterward captured in Oklahoma and has been out on bond since.

Dallas Morning News
August 15, 1910

VERDICT IN JOHN AYERS CASE
Special to The News

Sherman, Tex., Aug. 15 - After being out fourteen hours the jury in the case of John Ayers for the killing of Homer Hale at Pilot Grove, a year ago, came in just after noon today and gave the defendant twenty years for murder in the second degree.

Dallas Morning News
April 21, 1912

SHERMAN CASE SET FOR TRIAL
(Special to The News)
Sherman, Tex., April 20 - The case of the State vs. John Ayers, charged with the homicide of Homer Hale near Pilot Grove in this county about two years ago, was today set in the Fifty-Ninth District Court for next Monday. Ayers was tried once for the killing and was given twenty years in the State penitentiary, but the case was reversed by the Court of criminal Appeals.

Sherman Daily Democrat
Saturday, December 14, 1912
pg 1

VERDICT IS RETURNED
IN JOHN AYRES CASE

The jury in the case against John Ayres, charged with the murder of Homer Hale, returned a verdict this morning
at 9:30 o'clock in the 59th district court, finding defendant guilty of murder in the second degree and assessing his punishment at 5 years in the penitentiary, the minimum sentence for second degree murder. The argument in the case was completed at a night session last night and Judge Pearson read his charge to the jury, allowing the twelve men to deliberate about their decision forty-five minutes before he placed them under rule for then night.

This was the third time this case has been tried in Grayson county. The case originated on April 10, 1909, near Pilot Grove, almost on the Collin and Grayson county line when the defendant stabbed Homer Hale, a young fellow twenty years of age although the other man was much older. The first trial resulted in a hung jury in 1910, the next time in 1911 punishment was assessed at 20 years in the penitentiary and in the same year the decision was reversed by the higher court. Attorneys for the defendant have filed a motion for a new trial over the decision of this morning.

The case was prosecuted exclusively by County Attorney B.F. Gafford, who made a great speech but at the same time left the impression of being fair with the defendant. He explained some of the points in favor of the defendant, declaring that if they were the only things to be considered the man should be released. He called attention to argument for the state and said that if they were the only ones the defendant should be convicted of first degree murder. But considering everything and the circumstances which have developed in the case he did not urge for any verdict other than for second degree killing with punishment at not more than 25 years and less than 5 years
in the penitentiary. This was the first murder case prosecuted since Mr. Gafford's administration was inaugurated.

Attorneys Joe Cox Jr. and Joe Cobb represented Mr. Ayres and each of them made solid arguments for their client.

The jury was composed of the following gentlemen, who have been in the case all week: W. J. Allison, A. J. Jones, Wade Cook, P. H. George, W. S. Skinner, Jno. Parks, H. F. Hefner, N. L. Warriner, F. O. Simon and T. E. Vinehard.