Sunday, April 28, 2024
Emiliano “Nano” Calderon, the CHC Program Coordinator in the History Programs Division of the Texas State Historical Commission in Austin, recently went on a private tour of the courthouse with local historical commission chairman, Danny Corbett.
Tiffany Butler, who works in the building and is considered by many to be the official “courthouse historian,” guided the two men on a tour of the building describing how it was constructed and important events that have taken place inside and outside the 125-year-old structure.
She even showed them the bullet hole in a doorway in the district courtroom where, in 1909, Verna Ware opened fired during court killing three men. It was written that tensions were riding high in the district courtroom at the Coryell County Courthouse. A town divided had come to witness a much-discussed court case… that would never culminate with a verdict.
Multiple gun shots rang out in the packed courtroom, and those assembled were scrambling to avoid the sudden spray of bullets fired by a woman who was “wronged” by the man who was on trial for seducing her.
The remaining bullet hole in the district courtroom door is the only reminder of what happened many years ago. Butler said that it is one of the main attractions during her courthouse tours.
Calderon was in Gatesville to attend the monthly Coryell County Historical Commission meeting. He gave a presentation to the members of the commission and spoke on new programs that the Texas State Historical Commission would be addressing in the next year.
