The Sutton-Taylor Feud: The Deadliest Blood Feud in Texas

4. The State Police—“Murder Most Foul”

77 chapter four The State Police— “Murder Most Foul” “E. J. Davis is responsible before God and man for the murder, by Jack Helm’s party, of Henry and William Kelly. He cannot escape this responsibility, because he knew the character of Helm and his gang when he commissioned them to do this murder most foul.” —A. H. Longley, Editor, Weekly Austin Republican, November 9, 1870 S pecial Officer C. S. Bell sought out Helm knowing his special abilities in dealing with so-called desperadoes. In late April 1869 Bell left Austin in pursuit of an escaped convict, James W. Weaver. He first proceeded to the plantation of Helm’s father-in-law, named Crawford, some “twenty miles south of Gonzales” near the DeWitt and Gonzales county line, where he “secured the assistance of Jack Helm,” a noted “scout andguide.”BellandHelmgatheredthreeothermenand“immediately commenced trailing for Weaver.” The quintet scouted through Bastrop and Caldwell counties before ascertaining that his probable whereabouts were farther west in Gillespie County. Bell reported in great detail his actions to Captain C. E. Morse of the 5th Military District. At one point the pursuit led to the Blanco River in Hays County where Weaver was believed to be only a few hours ahead. Bell, however, failed to capture Weaver, but he learned Helm was a good man to have assisting him. 78 The Sutton-Taylor Feud “Mr. Helm,” he wrote, “acts as my guide, is perfectly familliar [sic] with places and men from the Rio Grande to Red River. He is invaluable as a scout, and is personally a man of great bravery.” Bell was not through with his praises, as he informed Captain Morse that Judge Wesley B. Ogden, of the 10th Judicial District, “endorses him highly, as he has done more to arrest and bring to trial thieves and murderers, than any single man in Texas.” As deputy sheriff of Lavaca County in 1868, Helm “to my knowledge has done much for the suppression of crime.” Bell was aware of the possible connection between Weaver and the Taylor clan because, as he later informed Morse, Weaver frequentlyusedthealiasofJimTaylor .InconclusionBellrequested a list of the worst criminals, “from the official list of ‘Persons evading justice.’” Bell, a man extremely confident in his abilities as a man-hunter, further wrote that “in our moving about, I frequently meet and could arrest [wanted fugitives] without extra expense or duty.” In spite of Bell’s supreme confidence, he had to admit he could use some good help. He recommended that his assistant, Jack Helm, be allowed a regular salary, as “I find it difficult to cope with Texas criminals single handed, as they invariably travel in company, and if I apply for a detail of cavalry , escape before I can reach them.”1 Helm quickly became as notorious as Charles S. Bell in covering South Texas searching for alleged desperadoes. In July 1869 there was “some excitement about Yorktown” when Helm made his appearance with a squad of picked men. He summoned a large number of citizens but this time the only result was confusion and tired horses. Nothing “was undertaken, or at least accomplished against the parties whom the people imagined Helm was after.” Helm later learned the parties he was looking for had already left the area. Helm then headed for Goliad. “Subscriber,” who wrote of these events in DeWitt County, did report that five or six men were “Suddenly taken off” but, with tongue in cheek perhaps, “by whom, this deponent knoweth The State Police—“Murder Most Foul” 79 not, nor does he know what particular ailment they had.” Helm and his posse may have tracked down these men and killed thembutunfortunatelynonameswererecorded.AllSubscriber knew is that those men who “came to a sudden end” were said to “have borne unenviable characters.”2 The attack on the Choate Ranch and the killing of several men in DeWitt County resulted in Helm, Bell, and their Regulators becoming notorious. Some believed the Choates, if not actually thieves, did in fact harbor thieves.3 Although the latest killings may have been justified in the eyes of their superiors , many citizens considered the pair of Helm and Bell no different from leaders of a murderous mob. Although some considered Helm no different from outlaw Ben Bickerstaff, some praised him. The editors of the Daily Austin Republican made frequent mention of the activities of the Regulators, identifying “the bands of lawless...