Ellsberry Richard Lane was the husband of Mary Bartlett Millett.
This transcript is taken from typewritten sheets in a folder marked "Millett and Lane Family History"
in box 2.325/F50, Millett (Tex.) Collection, at the Center for American History,
University of Texas, Austin.
It is attributed to the San Antonio [Texas] Semi-Weekly Express, August 23, 1904.
A note with the typescript says his picture accompanies the newspaper story.
Obvious transcription errors have been corrected.
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COL. E. R. LANE DIES AT HIS MILLETT RANCH
ABLE LAWYER WELL KNOWN OVER STATE REACHES END
For many years a resident of San Antonio, holding prominent place in State's affairs and gaining repute in celebrated cases.
Col. E. R. Lane, one of the ablest criminal and land lawyers of Texas, and for many years a resident of San Antonio, died at his ranch residence, Laurafield, near Millett station, Thursday evening at 7:10 o'clock. He was reported in a very serious condition Wednesday and his death was not unexpected.
About four months ago he has an attack of appendicitis, and another attack about a month ago. Last Sunday morning the abscess ruptured, but he refused to be operated upon. On Wednesday Dr. Amos Groves, Sr. of this city, was sent for, an incision was made. A very severe gangrenous condition was revealed and seeing the case was hopeless, the operation for appendicitis was not performed. At the deathbed were Mrs. Lane, the widow, Mr. & Mrs. Clifton Lane and Miss May Lane.
He is survived by his widow and four children, Miss Nona L. Lane of Bayonne, N. J., Mrs. Otto Ottesen of California, Miss Mary Lane and Clifton H. Lane of Millett. The body will be brought to San Antonio today and the funeral will take place from the home of Senator Marshall Hicks, 733 Main Ave. at five o'clock this afternoon. Interment will be made in the family burying plot. The funeral services will be conducted by Dean Richardson.
BORN IN LOUISVILLE
Col. Lane was one of the most prominent men in this section. He was born in Louisville, Ky. in 1838. He came to Texas when he was 10 years old and settled near Goliad. Among the first work that he performed was taking rocks out of a rock quarry at Goliad. He educated himself, and went to school in Bastrop with Joseph D. Sayers. He read law early, and while clerk of the District Court at New Braunfels obtained his license to practice.
In the Civil War he was a member of Sibley's brigade and participated in the La. and New Mexico campaigns. He was at first adjutant in the Fourth regiment of this brigade and later was a captain.
On Sept. 3, 1861 he married Miss Mary Millett, sister to Capt. Alonzo Millett in Guadalupe County.
After the war he was elected district attorney for the district represented by Goliad, Victoria and adjoining Counties.
WON IN BRAZIL MURDER CASE
He was in some of the most noted criminal and land cases in DeWitt County he made a successful defense and finally had his client liberated after a legal fight lasting a number of years. It was in these cases that the higher court quashed the famous indictments concluding "against the peace and dignity of the State."
Col. Lane was in the celebrated $100,000 O'Connor forgery case. In this case he defeated an attempt to collect two notes for $50,000 each to which the name of old man Dennis O'Connor had been forged. Afterwards as district attorney he convicted the forger of murder and had him given a life sentence in the penitentiary. He also made successful defenses in the murder cases growing out of the noted Taylor-Sutton feud.
In 1879 he represented Goliad, Victoria and adjoining counties in the State Senate.
HIS CAREER IN THIS CITY
He afterward moved to San Antonio and formed the partnership of Lane and Maydale.
Later he practiced alone, then again formed another law partnership with Senator Marshall Hicks. At the close of his death he was associated in the law practice with his son H. C. Lane.
During the term of Honorable Joseph D. Sayers as Governor, he was appointed judge of the Thirty-sixth Judicial district an office he had held for about nine months.
Col. Lane was a gentleman of the old school—a man of splendid presence, reserved manner and dignified bearing, but courteous at all times. He was positive in his convictions and stern in his judgments, but withal exercised a broad liberality toward the opinions of others.
Generosity was a part of his nature, and devotion to his friends a dominant characteristic.
As a lawyer he had few superiors. His knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence was accurate and his mind was trained in the stern logic of the law. His client's causes became his own, and though fair in debate there was a zeal thrown into his work which accounted for much of the distinction at the bar which he enjoyed.
This obituary was published in the Dallas [Texas] Morning News,
August 19, 1904, page 9.
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COL. R. E. [sic] LANE DEAD.
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Was Confederate Veteran and Noted
Criminal Lawyer.
Special to the News.
San Antonio, Tex., Aug. 18.—Col. E. R. Lane, one of the most noted criminal and land lawyers of Texas, and a Confederate veteran, died this afternoon at his ranch, Laurafield, near Millett Station, of appeidicitis. An operation was performed, but his malady was of a number of years' standing, and his life could not be saved.
Col. Lane was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1838, and came to Texas when ten years of age, settling with his parents at Goliad. He educated himself, and sent to school in Bastrop with Joseph D. Sayers. In the war he joined Sibley's Brigade, and participated in the Louisiana and New Mexico campaigns. He was in some of the most noted law cases of the Southwest, successfully conducting the defense in the celebrated Dr. Brazil murder case from DeWitt County, and defeating the Dennis O'Connor $100,000 forgery case. He represented Goliad, Victoria and adjoining counties in the State Senate in 1879, and was at one time District Attorney in that section, and during Gov. Sayers' term he was appointed Judge of the Thirty-Sixth Judicial District. He was a man of culture and was highly esteemed.