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Family legend has it that while Robert and his family were living in Quanah, Hardeman County, Texas, a local youth tried stealing watermelons from their garden. Robert got his gun and shot at the car as it was making its escape. The shot fatally wounded the youth and Robert was apprehended. In the end, he was cleared of murder and allowed as a free man, but lost the family ranch in the process. On the way out of the courthouse, he and the rest of his family were shot at by family of the now diseased youth. Lillie Ann James (Doty), wife of Robert Fulton Doty, was pregnant with Mary Ellen Cathline Doty at the time (circa early 1925) and was wearing a black coat with a fur liner. The shot was said to have put holes in this coat and in later years Lillie showed it to her grandchildren.
QUANAH TRIBUNE CHIEF Tuesday August 19, 1924
Young Fellow Killed While on Escapade
Three Acme Boyes Rob Watermelon Patch with Fatal Results to L.C. Hilton
Robbing a watermelon patch Thursday night, cost the life of L.C. Hilton, 23 years, from Acme. It was shortly after one o'clock Friday morning when R.F. Doty, twelve miles northwest of Quanah, heard intruders about his house. His watermelon patch had been pilfered before, and Doty went out carrying with him a thirty-thirty rifle.
The visitors were three boys from Acme, who had just loaded their car with Doty's melons, and hearing him coming stepped on the gas to start for home.
Doty fired, it is said intending to puncture a tire, but the bullet hit the body of the car, and struck young Hilton in the back.
The boys in front speeded up, and had gone several miles before they discovered that Hilton had fallen out of the car. They unloaded their melons, and went back finding their companion dead in the road a couple of miles from where they had halted.
Doty was arraigned on a charge of murder before Justice of Peace Grundy Friday morning. No witnesses being present, the hearing of the case was set for Monday morning at 10 o'clock. Squire Grundy set Doty's bond at $10,000, but motion of County Attorney Bartlett who stated that Doty was a poor man, owning no property of any kind save two cows, this bond was reduced to $5,000.
Doty stands well in his community, and looks like a clean, self-respecting man. He was accompanied to the court room by his wife and eighteen-year-old son.
The auto which figured in the tragedy was brought to town Friday morning, and the town coroner man noticed where one bullet had struck the body of the car, passing through the back. We heard the bullet had broke his backbone probably killing him instantly.
Mrs. Doty told the following: "It was about two o'clock in the morning when I woke up by an auto stepping near the house. I looked out and saw they were putting out their lights. My husband and son left the house carrying a 30-30 rifle, and slipped through the corn towards the melon patch.
When drawing near they saw three men loading up their car with melons, and Mr. Doty hollered at them. They jumped in the car and started away, my husband shooting three times trying to puncture a tire. He came back to the house saying he believed he had hit that car, and we went back to bed until woke up by the sheriff who told us that a man had been killed."
Carter Hilton, we were told, was a fine boy, hard working and the main support of his parents. He has been working at the cement mills for the past five years, and no boy was better liked or more thought of. At the time of the shooting he was in the car with Lee Skinner and Clarence Lockhart. When the second shot was fired, they heard him say: "Drive fast, boys, I'm shot." They were excited and had gone for two miles before they noticed that Hilton had fallen out of the car. Even after they had returned to Acme with the body, it took them some time to realize that their friend was dead.
The witnesses having come to town, the examining trial was held that afternoon, and it was learned that three boys had left Acme about nine o'clock, and had examined three cotton patches looking for melons, before coming to Doty's place. They had already four melons in the car, and were loading four more, when interrupted by the farmer.
Sheriff Aiken who examined the place of the shooting testified that after Hilton fell out of the car, his body was dragged for over one hundred yards, which might had contributed to his death.
Doty's bond was reduced to $3,000, which he readily gave, to await the action of the grand jury in October.
Research in the Hardeman County Courthouse for court records on the trial showed little evidence:
October 9, 1924
"We the grand jury empanelled for the October term here with tender eight felony indictments & one misdemeanor" (No names or charges given)
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WW1 Draft Registration Cards, Hardeman County, Texas, 1918
Doughty, Robert Fulton
Address: RFD #2, Quanah, Hardeman Co., Texas
Age: 36 Date of Birth: March 8, 1882
Race: White
Present Occupation: Laborer Employer: Porter Bros.
Place of Employment: Army Supply Base, Norfolk, VA
Nearest Relative: Mrs. Lillie Doughty RFD #2, Quanah, Hardeman Co, Texas
Height: Short Build: Slender
Color of Eyes: Gray Color of Hair: Light Brown
Has person lost arm, leg, hand, eye or is he obviously physically disqualified? No
(On the bottom there are two stamps, Local Board for Norfolk, VA and Local Board for Hardeman Co., Texas)
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"And is the judgment that Mr. Fulton Doty, taken into custody 29th July, 1965, is not suffering from a mental or nervous condition or disorder and is diagnosed: Chronic brain syndrome associated with Cerebral Artenosclerosis with behavioral reaction and shall be discharged from this institution, 25 Oct 1966, East Mississippi State Hospital at Meridian."
Source: Panola County Courthouse, Case #6230, Docket J, page 95
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1882 - 1965 (83 years)