Standard [Clarksville, TX], June 30, 1860
During District Court at Bonham, a little son of Alfred E. Pace, about six years of age, was missing one day, and for several hours some enquiry was made for him, without much anxiety, as he was in the habit of roving about freely. As night came on, however, alarm came with it, and search was continued unsuccessfully. At daylight next morning, his father took his horse and pushed out to search, and a large body of men took Bois d’Arc bottom in line, to let no foot of ground pass unnoticed. Others were out singly. About eight o’clock in the morning, the body of the missing boy was found in the Creek not far from his father’s residence, without much indication of violence. It was in water only a few inches deep. Suspicion was fastened upon a negro woman belonging to Mr. Pace, with whom the child went to the cowpen in the morning before. She was confined and questioned, but not threatened. After awhile questions based upon her movements led her to conclude that her guilt had been discovered, and she acknowledged that she strangled the boy, and threw him into the water, a few yards above where he was found; and that the motive for her conduct was that some statement made by the boy to his mother, a few days before, had caused the negro’s own boy to be whipped.
After consultation among the citizens, a Jury of Inquest was held, evidence received, conclusively making out a case of murder, and the woman was hanged. The grief of the Parents may be imagined. The little boy was their only son—a pet; and the mother in delicate health.