Blassingame Murder Trials
Sent to Janelle Holmes <wildair@texas.net> by Don Watson <dwatson@texas.net>
she then sent it to me to put on the website.
Note to Janelle from Don:
Here is abstracted information that traces the trials to the point
where I left off...hope you can find something from here...I suspect they
may have been moved yet another time, possibly to Gonzalez County or maybe
Travis County...so if you don't find anything in Caldwell County, you
might try them next...
This is abstracted info from the following sources...
Comal County, TX District Court Minutes Book "C"
March 1857
The State of Texas vs. George Lang, Marion Martin and John Hoyt on
Indictment for Murder of Woodson and Calvin Blasingame
These men make plea for a change of venue, whereupon a change of venue to
Guadalupe County was granted. They were ordered to appear at the next term
of the District Court of Guadalupe County.
----------------
March 1857
The State of Texas vs. George Lang, et al on Indictment for Murder of
Woodson and Calvin Blasingame
James Campbell, John W. Sansom, Christian Speiser, R. A. Cherry, John
Tinney, W. G. Sansom and Hugh McLaurin plea for a change of venue.
Whereupon a change of Venue to Guadalupe County was granted.
----------------
Spring Term 1858
The State of Texas vs. Augustus Fahr (Pharr), John Nichols and Eli Hankins
on Indictment for Murder of Woodson and Calvin Blasingame
John Nichols was appearing before the court under the indictment and bail
in the amount of $5000.00
[Most of the individuals above had their bonds set at around $300.00 each
except for George Lang where I find no bond set in Comal County]
----------------
Spring Term 1859
The State of Texas vs. Augustus Fahr (Pharr), John Nichols and Eli Hankins
on Indictment for Murder of Woodson and Calvin Blasingame
Attachment ordered against Polly Moore of Ft. Bend County and James M. Day
to be returned to Blanco County at next term of court. Case continued...
[They were probably being ordered to appear as witnesses]
****************
Guadalupe County, TX District Court Minutes Book "C"
November 1857
The State of Texas vs. George Lang & others on indictment of murder
Edward Burleson and William Kyle witnessed on behalf of the State, W. A.
Blackwell and John Campbell witnessed on behalf of the defendant. Case
continued to the next term of court.
----------------
November 1857
The State of Texas vs. George Lang & others on indictment of murder
James M. Pruitt witnessed on behalf of the defendant. Case continued until
the next term of court.
----------------
November 1857
The State of Texas vs. George Lang & others on indictment of murder
Mary Blasingame posted an appearance bond to testify for the State in this
cause. Case continued to the next term of court.
----------------
Guadalupe County, TX District Court Minutes Book "D"
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang et al
Five of the defendants, Marion Martin, James Campbell, John W. Sansom,
Christian Speiser, and Robert A. Cherry chose to stand trial together.
Jury empaneled and subsequently, the defendants were found Not Guilty.
----------------
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang et al
The District Attorney moved to enter a Nolo Proseque in the case against
the defendants W. G. Sansom and John Tinney. The court subsequently
dismissed the case against the said defendants.
----------------
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang et al
John W. Hoyt pleads Not Guilty and stood trial, The jury could not reach a
verdict and the case "stand on the docket for trial".
----------------
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang, Hugh McLaurin and John Hoyt
The court finds that an "unprejudiced and impartial Jury" cannot be
obtained and the case is transferred to Caldwell County to appear the
"second Monday of the next Term of Court of Caldwell County"
----------------
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang et al
Ed Burleson, William Kyle, George Ullrich, Otto Wupperman and Mary
Blasingame are ordered to appear to give evidence on behalf of the State.
They are to appear in the town of Lockhart "on the third Monday after the
first Monday in October 1859 on the second Monday of the said term".
----------------
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang et al
James M. Pruitt, John Krouse (?), Francis M. Martin, Jennings Beckwith,
Robert M. Page, John Campbell, Christian Speiser, James Cherry, John
Tinney, Joel Cherry, Robert A. Cherry and Rosina Lang are ordered to appear
in the town of Lockhart "on the third Monday after the first Monday in
October 1859 on the second Monday of the said term" to give evidence on
behalf of the defendants George Lang, Hugh McLaurin and John Hoyt.
----------------
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang et al
O. O. Searcy is forfeit his $100 appearance bond for not appearing in court
for the cause and the court orders that the Sheriff of Caldwell County take
an appearance bond of $500. O. O. Searcy is ordered to appear at the next
term of Court in Caldwell county to testify on behalf of the State in the
said cause.
----------------
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang et al
George Lang is ordered to appear at the next term of court in Caldwell
County under $3000.00 appearance bond.
----------------
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang et al
Hugh McLaurin is ordered to appear at the next term of court in Caldwell
County under $2000.00 appearance bond.
----------------
May 1859
The State of Texas vs. George Lang et al
John Hoyt is ordered to appear at the next term of court in Caldwell County
under $2000.00 appearance bond.