"Gatesy" Gates - Arrested for murder

Edmon Jackson “Gatesy” Gates 

1864 – 1913

Gatesy was one of the Gates boys from Gates Valley, Texas. The Gates families were Atascosa County pioneers. Gatesy’s family migrated to Atascosa in 1854 from Natchitoches, Louisiana.  They settled in a pretty valley near the present day town of Poteet. Gatesy’s father William Norwood ”Billy” Gates claimed 160 acres along Palo Alto creek.  According to an unsubstantiated story, Billy had first seen the land while serving as a scout for Gen. Zachary Taylor’s army during the Mexican American War (1846-1848).

Within a short time, Gatesy’s Uncle Abner Valentine Gates and his family joined them in Atascosa County. Abner had stayed behind in Natchitoches to settle the estate of Gatesy’s grandfather John Valentine Gates.  Abner and his family settled nearby and soon the area was called Gates Valley. The brothers were known for their long horn cattle and fine quarter horses. 

Gatesy was the eleventh of twelve children and the youngest son born to Elizabeth Jane Stacy and William Norwood Gates. He was born in Atascosa County, Texas on February 23, 1864.  In the family bible his name is listed as Edmund J., but the name on his tombstone is Edmon J.  His family called him Gatesy (Gatesie).

Although Gatesy was born during the Civil War, he would have no memory of the war as it was over while he was still a toddler. Some of his relatives fought during the war, including his Uncle Abner. Like most Texas men, they served with the Texas Cavalry. He probably had no memories of his father serving as the county sheriff during reconstruction.

Like his brothers and cousins, Gatesy was “raised in the saddle” and learned to ride horses and rope cattle just as soon as his short legs would reach the stirrups.  He learned cattle ranching from his father and brothers while working on his father’s ranch in Atascosa County. It was a rough and tumble life. When Gatesy was 16, he was laid up for a time after being kicked by a horse (1880 census). Early Texas was plagued with Indian attacks. In 1861 a Comanche raid in nearby Pleasanton killed two people, wounded 2 and captured one. Gatesy was taught to shoot while he was quite young.

His father Billy ensured his family would be educated. He donated land for the first school in Gates Valley and for a Baptist church. According to the 1870 Census for Mottomosa Post Office, Atascosa County, Gatesy started school sometime before his 7^th birthday.

Mottomosa, was on the Atascosa River five miles upriver from Poteet. The community was originally called Agua Negra which referred to the dark water that came out of a natural spring containing iron oxide. An early post office opened in July 1866 was called Mottomosa (“beautiful grove”). This post office was discontinued in September 1875. In January 1876 the Gates Valley post office was established. Gatesy’s father Billy was the first post master. The Gates Valley post office was discontinued in February 1880. In 1881 a new application was submitted to the postal authorities. Ditto was written into the space for the name - assuming that the authorities would understand that the town was requesting the same name as before. The approval came for the name Ditto, Texas. Businesses in the early community included a grist mill, cane mill, general mercantile store, and a gin.

On September 2, 1884 at the age of 20 Gatesy married Rubelle R Thomas, age 16, in Atascosa County. Rubelle, daughter of Sarah Flora Smith and Sam Houston Thomas, was born in Atascosa County on November 13, 1868. The couple settled in Atascosa County and began a family. E.J. Gates first appears on the tax rolls in 1885; where his livestock holdings were listed as 20 horses, 12 cow, and 6 hogs. By 1887, E.J. Gates was taxed on 160 acres that his father gave/sold him.

In September 1883, Gatesy’s younger sister, Mason Elizabeth Gates, age 16, married Robert “Bob” Pickett age 27, in Atascosa County. The couple settled in Atascosa County and lived nearby. On February 7, 1885, Mason gave birth to a son, William Walter Pickett. According to newspaper reports, Bob Pickett was a Texas Ranger. Just days after the baby was born, Pickett came home drunk while Mason was washing clothes in a tub under a shade tree. Bob came by behind her and whipped her with a doubled up rope because she wasn’t cooking dinner.

A neighbor got on her horse and rode to Gatesy’s place and told him what happened. Gatesy went and got Mason and the baby and took them to his home. He then fetched the local doctor as Mason was in very bad shape and nearly died.

When Pickett came to get Mason, Gatesy refused to let his still recuperating sister leave. He told Pickett that Mason would stay until she was well and then she could decide what to do. Pickett went into the bedroom where Mason was; his kissed his wife and the baby and then left.

Pickett let it be known that he was carrying a gun and that the first time he caught Gatsey out, he was going to “blow his brains out,” for taking Mason away from him. Gatesy heard that Pickett was threatening to kill him so he carried a rifle in his wagon when in the fields.

On February 16, 1885 Gatsey was out in the fields plowing corn. With him was a hired hand. When Gatesy spotted Pickett approaching, he moved to the tail gate of his wagon. As Pickett drew his pistol, Gatesy grabbed his rifle. According the family lore, Pickett's shot missed, but Gatesy didn't, he shot Pickett, killing him. Pickett left behind a widow and baby boy.

The crime must have been sensational for the times. It was reported in newspapers in Galveston and New Orleans.  

I love that these articles as refer to Gatesy as "one of the Gates brothers". 

When I was growing up in the Kyrene farm community, I was known as "one of the Gates girls".

The matter was sent to the Atascosa County Grand Jury to review for possible legal action. In October 1885, the Grand Jury issued a decision that Gatesy Gates should be indicted for murder.

On October 8, 1885, Atascosa County issued an arrest warrant for Gatesie Gates for the murder of Bob Pickett. 

The warrant was marked “NO BAIL”. Gatesy was arrested and hauled into court on the same day.

A court summons was issued to W.N. Gates, Mary J. Gates, Mason Pickett, John Petty, Emery Foster, Jas. T. Gates, J.C. Gates, Henry Johnson, John Johnson, and George Petty to appear at courthouse in Pleasanton on October 10, 1885 to give evidence on behalf of the defendant. 

At the hearing, the defendant requested bail, and it appears bail was granted.

In March 1886, the court summoned sixty residents of the county to appear on April 5, 1886 as potential jurors. 

On April 3rd, Gatesy was issued a list of persons summoned as jurors.

Subpoenas were issued to Mrs. Minnie Russell, Gib. Petty, John Troxtell, and Dr. H.B. Scurlock to appear Monday morning April 5, 1886 to give testimony. A hired man was a witness to the shooting; the shooting was ruled self defense; and Gatesy was set free.

Following the trial Gatesy resumed his life.

On October 15, 1886 Gatesy’s wife Rubelle gave birth to a daughter, Frances E “Frankie” Gates [Black]. Within months of giving birth, Rubella died on December 9, 1886 at the age of 18 leaving behind a grieving husband and a 3 month old baby. She was buried in Rutledge Cemetery in Poteet.

On December 5, 1892 at the age of 22 Gatesy married Cora “Belle” Bass, age 17, in Atascosa County. Belle was born on September 2, 1875; she was a teacher. The couple settled in Atascosa County and began a family. Belle gave birth to two daughters, Jean "Eddie" Gates [Cooper] in 1893 and Cora Regenia Gates in 1895. Belle died on October 24, 1898 at the age of 23 leaving behind a grieving husband and two young daughters. She was buried in Rutledge Cemetery in Poteet, Texas.

On June 30, 1902 Gatesy married Ida Frances Seiler, age 20.  Ida, daughter of Caroline and Paul Seiler, was born on September 8, 1881 in Atascosa County. The couple settled in Atascosa County where Ida gave birth to 6 children; Thelma Seiler in 1903; Luther Benet in 1906; William Paul in 1907; Lillian Emeline in1909; May "Tommie" in 1911 and Gatesy in 1913.

In the 1910 census, the Gates family was living in Atascosa County; the family was enumerated with 5 children, Eddie age 16, Cora age 14, Luther age 4, WP age 3 and Emeline age 1. Gatesy was making a living on his general farm.

On December 16, 1913 at the age of 49, Gatesy died in Atascosa County. He left behind a his wife Ida, and 6 living children, Jean “Eddie” age 20, Cora 18,  William Paul 6, Lillian Emaline 4, Tommie 2 and Gatesy a mere13 days old. He was buried in Rutledge Cemetery in Poteet, Texas. Based on his tombstone, it is apparent Edmon was a member of Woodsmen of the World. It is likely he was a member of the Masons as well as his father and brothers were active in the local mason lodge.

 

Following the death of Gatesy, Ida married William Jasper Gibson, a rancher, in 1919. She died on April 24, 1964. She is buried in Rutledge Cemetery in Poteet.

Children of Gatesy & RubelleR. Thomas
Frances E “Frankie” Gates [Black]	1886 - 1905
Children of Gatesy & Cora Bell Bass
Jean "Eddie" Gates [Cooper]	1893 - 1990
Cora Rugenia Gates	1895 - 1916
Children of Gatesy & Ida Frances Seiler
Thelma Seiler Gates	1903 - 1904
Luther Benet Gates	1905- 1912
William Paul Gates	1907- 1997
Lillian Emaline Gates [Kincaid Hopkins]	1909 - 1959
Tommie May Gates [Smoot]	1911 - 1998
Gatesie Jack Gates [Storms Shankle]	1913 – 1996

Thanks to Pamela Zawacky for the court records shown in this post.