George McFarland Sanders

GARLAND NEWS, Dallas Co., TX  V. XXXVI, No. 36, page 1. Dec 8, 1922.

About nine o'clock Saturday night, George M. Sanders was shot and killed in the doorway of the domino room East of the square by H.C. Brite.  Four shots were fired, all taking effect, one in the side, one through the stomach, one in the chest and one in the head.  Death was almost instantaneous, two of the shots at least being fatal.  Brite immediately left for Dallas with Asa McCallum, Special Deputy Sherriff, and gave up to Sherriff Harston, under whom he held a commission.

Complaint was filed against him Sunday in Justice Alexander's court in Dallas, and waiving examination, his bond was set at $10,000, which he made, and returned home Sunday evening.

Bad feeling had existed between the two for several weeks according to reports and the fatal shot was the culmination of this condition.

In a statement to the Dallas News reporter, Brite gave the following quote:

"I tried to keep out of the trouble," declared Mr. Brite.  "For more than an hour prior to the time of the shooting Sanders followed me about Garland and made statements that he was after me.  I was working with street tax receipts and was required to go to different parts of twon.  At one time he passed me and remarked that it was a good thing I got off the street to let him pass.

"After he followed me through the negro district and back into the public square, he started into the domino parlor.  I turned back to speak to a negro I wanted to see and as I did so, Sanders stepped out of the place and started toward me.

"When I fired the first shot he was almost on me; then we grappled and as he tried to strike me with a club I fired three more times," Mr. Brite said.

"It was a tragic event and I regret it deeply, but I could do nothing else."

The domino hall was full of people at the time of the shooting and there were a number of witnesses on the outside.  These say Brite walked up the sidewalk from the East five or six feet ahead of Sanders, past the domino hall.  Sanders stepped into the front door and made some remark, whereupon Brite, who had passed on ten or fifteen feet, turned and pulled his pistol and walked back and began shooting.  There was a scuffle after the shooting before Sanders expired, according to witnesses.

One of the shots struck George Hughes in the fleshy part of the leg below the knee, inflicting a slight wound.  None of the other people in the building were hit, fortunately, which is remarkable, as the shooting was into the building.

Following closely on the suicide of Bill Brown that afternoon, the shooting intensified the excitement in town.  The town was full of people, and large crowds gathered to discuss the deplorable affair, but no other undue commotion resulted.  The people seemed to be more shocked than anything else.

Funeral services for the deceased were held at the family burial ground in the Lions Cemetery below Rose Hill Monday afternoon, a large crowd of people being present.  Mr. Sanders was raised in that community and lived there up to the time of coming to Garland a few years ago.  Practically everybody in the Rose Hill and New Hope communities attended the funeral, deceased having been one of the best known and most popular citizens there during his earlier life.  He had been Deputy Sheriff and Constable of this precinct several terms.  Prior to that he farmed and followed the stock business, and had a wide acquaintance.

Rev. W.J. Bryant assisted by Rev. J.A. Carraway conducted the funeral services.  There were many floral offerings and the large crowd testified to the many friends he made during his life.  He was born near Barnes Bridge, Dec. 16, 1861, and was married to Miss Mary Etta Durrett Oct. 15, 1885.  To this union were born 13 children, 10 of whom are now living as follows.  Walter of New Hope, Ed of Oklahoma, Mrs. Ellen Moran of Shiloh, Mrs. Sudie Duckworth of New Hope, Jack, Harvey, Ben and Claude and Misses Maude and Ethel, who live at home.

John, a brother who lives at Corsicana, with his four sons, Jewell, Raymond and Jaspar of Wortham, and Harrison of Corsicana, Mrs. Leland Sanders and daughter Miss Zillian of Walnut Springs, a sister, Mrs. O.H. Wilson of Goodnight, Cleve Currett and Mrs. Connie Dodson of Whitesboro, brother and sister of Mrs. Sanders, Tom Wilson of Rice, and Charles Wilson and wife of Justin, nephews, and George Wilkerson and wife of Justin were some of the out of town people attending the funeral.

The family of deceased have the deepest sympathy of the community in their sorrows.
 

Another article about the shooting:

DALLAS MORNING NEWS , Dallas, TX, Dec. 3, 1922 Part 1, Page 1

SURRENDERS AFTER GARLAND KILLING
DEPUTY SHERIFF BRITE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING SHOOTING OF GEORGE SANDERS

George Sanders, about 35 years old, formerly a Constable at Garland, Dallas County, was shot twice and almost instantly killed about 8 o'clock Saturday night in Garland.

Hilliard C. Brite, Special Deputy Sheriff at Garland, surrendered.

During the shooting, George Hughes, a teamster, who was in the rear of a domino parlor at the time, was struck in the left leg by a stray bullet.

Mr. Brite telephoned to Dallas and reported the shooting to Sheriff Dan Harston, saying that he would start immediatly for Dallas and give himself up.

Ed Cloud, City Marshal at Garland, telephoned to Sheriff Harston that there was evidence of further trouble and Deputy Sheriffs Dave Bradshaw, H.A. Hood and Allen Seale were sent there from Dallas.  At midnight they reported Garland was quiet.

On arriving in Dallas Mr. Brite talked freely with officers and gave his version of the affair.  He claimed self-defense.

Says Tried to avoid Trouble.

"I tried to keep out of the trouble," declared Mr. Brite.  "For more than an hour prior to the time of the shooting, Sanders followed me about Garland, and made statements that he was after me.  I was working with street tax receipts and was required to go to different parts of town.  At one time he passed me and remarked that it was a good thing I got off the street to let him pass.

"After he had followed me through the negro district and back into the public square, he started into the domino parlor.  I turned back to speak to a negro I wanted to see and as I did so Sanders stepped out of the place and started toward me.

"When I fired the first shot he was almost on me; then we grappled and as he tried to strike me with a club I fired three more times," Mr. Brite said.

"It was a tragic event and I regret it deeply, but I could do nothing else."

Mr. Brite was placed in the county jail.

Wife and Eleven Children

Mr. Sanders is survived by his wife and eleven children, six sons and five daughters.

Mr. Brite is married and has two daughters.  The family resides in Garland.  During the war he served in the navy and was stationed for several months at Mare Island, Cal.  He had been on duty, as special deputy, at Garland for two months.

"I deplore the shooting," said Sheriff Harston.  "The people of Garland demanded a special deputy for better law inforcement, which was the reason for Mr. Brite being appointed."