Houston Post Dispatch
Palacios Beacon
February 21, 1929
Condition Critical at Houston Hospital, While Tenant is Held in Jail
Dr. W. W. Bouldin, 60, physician and drug store owner at Bay City, was in a critical condition in St. Joseph’s infirmary Tuesday night, his face shattered by a charge of buckshot which ripped out both eyes.
He was wounded late Monday afternoon on his plantation about 12 miles from Bay City, after engaging in an argument with Dace Layton, his tenant, about pasturing a horse, according to information obtained by officers.
Layton was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Harris Milner of Matagorda county and charged with assault to murder before Justice of the Peace D. E. Capes.
At a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning, Layton was bound over to await action by the Matagorda county grand jury under $3,000 bound. Layton late Monday still was in jail, unable to furnish bail.
At a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning, Layton was bound over to await action by the Matagorda county grand jury under $3000 ond. Layton late Monday still was in jail, unable to furnish bail.
Although two witnesses testified at Layton’s preliminary hearing, the shooting was surrounded by mystery.
Luther Coppock, who lives on the Bouldin plantation, main witness for the state at the hearing, said he heard Dr. Bouldin and Layton engaged in an argument a short time before the physician was shot down at close range with a 12 gauge shotgun. He said Layton’s wife brought the weapon part to the site? where the men were wrangling.
Layton, the witness declared, walked to his wife, took the gun and returned to where Dr. Bouldin was standing when the gun fired, he declared.
The charge struck the gray-haired physician full in the face, tearing out his eyes and disfiguring his face horribly. Persons in the vicinity rushed to his assistance and summoned an ambulance.
A race to reach Houston began and the victim was brought to St. Joseph’s Infirmary there early Tuesday morning. Late Tuesday night physicians said Dr. Bouldin had but a slender chance for his life.
The only other witness at the preliminary hearing was John Walker, Negro.
His testimony corroborated that of Mr. Coppock in main details.
Dr. Bouldin has been a resident of Bay City for nearly two score years. He operated a drugstore and conducted a general practice as a physician. He is widely known and has varied and professional interests.
Dace Layton was arguing with Bouldin while Layton’s wife stood off to the side holding a shotgun. At one point, Layton walked over to his wife, took the shotgun then turned and shot Bouldin in the face.
This is according to testimony by Luther Coppock (another of Bouldin’s tenants?) and corroborated by John Walker, Negro.
Bouldin was then rushed to St. Joseph’s Infirmary in Houston where I think he arrived early Tuesday morning. By Tuesday night, doctors were saying he had but a slender chance for his life.