George W. Jackson
Several of the shots were fatal, and John fell from the horse lifeless, his pistol falling by his side. As soon as George recovered from the anguish that followed, he came to town and surrendered himself to the custody of the legal authorities and will be tried to-day or to-morrow. There being no coroner in the county, Capt. Barlow, Justice of the Peace, acting as coroner, had a jury of inquest summoned and held an inquest over the body of John, and reported the facts as given above.
This is a terrible lesson to our young men on the bad habit of carrying pistols, and ought to warn them to abandon the practice altogether. Unfortunately, many of them consider the six shooter a necessary appendage on all occasions, when, in truth, nothing so much detracts from the respectability of a young man, as to be seen going about with a pistol belted around him. Here this habit has led two brothers into a deadly strife; one has slain the other, and no language can portray the anguish and utter despair of the survivor.
Brazoria.
Jackson Family Tragedy
George W. Jackson shot and killed his brother John C. Jackson on December 6, 1867. This article from the Galveston Daily News came out shortly thereafter on December 12, 1867. It is one of the more detailed accounts of what actually occurred that day. The article was transcribed as originally written in 1867.
Brother Kills Brother
Editors News: - Our county has just been the scene of a most unfortunate and terrible affair between two brothers, John C and George Jackson, sons of the late Maj. Abner Jackson. It seems that George and his half-brother, Lewis M. Strobel, were living together at the Lake Jackson Place, the late residence of Maj. Jackson which had been set apart by the county court as the family homestead. John was residing on one of the plantations belonging to his father's estate, near Sandy point. John became displeased with his brother George about some business matter, some several months ago and was in the habit of showing his displeasure towards him whenever they met; in fact they had had no friendly communication since their first falling out.
John C. Jackson
Day before yesterday, John came to the Lake Jackson Place and rode up to the back door of the house, where he met with Capt. Strobel and engaged in conversation, John being on his horse and Capt. Strobel sitting on the railing of the gallery. George, who had just returned from hunting with a double barrel gun and pistol, not knowing of his brother's arrival, entered the front door and passed through the hall to the back door, where John and Strobel were engaged in conversation. As soon as John discovered George he told him he wanted him to go to Brazoria the next day and settle that account. George asked him what account: when John told him it was for the $700 he, George, had stolen from him; to which George replied that he would do no such thing. John then remarked that he had it to do, and that if he gave him any impudence he would give him the whip, and that he had to go to town the next day and settle that matter, and to leave that place, or he would make him; that he did not intend any vagabond should stay on the place. George replied that he would like to see him whip him in his own house or make him leave it either. John remarked he would show him, and threw his hand behind him and began to draw his six shooter; and when he had it nearly or quite out of the holster, George fired upon him with both barrels of the gun, and also with his six shooter.
