I invite you to join me in thumbing an old scrap book of a most attractive young woman who was earning her living teaching the piano at Sherman, Texas, in the year of 1878. She was Miss Mabel Doss, my grandmother, later to become known from the Rio Grande to New York City as "The Cattle Queen of Texas".
Miss Mabel, in addition to being an accomplished musician, was a born entertainer. She had the knack of a general in managing a throng of pleasant company. The ease and grace with which she dispensed happiness all around her was an innate quality long to serve this future cattle-woman, as one would check a hat for the evening. Her personality captivated those about her. This partially accounts for the kindly feeling of respect and admiration that all Sherman society held for that young woman.
As I turn the fading yellow pages I find an article from the Sherman Daily Courier of Tuesday, August 13, 1878, and I start reading:
There was Fowler's Battery, the recently organized Sherman Hook and Ladder Company, Doll Joiner's Brass Band, and the celebrated Sam Houston Fire Company Number One. The muster rolls of these four organizations wrote the "Blue Book" of Sherman society in 1878.
Keeping in line with the rapid growth of that young North Texas railroad town, Sam Houston Fire Company Number One had recently ordered a new fire steam engine. It would be delivered in time to be on display during the Natal Day celebration. There was still, however, a matter of several hundred dollars yet to be subscribed on the engine.
With the endorsement of the other civic organizations, Sam Houston Fire Company Number One was sponsoring a popularity contest, which was not only designed to elect the Natal Day Queen, but had the ulterior motive of cancelling the debt against the modern new steam pumper at the rate of twenty-five cents per vote. Six of the most popular young ladies of Sherman had been selected as candidates for Queen: Misses Dixie Cooks, Belle Richards, Emma Goode, Mary Brown, Belle Light and Mabel Doss.
An early report on the voting gave Mabel Doss 88 votes, Dixie Cooke 30, Belle Richards 10, and five votes each to Emma Goode, Belle Light and Mary Brown. While the contest had two objectives, the citizens soon lost sight of the monetary angle and settled down in earnest to select a queen to reign over the city on the Fourth. Excitement, especially among the younger set, ran exceedingly high. With only two days left before the contest closed, the Sherman Daily Register reported Miss Mabel in the lead.
Some of Mabel's more zealous friends were talking sure victory and venturing suitable maids of honor to serve at her court. Something would not let Mabel assume such confidence, but inwardly she had a burning desire to be Queen—to ride on that beautifully decorated float with The Gate City Guards of nearby Denison marching as her guard of honor—to preside in all her majesty at the picnic grounds.
Just two hours before the Register went to press Mabel received a note . . . that she was leading the two runners up by well over one hundred votes and for the first time relaxed and accepted the congratulations of her friends. But when the paper hit the street, Mabel's friends were dumbfounded to learn that another young lady had been selected Queen by popular vote. The Register went on to say that as a result of the contest the balance due on the steam fire engine had been over subscribed and that two hundred and ten dollars of the amount had been paid in Mexican silver pesos.
Also, the column announcing the arrival and departures on the daily train reported the return of the father of the Queen-elect from a business trip in Mexico.
And the paper went further to announce: "Mr. E. T. Bannerton, one of our more popular young attorneys, has been favored with the pleasant honor of crowning the Queen of the Natal Day, on the Fourth, and delivering an appropriate address to Her Majesty on the occasion."
Mabel's loss of the contest through the last minute appearance on the scene of a certain bag of Mexican pesos had the effect of crystallizing her popularity in the hearts of her many Sherman friends. That evening Mabel's friends converged on her boarding house, the Continental Hotel, for the purpose of surprising her with a token of their high regard and friendship. A few friends who had been apprised of the affair, especially the ladies, gathered at the hotel a short time before, and were engaged in chatting pleasantly, when a large squad of the leading young business men suddenly made their appearance under the veranda, headed by Bellebaum's string band, and after discoursing some sweet music, entered the house to present an elegant gold watch and chain.
No sooner had they taken possession of the hospital premises of Mr. and Mrs. McKinney, than J. P. Dicks, of the Brinkley House, with another squad of citizens, headed by Doll Joiner's brass band, invaded the gallery, and treated Mabel Doss, the queen of the evening, and her happy guests to a rousing serenade, after which Mr. Dicks and party entered the premises and joined the happy throng.
The watch and chain, which are of pure gold and elegant and artistic in finish, costing one hundred and fifty dollars, was then presented by the chairman, Mr. Goodrich, with the following very neat speech:
In another part of town that evening a very pleasant party of young men, the enthusiastic admirers of the young lady who that afternoon had been selected to preside over the patriotic gathering during the ceremonies of the Fourth, were giving her a delightful serenade. Mr. E. T. Bannerton in behalf of the company of young men made a pleasant little speech announcing the victory. The Queen's father responded in behalf of his daughter in a short and happy speech. He accepted the honor modestly and thanked the young men for their warm expression of friendship.
Back at the Continental Mabel's company were giving themselves over to the pleasure of the hour. There were toasts, with appropriate responses by Major William Levy, Captain Peters, of the Daily Register, J. P. Dicks and Mr. Maguire of the Daily Courier. There was nothing artificial about the expressions of friendship that gained utterance in that large and happy company. Everything came from the heart, and Mabel could not but feel flattered by the generous sentiments that were so unsparingly lavished upon her. She moved among her company with an air of pleasant but humble modesty, which becomes one who is the recipient of merited applause from ardent friends.
There was feasting, and dancing, and wine, and "all went merry as a marriage-bell," until about one o'clock in the morning.
The following day Mr. Maguire reporting the party for the Daily Courier had this to say, "The writer knows whereof he speaks, and means all that there is in the language when he says that the young gentlemen have done themselves the honor of tendering this testimonial to the worth, the genius and accomplishments of Miss Mabel Doss."
Those who awoke early at Sherman on the morning of the Fourth felt their spirits go suddenly down as dark and threatening clouds met their first glimpse from the window. Fowler's Battery did noble service in ushering in the Natal Day. The angry clouds were answered in thunder tones from the field piece, echoing through every street and byway of Sherman, and sending a thrill of patriotism through every citizen.
Fortunately the clouds began clearing away about eight and people from the country started gathering in by the hundreds from every direction. The streets were thronged by nine o'clock. The plaza and business streets were so densely packed with carriages, wagons and horsemen, that locomotion was very difficult indeed. Flags were fluttering from the business houses and the whole scene presented one of lively and cheerful interest.
At ten o'clock the procession formed just below the engine house on South Travis Street headed by Doll Joiner's band. Then followed the queen's float, headed by her gaily and handsomely caparisoned Herald, R. A. Nesbit. The float was constructed in the form of a five-pointed star to represent the Lone Star State. It was beautifully decorated with evergreens and emblematic national colors and was drawn by four splendid black horses. Occupying an elevated position in the center rode the elegantly attired Queen, carrying herself with easy grace and dignity. The points of the star were occupied by Her Majesty's maids of honor, all charmingly arrayed and reflecting the smiling grace of their Queen with becoming dignity.
Following the Queen, the Gate City Guards of neighboring Denison, commanded by Lieutenant W. S. Lowe, served as guard of honor to the Queen and presented a splendid appearance in their snappy uniforms. Following the guard came the newly organized Sherman Hook and Ladder Company in their tasty uniforms, a splendid looking body of young men. Visiting firemen from Paris, Marshall and Denison came next. Then followed the handsome fire company, Sam Houston Number One, presenting a splendid spectacle in their clean blue uniforms. These were followed by the hose carts, and the magnificent new fire steamer of that company. Fowler's Battery followed, it would seem, as a guard of honor to the prize new piece of fire fighting equipment.
One of the handsomest features of the procession was the float of Messrs. Crenshaw and Jackson, agents for the St. John sewing machine. The float was gorgeously decorated with many colors, and was drawn by six gaily caparisoned horses. Under a canopy over the float, a handsomely decorated sewing machine stood in bold relief. A placard swinging over the machine saying, "I am King."
Following these were vehicles of every description filled with people, and swarms of citizens on horseback and on foot, forming a procession of several thousand souls. After marching through some of the principal streets, the procession took up a line of march to the picnic grounds.
Mabel's disappointment over being out maneuvered by a bag of Mexican pesos was somewhat cushioned by the timely arrival of a note from Colonel William H. Day revealing his plans to be in Sherman for the Fourth. Bill Day of Austin, without a doubt, was one of cattle kingdom's most eligible bachelors. During the winter of 1877 he had formed a warm attachment for Miss Doss while he was at neighboring Denison carrying out experiments with packing and icing down beef for shipment to the East in improvised railway refrigerator cars. He was a mature and handsome man, a graduate in engineering of Cumberland University, and a cattle operator whose range was anywhere a Texas longhorn ate grass from Texas into Canada. As a drover of eighteen years standing, Day was known as a quick trader. He thoroughly knew his business, which permitted speedy judgment and fast transactions. He could merely glance at a Texas steer and quickly judge its margin on the Kansas market. His excellent character, manner, and bearing, as well as his recognized knowledge of the trade instilled confidence in all with whom he dealt.
He had written from Austin that he would be in Sherman and true to his word he was on hand, as a note to Miss Mabel Doss dated Sherman, Texas, July 4, 1878 will testify;
The Queen and her Maids of Honor, visiting firemen, the military, the gun clubs, and the members of other organizations were conducted to a well laden table of substantials and luxuries prepared expressly for them by the Sam Houston Fire Company.
The leading feature of the afternoon was the shooting at glass balls by the Sherman and McKinney gun clubs for a handsome prize of a silver pitcher, waiter and two goblets. Over fifteen hundred people witnessed McKinney take the honors.
The Sherman Clippers walked away with the ball game. But the mud, caused by a very heavy shower during the late afternoon prevented the hose cart racing and a trial of the steam fire engine on the square.
In the evening there was a splendid display of fire works on the square, and a grand ball in the large upper rooms of the court house, which was participated in by several hundred people until the early hours of the morning.
Later that morning the Sherman Daily Register had this to say: "At the fireman's ball last night the event of the evening was the entrance of Miss Mabel Doss into the brightly lighted hall. A murmur ran through the room which soon grew into a rapturous outburst of applause in which everybody joined. Miss Doss was dressed in an elegant white satin, a la princess, with rose colored sash draped with elegant flowers."
And now, while the dashing, the chivalrous, the gifted E. T. Bannerton was winning his triumphs in the social and fashionable circles of Sherman, he was not making much headway as a lawyer. He was not much sought after by those having business in the courts. His receipts being consequently light, his manner of life and habits depleted rather suddenly his not over-plethoric purse. But by assumed familiarity with may of those who were regarded as the solid men of Sherman, he managed to make a favorable impression on some of the shop men, whom he victimized to a greater or less extent.
The brilliant career of this gallant of Sherman's fashionable society was destined to an early termination. For some days past suspicions had been whispered about that Bannerton might possibly be sailing under false colors and was not the model young man that fond mamas thought him to be.
Bannerton, learning from some source that he stood upon the threshold of exposure, hastily picked up his gripsack, and giving out that he would be out of town for a few days, boarded the ten-thirty eastern train. Scarcely had the train departed before it was pretty generally known throughout the city what a great imposter and scoundrel he was.
The following day the Daily Register, the Daily Courier and a correspondent for the Police Gazette went to work on Bannerton.
I quote from one of the local papers:
The impact of his career and exposure in Sherman is described by the editor:
Miss Mabel, in addition to being an accomplished musician, was a born entertainer. She had the knack of a general in managing a throng of pleasant company. The ease and grace with which she dispensed happiness all around her was an innate quality long to serve this future cattle-woman, as one would check a hat for the evening. Her personality captivated those about her. This partially accounts for the kindly feeling of respect and admiration that all Sherman society held for that young woman.
As I turn the fading yellow pages I find an article from the Sherman Daily Courier of Tuesday, August 13, 1878, and I start reading:
About three months ago, a young man some thirty-five years of age, who gave his name as E. T. Bannerton, and claimed to hail from the state of New York, made his appearance in Sherman, and after a few days spent looking around the city, expressed himself so well pleased with our young people that he should take up his permanent abode in our city. He accordingly hung out his shingle as an attorney at law, and being a gentleman of good personal appearance, considerable culture, and pleasing manners and address, he soon ingratiated himself into the favor and association of our best people.And while Bannerton was giving his attention to the readings from Shakespeare and his varied social endeavors, the several young men's organizations of Sherman were mapping plans for a big Fourth of July celebration.
Representing himself as unmarried, Bannerton soon became a bright and shining light among the young society people, and was especially popular with the young ladies of the city. Indeed, if reports be true, he had not been there two months before he had made propositions of marriage to two or three of the most accomplished and popular of the city belles.
Among his other pretentions, Bannerton assumed to be the possessor of considerable histrionic talent, and on two different occasions attempted with only passable success readings from Shakespeare at the Opera House. It is rumored that Mr. Bannerton came to Sherman to organize the Republican party, and marshall forces for a victorious contest in the near future.
Bannerton flourished, however. No gay party of young society people was complete without the presence of the charming, the fascinating, the irresistible young attorney.
There was Fowler's Battery, the recently organized Sherman Hook and Ladder Company, Doll Joiner's Brass Band, and the celebrated Sam Houston Fire Company Number One. The muster rolls of these four organizations wrote the "Blue Book" of Sherman society in 1878.
Keeping in line with the rapid growth of that young North Texas railroad town, Sam Houston Fire Company Number One had recently ordered a new fire steam engine. It would be delivered in time to be on display during the Natal Day celebration. There was still, however, a matter of several hundred dollars yet to be subscribed on the engine.
With the endorsement of the other civic organizations, Sam Houston Fire Company Number One was sponsoring a popularity contest, which was not only designed to elect the Natal Day Queen, but had the ulterior motive of cancelling the debt against the modern new steam pumper at the rate of twenty-five cents per vote. Six of the most popular young ladies of Sherman had been selected as candidates for Queen: Misses Dixie Cooks, Belle Richards, Emma Goode, Mary Brown, Belle Light and Mabel Doss.
An early report on the voting gave Mabel Doss 88 votes, Dixie Cooke 30, Belle Richards 10, and five votes each to Emma Goode, Belle Light and Mary Brown. While the contest had two objectives, the citizens soon lost sight of the monetary angle and settled down in earnest to select a queen to reign over the city on the Fourth. Excitement, especially among the younger set, ran exceedingly high. With only two days left before the contest closed, the Sherman Daily Register reported Miss Mabel in the lead.
Some of Mabel's more zealous friends were talking sure victory and venturing suitable maids of honor to serve at her court. Something would not let Mabel assume such confidence, but inwardly she had a burning desire to be Queen—to ride on that beautifully decorated float with The Gate City Guards of nearby Denison marching as her guard of honor—to preside in all her majesty at the picnic grounds.
Just two hours before the Register went to press Mabel received a note . . . that she was leading the two runners up by well over one hundred votes and for the first time relaxed and accepted the congratulations of her friends. But when the paper hit the street, Mabel's friends were dumbfounded to learn that another young lady had been selected Queen by popular vote. The Register went on to say that as a result of the contest the balance due on the steam fire engine had been over subscribed and that two hundred and ten dollars of the amount had been paid in Mexican silver pesos.
Also, the column announcing the arrival and departures on the daily train reported the return of the father of the Queen-elect from a business trip in Mexico.
And the paper went further to announce: "Mr. E. T. Bannerton, one of our more popular young attorneys, has been favored with the pleasant honor of crowning the Queen of the Natal Day, on the Fourth, and delivering an appropriate address to Her Majesty on the occasion."
Mabel's loss of the contest through the last minute appearance on the scene of a certain bag of Mexican pesos had the effect of crystallizing her popularity in the hearts of her many Sherman friends. That evening Mabel's friends converged on her boarding house, the Continental Hotel, for the purpose of surprising her with a token of their high regard and friendship. A few friends who had been apprised of the affair, especially the ladies, gathered at the hotel a short time before, and were engaged in chatting pleasantly, when a large squad of the leading young business men suddenly made their appearance under the veranda, headed by Bellebaum's string band, and after discoursing some sweet music, entered the house to present an elegant gold watch and chain.
No sooner had they taken possession of the hospital premises of Mr. and Mrs. McKinney, than J. P. Dicks, of the Brinkley House, with another squad of citizens, headed by Doll Joiner's brass band, invaded the gallery, and treated Mabel Doss, the queen of the evening, and her happy guests to a rousing serenade, after which Mr. Dicks and party entered the premises and joined the happy throng.
The watch and chain, which are of pure gold and elegant and artistic in finish, costing one hundred and fifty dollars, was then presented by the chairman, Mr. Goodrich, with the following very neat speech:
Miss Mabel—As a token of the high esteem in which you are held by all who know you, especially the friends in whose behalf I now speak, allow me to present this watch and chain.With a moist eye, Mabel responded in a plain, impressive and impromptu manner as follows.
They are of gold, which like the friendship of the givers, will never rust or corrode by age or neglect. Through years to come, may each click of the little wheels of the watch remind you that the mainspring of noble action is not money or its influence.
It is in the heart, Miss Mabel, that you are queen, and from the heart we honor you.
Accept this gift, therefore, as a pledge of our immutable admiration for you—as a free and kindly expression of the high regard for your queenly virtues and noble example to all women.
Mr. Goodrich and gentlemen—I accept this beautiful and valuable present with a heart full of thanks and gratitude. Surely I must attribute this presentation more to your kind and partial generosity than to any merit of my own; hence I do especially appreciate the friendship and regard which prompted this happy occasion and of which this (the watch) is a marked demonstration.While Mabel was not successful in winning the recent contest, she now had the satisfaction of knowing that the vote cast for her was of general character giving expression to a kindly feeling of respect and admiration for her. She was indeed queen in the hearts of her many Sherman friends.
This precious memento shall ever be kept with even greater fidelity than that with which the miser guards his gold. Although I may fail to express in proper language my gratitude, ever remember, gentlemen, that I sincerely wish each and every one of you, may be fully rewarded by the Dispenser of all Good.
In another part of town that evening a very pleasant party of young men, the enthusiastic admirers of the young lady who that afternoon had been selected to preside over the patriotic gathering during the ceremonies of the Fourth, were giving her a delightful serenade. Mr. E. T. Bannerton in behalf of the company of young men made a pleasant little speech announcing the victory. The Queen's father responded in behalf of his daughter in a short and happy speech. He accepted the honor modestly and thanked the young men for their warm expression of friendship.
Back at the Continental Mabel's company were giving themselves over to the pleasure of the hour. There were toasts, with appropriate responses by Major William Levy, Captain Peters, of the Daily Register, J. P. Dicks and Mr. Maguire of the Daily Courier. There was nothing artificial about the expressions of friendship that gained utterance in that large and happy company. Everything came from the heart, and Mabel could not but feel flattered by the generous sentiments that were so unsparingly lavished upon her. She moved among her company with an air of pleasant but humble modesty, which becomes one who is the recipient of merited applause from ardent friends.
There was feasting, and dancing, and wine, and "all went merry as a marriage-bell," until about one o'clock in the morning.
The following day Mr. Maguire reporting the party for the Daily Courier had this to say, "The writer knows whereof he speaks, and means all that there is in the language when he says that the young gentlemen have done themselves the honor of tendering this testimonial to the worth, the genius and accomplishments of Miss Mabel Doss."
Those who awoke early at Sherman on the morning of the Fourth felt their spirits go suddenly down as dark and threatening clouds met their first glimpse from the window. Fowler's Battery did noble service in ushering in the Natal Day. The angry clouds were answered in thunder tones from the field piece, echoing through every street and byway of Sherman, and sending a thrill of patriotism through every citizen.
Fortunately the clouds began clearing away about eight and people from the country started gathering in by the hundreds from every direction. The streets were thronged by nine o'clock. The plaza and business streets were so densely packed with carriages, wagons and horsemen, that locomotion was very difficult indeed. Flags were fluttering from the business houses and the whole scene presented one of lively and cheerful interest.
At ten o'clock the procession formed just below the engine house on South Travis Street headed by Doll Joiner's band. Then followed the queen's float, headed by her gaily and handsomely caparisoned Herald, R. A. Nesbit. The float was constructed in the form of a five-pointed star to represent the Lone Star State. It was beautifully decorated with evergreens and emblematic national colors and was drawn by four splendid black horses. Occupying an elevated position in the center rode the elegantly attired Queen, carrying herself with easy grace and dignity. The points of the star were occupied by Her Majesty's maids of honor, all charmingly arrayed and reflecting the smiling grace of their Queen with becoming dignity.
Following the Queen, the Gate City Guards of neighboring Denison, commanded by Lieutenant W. S. Lowe, served as guard of honor to the Queen and presented a splendid appearance in their snappy uniforms. Following the guard came the newly organized Sherman Hook and Ladder Company in their tasty uniforms, a splendid looking body of young men. Visiting firemen from Paris, Marshall and Denison came next. Then followed the handsome fire company, Sam Houston Number One, presenting a splendid spectacle in their clean blue uniforms. These were followed by the hose carts, and the magnificent new fire steamer of that company. Fowler's Battery followed, it would seem, as a guard of honor to the prize new piece of fire fighting equipment.
One of the handsomest features of the procession was the float of Messrs. Crenshaw and Jackson, agents for the St. John sewing machine. The float was gorgeously decorated with many colors, and was drawn by six gaily caparisoned horses. Under a canopy over the float, a handsomely decorated sewing machine stood in bold relief. A placard swinging over the machine saying, "I am King."
Following these were vehicles of every description filled with people, and swarms of citizens on horseback and on foot, forming a procession of several thousand souls. After marching through some of the principal streets, the procession took up a line of march to the picnic grounds.
Mabel's disappointment over being out maneuvered by a bag of Mexican pesos was somewhat cushioned by the timely arrival of a note from Colonel William H. Day revealing his plans to be in Sherman for the Fourth. Bill Day of Austin, without a doubt, was one of cattle kingdom's most eligible bachelors. During the winter of 1877 he had formed a warm attachment for Miss Doss while he was at neighboring Denison carrying out experiments with packing and icing down beef for shipment to the East in improvised railway refrigerator cars. He was a mature and handsome man, a graduate in engineering of Cumberland University, and a cattle operator whose range was anywhere a Texas longhorn ate grass from Texas into Canada. As a drover of eighteen years standing, Day was known as a quick trader. He thoroughly knew his business, which permitted speedy judgment and fast transactions. He could merely glance at a Texas steer and quickly judge its margin on the Kansas market. His excellent character, manner, and bearing, as well as his recognized knowledge of the trade instilled confidence in all with whom he dealt.
He had written from Austin that he would be in Sherman and true to his word he was on hand, as a note to Miss Mabel Doss dated Sherman, Texas, July 4, 1878 will testify;
When upon the occasion of the presentation of a gold watch and chain from her numerous friends, one who arrived too late to participate....Then the bachelor cattleman followed with a poem. This product of his pen would not likely win a prize, but it has the tone of ardor and sincerity. One verse reads:
Then why need you wish for a heaven to moveColonel Day and Miss Doss joined the happy throng marching on the picnic grounds to hear the long and flowery coronation speech of Mr. E. T. Bannerton, which was couched in the choicest language. After dwelling at length on our body politic and leaning heavily on Plato and his associate Greek philosophers, Bannerton extolled the heavenly virtues of all womanhood. Finally he turned to address the Queen as follows:
From its place in the skies above you,
While your heaven is here, a life of love,
Surrounded by those who love you.
And now, fair lady, recognizing these truths, and as a representative of the members of Sam Houston Fire Company of this city, as well as this other company of good citizens, before your noble court and in this public presence, I proclaim you Queen of these festivities. As some bright star of beauty, that rests upon the dark canopy of night, environed by a company of sister stars, making in all a constellation of beauty rare and bright, we hail thee and thy maids.The reply of Her Majesty after being crowned was worthy of the honor so worthily conferred on that popular young lady. Her father followed with a short, impromptu speech, after which dinner was announced. The great crowd of visitors and citizens retired to shady places to open their lunch baskets and satisfy the inner man.
The Queen and her Maids of Honor, visiting firemen, the military, the gun clubs, and the members of other organizations were conducted to a well laden table of substantials and luxuries prepared expressly for them by the Sam Houston Fire Company.
The leading feature of the afternoon was the shooting at glass balls by the Sherman and McKinney gun clubs for a handsome prize of a silver pitcher, waiter and two goblets. Over fifteen hundred people witnessed McKinney take the honors.
The Sherman Clippers walked away with the ball game. But the mud, caused by a very heavy shower during the late afternoon prevented the hose cart racing and a trial of the steam fire engine on the square.
In the evening there was a splendid display of fire works on the square, and a grand ball in the large upper rooms of the court house, which was participated in by several hundred people until the early hours of the morning.
Later that morning the Sherman Daily Register had this to say: "At the fireman's ball last night the event of the evening was the entrance of Miss Mabel Doss into the brightly lighted hall. A murmur ran through the room which soon grew into a rapturous outburst of applause in which everybody joined. Miss Doss was dressed in an elegant white satin, a la princess, with rose colored sash draped with elegant flowers."
And now, while the dashing, the chivalrous, the gifted E. T. Bannerton was winning his triumphs in the social and fashionable circles of Sherman, he was not making much headway as a lawyer. He was not much sought after by those having business in the courts. His receipts being consequently light, his manner of life and habits depleted rather suddenly his not over-plethoric purse. But by assumed familiarity with may of those who were regarded as the solid men of Sherman, he managed to make a favorable impression on some of the shop men, whom he victimized to a greater or less extent.
The brilliant career of this gallant of Sherman's fashionable society was destined to an early termination. For some days past suspicions had been whispered about that Bannerton might possibly be sailing under false colors and was not the model young man that fond mamas thought him to be.
Bannerton, learning from some source that he stood upon the threshold of exposure, hastily picked up his gripsack, and giving out that he would be out of town for a few days, boarded the ten-thirty eastern train. Scarcely had the train departed before it was pretty generally known throughout the city what a great imposter and scoundrel he was.
The following day the Daily Register, the Daily Courier and a correspondent for the Police Gazette went to work on Bannerton.
I quote from one of the local papers:
BEAUTIFUL BANNERTON BOUNCEDAfter he fled Peoria because of attempted forgery, the rascal almost married the daughter of a rich widow in San Francisco before her mother discovered his true character. His devious trail then led to Salt Lake City, where he preached in the Mormon tabernacle for a season, thence on to Virginia City, Montana, where his trail was lost until it was discovered in Sherman.
To Be or Not to Be; That is the Question.
He Didn't Know Whether He'd be Bannerton, Walton or Bonner!
The late high-toned Bannerton—E. T. Bannerton, Esq.—who came to Sherman with a great flourish of trumpets, proclaiming his determination to revolutionize society, reorganize the political elements, and knock the bottom out of the legal tub of Sherman, has left us never to return. He left suddenly. He stood not on the order of his going, but went, and went quickly!
It seems that this Bannerton, who has managed to ingratiate himself into some of Sherman's best society, and who has been made the pet by many who will be loath to own even a passing acquaintance with "the brilliant young lawyer," now, has a wife and child living at Xenia, Ohio.
Four years ago he married the daughter of Judge Barlow, a distinguished citizen of Xenia, Ohio, under, it is supposed, assumed name E. S. B. Walton. Shortly after, the slippery Walton deserted his wife and located in Wichita, Kansas, but did not remain there long. Shortly after his departure from Wichita, a letter was received there offering a reward of fifty dollars for his arrest, but for what cause we have not been able to learn. From Wichita he went to Peoria, Illinois, and there ingratiated himself into the good graces of leading citizens, who assisted him to a position in one of the banks, and afterwards helped him fit up an elegant law office, on the same order of the one he established here. He spread a full sail in society, and occupied the position of President of the Young Men's Christian Association. During his residence in Peoria he borrowed money from every friend who was kind enough to extend that courtesy.
The impact of his career and exposure in Sherman is described by the editor:
His exposure here falls like a clap of thunder upon a clear day upon the people who have befriended him, many of whom are left in the lurch to the tune of various snug little sums of money, clothing, board bills, etc.James T. Padgitt, West Texas Historical Association Year Book, October, 1954
A lady of this city, the wife of one of our leading business men, met our hero one evening in company, and thought she recognized him as the fellow who had married the daughter of Judge Barlow, who was a very intimate friend of hers, and a neighbor during her residence in Xenia, Ohio. Reflection over the matter, led to an investigation, and the result is before our readers.
A full history of this intriguing, oily villain up to the time of his location in Montana, accompanied by his photograph, was forwarded to the lady referred to, and her husband was quietly waiting for instructions how to proceed in the matter, when our breezy Walton, alias Major Bonner, alias E. T. Bannerton, received an inkling that some of his villainy has been discovered, and suddenly he had important business in Chicago.
The gay and festive Lothario left for the north on the 10:30 train this morning, promising however to return shortly. Meanwhile his "bosom friends" have levied on his effects, and in a few days there will be a sale of toilet articles, including several works on theology, Greek philosophy, and an elegant collection of Shakespeare.
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