Devil
John was not one to forgive and forget....
newspaper was the only source for people to learn
what was going on in their area and around the state.
It was the custom back then for out-of-town folks to drop by the
paper, when they came to town, and share a yarn or two with an
editor or reporter. Those stories usually found their way to the
printed page for all to read. Such
was the case when E.G. McCoy, of Blanco, came to Gonzales and had
a chat with the local editor. McCoy’s narrative of an event
involving his father was published in the Inquirer way back
in 1879. His father, John, was a pretty tough ol’ boy and had a
natural dislike for Indians. I think you will find by reading the
following article, that John McCoy wasn’t one to forgive and
forget. His
father John McCoy, called “Devil John” because of his bravery
and daring, lived near Concrete in DeWitt County. One of his
neighbors was killed and horribly mutilated. Suspicion rested upon
a tribe of friendly Lipan Indians in the neighborhood. Mr.
McCoy determined to ferret out the perpetrators, and laid his
plans accordingly. Coming to Gonzales one day he met one of the
shrewdest Indians of the tribe, furnished him an abundance of
“fire water,” and soon had him drunk. McCoy proposed to go to
the tribe and buy hides. Taking
the Indian up behind him on his horse he started for the old
Matthis ford, and when near the river mentioned that a mean, bad
white man had been killed. The Indian replied, “Yes, me help
kill him; me tomahawk and scalp him,” and proceeded to mock the
victim’s agonies of torture. This
was all McCoy wanted. “You helped kill him, did you?” asked
McCoy. “Yes, me scalp him,” said the Indian. “Well,” said
McCoy, “I’ll settle your hash.” Reaching around behind him
he seized the Indian and pulled him off the horse. The Indian had
a white bone-handled bowie knife in his leggings. This McCoy
seized and cut off a scalp lock from one side of the Indian’s
head, with a small portion of the skin adhering, and placed it in
his belt. He
then cut off a similar piece from the other side and placed it in
the Indian’s belt. This was fair division, and significant of
friendship. He then released the Indian. As the latter rose he
said to McCoy, “Me kill you and your family before three
moons.” Thereupon McCoy knocked him down and, running the point
of his knife under the skin just below the hair clear around the
Indian’s head, jerked his scalp off. Releasing
the Indian McCoy told him to run, telling him if he caught him
before he reached a certain clump of trees he would kill him. The
Indian fled. McCoy mounted his horse and pursued, but the Indian
distance him. News
of it got abroad, and McCoy was arrested and brought to trial. The
judge asked him if he had not admitted the deed, McCoy answered,
“Yes, but I now deny it, and you must prove it.” No proof
being produced he was discharged. He then said, “Judge, you
can’t try a man twice for the same offense can you?” Being
answered in the negative, he declared: “Well, judge, I did scalp
that Indian, but you failed to prove it.” Mr.
McCoy was half brother to Jesse McCoy, who was the only man who
went out and returned to the Alamo after it was besieged. He fell
in that siege. Mr.
E.G. McCoy is here looking after the McCoy estate.
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