John Bryce discovered the identity of the two slain cowboys by following up on the only clues he had available to him. Witnesses had heard the two men address each other as Billy and Jeff, and in Billy’s pocket there had been a receipt for a saddle purchased from Dockum’s Ranch in Crosby County, Texas. An exchange of telegrams had established the identity of the two men, along with a request to please give the two men a Christian burial. John wrote about it in the next issue of the
COWBOYS FROM CROSBY COUNTY,TEXAS
The two young men murdered in the street three days previous, have now been identified as Billy Gilbert, age 23, and Jeff Hodges, age 20. Strangers to our town, for the last three years they have been riders for Merlin Dockum, owner of Dockum’s Ranch in Northwest Texas. “They are as fine a couple of young men as I have ever had ride for me,” Mr. Dockum told this newspaper in an exchange of telegrams. He also asked that Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Hodges be given Christian burials, and I replied that the good people of Pueblo would do just that.
I am now calling upon the citizens of Pueblo to make a donation to a fund that will pay any expenses as may be incurred by providing a decent burial for these two fine young men. It is the least we can do now, for we all bear some guilt of their murder, if not by commission, then by omission. We have allowed the psychopath, Ollie Butrum, to live among us with neither question nor challenge.
John and Millie stood in the pastor’s study of the Good Hope Baptist Church. As it happened, the Reverend Bertis Landers was Millie’s father, and he was about to conduct the funeral for Billy Gilbert and Jeff Hodges. Mrs. Rittenhouse, the organist, was playing a funeral dirge as citizens of the town filed by the coffins. The plain pine coffins were now sitting on sawhorses at the front of the nave. They were open for viewing and the two cowboys, cleaned up by the undertaker Tom Lisenby, were wearing suits that neither of them had ever seen in their lifetime.
“John, itwas very good of you to find out who these two young men were, and to write an article that would pay for the funeral,” Reverend Landers said.
“It was good of you to agree to conduct a funeral for someone you didn’t even know,” John replied.
“They are children of God,” Landers replied. “That’s all I need to know.”
Recognizing that the music was nearly completed, Landers nodded at his daughter and son-in-law, and they left the pastor’s study to take a seat in the congregation. Shortly after they were seated, Landers stepped up behind the pulpit.
The church was completely full, and Landers glanced out at them, silent for a long moment. Then he began to speak.
“These two young men, Billy Gilbert and Jeffrey Hodges, are a long way from their homes, and some may lament that they are away from their families as well. But I say no, they are not away from their families. We are all brothers and sisters in the sight of God, and no more is that evident than here, today, when so many of you have come here to share the love and brotherhood we feel for these two young men.”
After the church service, the two coffins were carried out to the cemetery, one stacked on top of the other inside the hearse. At least half of those who had come to the funeral service in the church went out to the cemetery for the interment, and John was surprised to see that Denbigh had come into town as well. He told him so when he greeted him.
“I have not only come to town, Mr. Bryce. I have also made a donation to the Reverend Landers, equal to the amount of money the town raised for the funeral. I told him to use the donated money for the church.”
“Surprisingly decent of you,” John said.
“I am glad you appreciate my effort,” Denbigh replied. “I just wish you would be somewhat more circumspect in the provocative articles you write.”
“Sometimes the truth is provocative,” John said.
“Oh, but I beg to differ with you, sir,” Denbigh said. “You have falsely accused one of my employees of murder.”
“It
“All who witnessed the shooting testified to the contrary. They all say that the two cowboys drew their guns first.”
“They also say that Butrum goaded the young men into drawing.”
“You can’t kill someone just by goading them,” Denbigh said. “No, sir, it is quite clear. Mr. Butrum did not draw until he was forced to do so to defend himself.”
“You can say what you want, I’ll say what I want,” John said.
“Yes, but the only difference is, when you talk, you do so in your newspaper, and that gives you a distinct advantage over everyone else.”
“I am speaking for everyone else, Mr. Denbigh. My newspaper is the voice of the people.”
“A word of advice, Mr. Bryce. Use some caution in exercising that voice, or I fear you may lose it. Next time one of your irate readers takes umbrage with one of your inflammatory articles, he may do more than just a little vandalism.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Not a threat, just a little friendly, but cautionary, advice.”
“I will not be shut down, sir, do you hear me? As long as there is breath in my body, I will fight for the people of this town, and against you,” John said.
Denbigh applauded lightly. “How very noble of you, Mr. Bryce. Now, if you will excuse me, I must return to my ranch.”
John watched Denbigh walk back to his coach, where a liveried footman held the door open for him.
