Deputy Sheriff Stonewall Jackson Gathings Shot in Ennis Investigation of Shooting Held at Courthouse [Abstract of article in Ennis newspaper 1931] (Contributed by Lisa Martin)   Attending physicians said Monday afternoon that there was a chance for the recovery of  Stonewall Jackson (Jack) Gathins, 55, deputy sheriff, who was wounded Friday night in a gun battle in a downtown alley here [Ennis]. Gathins' condition showed much improvement Monday. Investigation of the shootng are being held at the Ellis County courthouse in Waxahachie. A number of Ennis citizens went to the county seat to appear at the grand jury investigation - Jack Lummus, deputy sheriff; Johnny Roberts, constable; Hayden McNell, deputy sheriff, M. Swofford and G. B. Eldridge, city police. Also appearing there was Clemont Lanier, Ennis youth, who was driving south on Dallas street at hte time of the shooting. One bullet struck his car. Telephone messages from Waxahachie said that no bills were returned Monday and officials were waiting for developments in the condition of Gathins. Alvin Breeland, Ennis, is being held in the county jail facing charges of assault to murder. Gathings has three children: Mrs. L. R. Baker and Mrs. C. P. Petett, both of Dallas and Albert Gathings of English, Tex., all of whom are at his bedside. Ennis, Tex. Jan. 9.  Jack Gathings, 55, Deputy Sheriff, lies apparently at the point of death in a hospital as a result of a shooting in an alley here Friday night.  He received three bullet wonds, two in the chest and one in the liver and physicians state he cannot recover. Alvin Breeland, about 35, surrendered to constable Johnnie Roberts and was taken to the county jail inWaxahachie with charges of assault to murder.  The shooting occurred as Gathings were attempting to arrest Breeland.  Both men are married and have children.  Gathings lives at Garrett. A. V. Breeland Given Five Years in Prison Waxahachie, Tex. May 11.    A. V. Breeland of Ennis received a sentence of five years imprisonment from a jury in Judge Tom Ball's Criminal District Court.for his assault to murder Deputy Sheriff S. J. Gathings at Ennis four months ago.  Gathings was severely wounded in an Ennis alley  while on a liquor investigation.  Breeland said he was there "looking for a friend" and thought Gathings was a hijacker.  Defense has applied for a suspended sentence. OBITUARY Nov. 1, 1918 Mrs. Gathings, [ Ada Viola Martin Gathings] wife of S. J. Gathings of Ennis and daughter of Mr.and Mrs. W. A. Martin of Avery, died at Ennis on Nov. 1, of influenza. The remains arrived in Avery Saturday night and Sunday afternoon were laid to rest in the cemetery at English. Mrs. Gathings left three children and her husband. She was born and reared in Red River County and married Mr. Gathings in 1902 at English. CARD OF THANKS We desire to return our heart-felt thanks to the good people of Avery whohave been so kind to us in our great bereavment - the death and burial of our daughter, Mrs. S. J. Gathings. /s/ W. A. Martin and wife   Copyright © 2005-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:19:40 MDT