Article
On the afternoon of May 25, 1937, violence broke out on the town square in Morton when Bill Jaggers, a 48-year-old farmer and dance hall proprietor, was shot multiple times.
Jaggers was struck by three bullets, one of which penetrated his left lung. The wounds were serious, and he was rushed to a sanitarium in Lubbock for treatment. Early reports described his condition as grave, and authorities delayed filing formal charges while awaiting word on whether he would survive. Despite the severity of his injuries, hospital officials soon reported steady improvement, though they warned of the lingering danger of pneumonia due to the lung wound.
The man responsible for the shooting, W. S. “Walt” Jones, a 60-year-old longtime Morton resident and father of seven, did not flee. Instead, he surrendered to authorities immediately after the incident and was placed in the Cochran County jail by Sheriff Tom C. Standefer. A complaint charging Jones with assault with intent to murder was prepared by Assistant District Attorney Victor H. Lindsey and later filed with Justice of the Peace J. P. Taylor.
Jones made a statement the day of the shooting claiming he acted in self-defense, asserting that Jaggers had threatened him with a knife during a dispute over an alleged debt. Jaggers denied both claims, insisting he neither owed Jones money nor threatened him in any way. The conflicting accounts set the stage for what would become a closely watched legal battle.
Bond for Jones was set at $2,500, though he remained in jail for a time after his arraignment. As Jaggers’ condition improved, authorities indicated they would not oppose bail unless his recovery took a sudden turn for the worse. By early June, Jaggers had recovered enough to be released from the sanitarium and return home to Morton, while Jones was free on bond awaiting trial.
The case came to trial in early November 1937 in the 72nd District Court, presided over by Judge Daniel A. Blair. Proceedings stretched into the evening hours as both sides presented their cases. The state, represented by District Attorney Burton S. Burks, Assistant District Attorney Victor H. Lindsey, and County Attorney Lloyd R. Kennedy, called eight witnesses, including Jaggers himself. The defense, led by Amarillo attorney Henry S. Bishop, presented twelve witnesses, among them Mrs. Jones, who testified on behalf of her husband.
After closing arguments on November 2, the jury began deliberations at approximately 6:00 p.m. and returned a verdict just after 9:00 that night. W. S. “Walt” Jones was found guilty of assault with intent to murder. The jury assessed a five-year sentence but recommended it be suspended.