Articles
The Mitchell/Truitt Feud
Sometime in the 1860’s the Nelson (Cooney) Mitchell family came to the area know as Mitchell bend.
One day Cooney and his son, Bill, were out looking for their cattle that were on the open range. They were in the general area of the south end of the Comanche Peak. They came upon a family with several small children that were migrating through the area in a wagon and team. Unfortunately, one of the horses had died; which meant the family was stranded.
As was the custom in those days when travelers needed lodging, a local family would help them. Such was the case with the Mitchells taking the Truitts home with them with the intention of helping them until they could get a horse and go on their way.
In the meantime, when Perminter Truitt saw the Mitchell Bend, he decided to stay in this area. Cooney had some land and sold Truitt 50 acres with the arrangement that he could work and pay for it. Mitchell helped Truitt build a log house and a smokehouse, even giving them meat to provide food.
Jim, one of the Truitt boys, wanted to become a preacher. Cooney even helped with that by purchasing for him a good suit of clothes and a Bible.
At some point in time, there developed a dispute between Mitchell and Truitt about the full payment for the 50 acres. Tension continued to develop until it was taken to court. The trial resulted in a verdict in favor of Truitt. On the way home, a confrontation developed between the Mitchell boys and the Truitt boys. The resulting incident was that a Truitt fired a shot. As was the custom in the early days, the Mitchells defended themselves with the result being that a Truitt boy was killed and another wounded.
Bill skipped the country. Cooney, at the age of 79 years, was indicted as an accomplice, tried and sentenced to death by hanging. This was done October 1, 1875. A contemporary newspaper account described the gruesome scene. A temporary gallows was constructed from 2 by 4 lumber. Nelson Cooney Mitchell was stood on the bed of a wagon with rope around his neck, and the wagon driven from under him. This was the only legal public hanging conducted in Hood County.
