John Bostwick DANIEL, 18631897 (aged 33 years)

Name
John Bostwick /DANIEL/
Given names
John Bostwick
Surname
DANIEL
Birth
November 21, 1863
Honoraville, Butler, Alabama, USA
Latitude: 31.85209 Longitude: -86.401177
Occupation
Note: Printer, Newspaperman
Birth of a brother
Citation details: death of Jackson Gordon Daniel, certificate 4603
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: January 24, 2009
Marriage
January 8, 1888 (aged 24 years)
Comanche County, Texas, USA
Latitude: 31.8974 Longitude: -98.603302
Citation details: Vol. 1, p. 54
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: November 11, 2005
Birth of a daughter
July 27, 1890
Texas, USA
Latitude: 31.436748 Longitude: -99.306955
Quality of data: primary evidence
Text:

obtained by James Daniel from the internet (e-mail).

Birth of a son
March 1894
Texas, USA
Latitude: 31.436748 Longitude: -99.306955
Death
July 24, 1897 (aged 33 years)
Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA
Latitude: 31.549167 Longitude: -97.146389
Burial
July 26, 1897 (2 days after death)
Oakwood Cemetery, Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA
Latitude: 31.549167 Longitude: -97.146389
Religion
Note: Bible Students
Family with parents
father
John Adams Daniel
18251913
Birth: October 8, 1825Butler County, Alabama, USA
Death: October 15, 1913Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA
mother
Amanda Kirkpatrick Daniel
18241904
Birth: September 29, 1824Greenville, Butler, Alabama, USA
Death: February 21, 1904Dublin, Erath, Texas, USA
Marriage MarriageNovember 13, 1846near Sandy Ridge, Lowndes, Alabama, USA
18 months
elder sister
Robina Salome and Sarah Victoria Daniel
18481873
Birth: May 17, 1848Honoraville, Butler, Alabama, USA
Death: November 19, 1873Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, USA
15 months
elder sister
Robina Salome Daniel
18491876
Birth: August 5, 1849Honoraville, Butler, Alabama, USA
Death: December 7, 1876Gonzalez, Escambia, Florida, USA
2 years
elder sister
18511947
Birth: July 28, 1851Honoraville, Butler, Alabama, USA
Death: June 27, 1947Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
18 months
elder brother
James Kirkpatrick Daniel
18531920
Birth: January 27, 1853Honoraville, Crenshaw, Alabama, USA
Death: about 1920
2 years
elder brother
18551920
Birth: March 24, 1855Honoraville, Crenshaw, Alabama, USA
Death: August 24, 19202425 McFerrin Ave., Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA
5 years
elder brother
18591936
Birth: August 27, 1859Honoraville, Crenshaw, Alabama, USA
Death: May 30, 1936Case County, Texas, USA
17 months
elder sister
18611920
Birth: January 25, 1861Butler County, Alabama, USA
Death: after 1920Goose Creek, Texas, USA
3 years
himself
18631897
Birth: November 21, 1863Honoraville, Butler, Alabama, USA
Death: July 24, 1897Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA
17 months
younger brother
18651943
Birth: April 15, 1865Honoraville, Butler, Alabama, USA
Death: January 22, 1943Glen Rose, Somervell, Texas, USA
Family with Ora LOGAN
himself
18631897
Birth: November 21, 1863Honoraville, Butler, Alabama, USA
Death: July 24, 1897Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA
wife
18631940
Birth: May 24, 1863Comanche County, Texas, USA
Death: April 5, 1940Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA
Marriage MarriageJanuary 8, 1888Comanche County, Texas, USA
3 years
daughter
18901971
Birth: July 27, 1890Texas, USA
Death: April 8, 1971
4 years
son
Marriage
Citation details: Vol. 1, p. 54
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: November 11, 2005
Shared note
Citation details: Killed in His Yard, 25 Jul 1897, Provider: NewsBank/Readex, Database: America's Historical Newspapers, SQN: 10728730752AD700, page 1, col. 5-6, ©2003, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 7, 2012
Citation details: "To Drop Minor Matters - The Daniel Homicide," 11 Aug 1897, page 6, column 5, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012
Citation details: "The Closed Door Inquest," 28 Jul 1897, p. 6, column 4, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012
Citation details: "The Geyser City Grist - The Daniel Homicide," 4 Aug 1897, page 4, col. 5, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012
Citation details: "Negro Charged With Murder," 29 May 1900, p. 5, col. 4, Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012
Citation details: "Johnson Was Acquitted," p. 14, col. 6, Dallas Morning New, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012
Occupation

Printer, Newspaperman

Religion

Bible Students

Shared note

He published "The Dublin Rustler" newspaper, Erath Co, TX. with his brother W. T. T. Daniel in 1886. He was the editor of the Waco Weekly Reporter apparently at the time of this death. (Waco City Directory, 1896-97, Daniel, John B., Editor and Pro pr Waco Weekly Reporter, office 420 Franklin r. 1301 S. 11th.)

He was killed in his home. Two weeks before his death he took out a Life Insurance Policy for $3000. The widow couldn't collect because the Company thought it was suicide. His remains were exhumed in March 1901 looking for evidence.

The "Dallas Morning News" provides a description of the events on a front page article from 25 Jul 1897. John resided at Twentieth and Maple Streets among a group of houses in a rural area near the northern limits of Waco. He and his wife heard a noise in the kitchen and went to investigate. They saw someone jump through the kitchen window. John followed him outside, taking a gun with him. There were two buildings in back of the house. One was an outhouse, and next to it was a wood shed. There was a board walk that went from the house, between the buildings (there was about 3 feet between them), and to the alley. John was between the buildings and in front of a door leading to the wood shed when there was a shot and a man appeared. The shot pierced John's heart, but John managed to get off a shot before he died. That shot missed the target, though, lodging in the wall of the wood shed. The assailant fled through the shed, and left through a door that entered the alley. In the shed they found a quilt and several articles of clothing. A black mask was found outside as if dropped by the escaping man. All these things indicated that the perpetrator had been in the shed lying in wait for his victim. There was ash on John's chest and chin, and burns on his clothing which indicated that he had been shot at close range. John clung to his gun in death, and it was taken into the house with the body. Another six shooter was found near the wood shed. A year before John Daniel had sold his newspaper business, and he had turned to selling insurance. At the time of his death, he had $15,000 worth of insurance in the companies that he represented. Bloodhounds were used to track the killer. The first group returned after loosing the trail in the sunflowers, and they then sent one hound who had a better nose on the trail. There were footprints from the house to the shed, and through the grass and alley. The dog followed the scent for a mile, then turned back to the original neighborhood. John B. Daniel was a labor leader, according to the article. Newspaper men were to help with the funeral where they would assist the Maccabees and other fraternal orders of which he was a member.

On the 11 Aug 1897 the "Dallas Morning News" contained another article about the case. That article said that a John Daniel had priced the gun used in his death. The day before his death, a black boy asked to buy the same gun that was priced by Mr. Daniel. That even combined with the large amount of insurance ($20,000) carried by John Daniel caused many to wonder if he had committed suicide.

There was a partially closed door inquest at which information emerged that indicated the possibility of suicide. On Thursday prior to the death, John B. Daniel had looked at a gun, but not purchased it since he did not have the money with him. The next day, a black man said he wanted to buy a pistol that a man had priced at $1.25 the previous day. The sales lady sold him the gun. That same Friday, around 8 PM, Mr. Daniel asked to look at a piece of black calico cloth. The mask found at the scene was made of black calico. Justice Earle entered in the docket: "John B. Daniel died July 24, 1897, from a bullet wound, but whether from his own hand or the hand of another person, in to me unknown."

In 1900, following the exhumation of the body to obtain evidence regarding the bullet, the Sheriff arrested a black man in Houston who was named Robert Johnson for the murder of Daniel. In April 1901, Johnson was acquitted.

Bill from "Fal & Puckett" July 24: casket $45., Hearse $10.; 3 cariages $9.; pallbearer gloves $1.50; shroud $18.; decorating grave $3.; Embalming $25.; digging grave $5.; clearing lot $1.; shaving of deceased $5.00.
Signed J. A. Richard. (Oakwood Cemetery) His brother Bruce Boneau Daniel arranged the funeral for his widow.

Waco Weekly Tribune
Sat 31 Jul 1897. John B. Daniel was killed at his home, 13th & Maple 24 Jul 1897, age 34.
Waco Times Herald
Friday 29 Mar 1901. Remains of J. B. Daniel, who died July of 1897 in College Heights, were exhumed yesterday to get evidence in the killing.
Index to Probate Minutes, Vol. 1, 1850-1918, McLennan Co., TX: 2141 John B. Daniel Burial by Fall & Pucket, 24 Jul 1897.
Casket $45.00, Hearse $10.00, 3 Carriages $9.00, Pallbearers Gloves $1.50, Shroud $18.00, Decorating Grave $3.00, Embalming $25.00. Total $111.50, Paid $25.00, Balance $86.50.
Oakwood Cemetery
Digging Grave $5.00, Clearing of lot $1.00, Total $6.00.
31 Jul 1897 paid by cash $6.00
Waco TX, 26 Aug 1897
Received of Mrs. J. B. Daniel Five Dollars for Shaving J. B. Daniel deceased. J. A. Richard.
James Daniel provided the following census information:
1900 Census Precinct #1 McLennan Co., TX Roll T623-1656 Dist. 9-67 Sheet 1b Family 18-18.
Daniel ,Ora 37 Wd TX LA LA 2, 2
Mamie 9 TX FL TX
Claude L. 6 TX FL TX
1910 Census Waco McLennan Co., TX Roll T624-1575 Dist. 11-92 Sheet 12a Family 207-212
Daniel, Ora 46 Wd TX SC LA
Mamie 19 S TX AL TX
Claude 16 S TX AL TX
1920 Census Waco McLennan Co., TX Roll T625-1831 Dist. 7-126 Sheet 8a Family 159-162
Daniel, Ora 56 Wd TX AL LA
Mamie 29 TX AL TX
Claude L. 25 TX AL TX

Citation details: Killed in His Yard, 25 Jul 1897, Provider: NewsBank/Readex, Database: America's Historical Newspapers, SQN: 10728730752AD700, page 1, col. 5-6, ©2003, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 7, 2012
Citation details: "To Drop Minor Matters - The Daniel Homicide," 11 Aug 1897, page 6, column 5, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012
Citation details: "The Closed Door Inquest," 28 Jul 1897, p. 6, column 4, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012
Citation details: "The Geyser City Grist - The Daniel Homicide," 4 Aug 1897, page 4, col. 5, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012
Citation details: "Negro Charged With Murder," 29 May 1900, p. 5, col. 4, Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012
Citation details: "Johnson Was Acquitted," p. 14, col. 6, Dallas Morning New, Dallas, Texas
Quality of data: primary evidence
Date: February 8, 2012