TXWILSON-L Archives

From: "Sarah" <>
Subject: #12... Life & Times in Albuquerque, Texas
Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2005 16:48:47 -0500

It is possible that he was there in connection with a cotton worm destroyer
that he had invented, (59) but in view of the fact that he was the
self-styled sheriff of DeWitt County, the leader of a large vigilance
committee,(60) and a Sutton clansman it is likely that he was seeking
information. If so, he was probably in contact with State Policeman W. C.
Phillips, a resident of the town. (61) Helm evidently believed that he was
among friends, for on the morning of his death he was armed only with a
knife, his guns being at his quarters in Mrs. Martha McCracken's home.(62)

Although Helm and Taylor had never met prior to the fatal hour, "bad blood"
had been developing between them for over three years. In 1870 Helm was a
captain in Governor E. J. Davis' State Police. In this capacity he spread
terror throughout South Texas by staying constantly in the saddle "swinging
to and. fro over the country."(63) He established a reputation as being
reckless and indiscreet, ignorant of the law and the rights of citizens.(64)
In August of 1870 Henry and Will Kelly were murdered (65) while in the
custody of a state policeman, supposedly Helm. Though never indicted, Helm
was discharged from the infamous organization.

The Kelly brothers were sons-in-law of Pipkin Taylor, who was the father of
Jim Taylor, a great-nephew of General Zachary Taylor, and a younger brother
of Creed Taylor, famous Indian fighter and veteran of the Texas Revolution.
Pipkin Taylor vehemently sought justice for the unprovoked slayings.

****
(59) A copy of Patent No. 139,062, dated May 20, 1875 (application filed on
November 16, 1872, from the United States Patent Office for Jack Helm, of
Hochheim, Texas, in the Archives, University of Texas Library) describes the
invention as "a new machine for removing the destructive cotton-worms from
the cotton plants without injury to the plants, and for destroying the
worms" and consisting of "a movable frame, which is by animals drawn over
the fields to straddle the rows of cotton, and which is provided with
brushes for sweeping the worms from the plants, and with jointed bottom
pieces or slides, which crush them on the ground."
(60) Letter from C. L. Patterson, January 15, 1950 (MS. in the Archives,.
University of Texas Library).
(61) State Police Roster, on file in the Texas State Archives.
(62) Signed statement of Hans Pattillo, September I, 1950 (MS. in the
Archives, University of Texas Library).
(63) W. P. Webb, The Texas Rangers (New York, 1955), 222.
(64) Ibid.
(65) This account of feud activity is summarized from Jack Hays Day,
TheSutton-'Iaylor Feud [San Antonio, 1937].

This thread:

• #12... Life & Times in Albuquerque, Texas by "Sarah" <>