From the Annals of Killing – In 1901, Gregorio Lira Cortez shot and killed Karnes County sheriff W. T. Morris.  Morris was investigating a horse theft and learned that Cortez had recently acquired a horse.  He confronted Cortez and his brother Ronaldo and their tenant farm.  Problems with translation led to Morris shooting and wounding Ronaldo.  Cortez then shot and killed Morris escaping to a nearby farm.  When the Gonzales County attempted to arrest Cortez at the farm, both he and the owner were killed in a shoot out.  Cortez then walked 100 miles to a friend’s home where he obtained a horse and made out for Laredo.  The ensuing manhunt involved over 300 men, but Cortez was only captured when he was betrayed by a friend.  With many newspapers  covering the massive manhunt, Cortez became a hero to many Hispanics and some Anglos.  After his arrest and first trial, a mob attempted to lynch Cortez while his case was on appeal.  The lynching failed but the appeal was successful.  Cortez was tried again and sentenced to life.  Cortez was finally granted a conditional pardon by Gov. Oscar Colquitt and released in 1913. Cortez’s escape, the massive manhunt and capture and trials made Cortez something of a folk hero. His exploits are celebrated in many variants of El Corrido de Gregorio Cortez, a popular ballad that has inspired books and at least one movie.