[Marshall] Texas Republican, August 25, 1860
A gentleman from Little Elm in Denton county, on Saturday last informed us that the citizens of Denton are as much excited as elsewhere in the State. A negro had been arrested in that county, in whose possession 24 bottles of Strychnine were found. Our informant further says that a man calling himself W. M. Courtney, was arrested in that county, but upon examination he turned out to be a desperado named Black, who had killed a man in Houston, one in Grimes, one in Bell county, besides three other men in the State. He was taken back to Bell county, where he was killed by some of the citizens of that county.—Quitman Herald of the 15th inst.