DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Captain George T. Todd — born in Virginia in 1839, came to Texas in 1843, and by the time he died in 1913, he had packed enough living into one life to fill about three.
Now pull up close, because this story goes some places. Todd fought with Hood's Texas Brigade in the Civil War — one of the most storied outfits the Confederacy ever put in the field. And at Chickamauga, when General Hood was shot, Todd stepped up and took command.
Just like that. That's the kind of man we're talking about. Then in 1864 and 1865, he fought west of the Mississippi with Lane's Partisan Rangers.
When the war was done, Todd didn't exactly slow down. He served in the Texas Legislature. He sat on the University of Texas Board of Regents.
The man had range. But here's where the story takes a turn into something darker, something that had all of Texas — and plenty of folks well beyond — leaning in and listening close. In 1877, a Cincinnati jewelry salesman by the name of Abe Rothchild was accused of the roadside murder of a woman known as Diamond Bessie Moore.
And George T. Todd, serving as district attorney, was the man who prosecuted him. That trial stretched across seven years.
Seven. It put some of the nation's best lawyers against one another in open conflict, and when it was all over, it had set numerous legal precedents that would echo through courtrooms long after everyone in that room was gone. The site of Todd's home sits right here in Marion County — a quiet enough spot for a man who never seemed to find much quiet in his life.
What the marker says
(1839-1913) Born in Virginia. Came to Texas 1843. During Civil War, served in famous Hood's Texas Brigade. At Chickamauga, took command after Gen. Hood was shot. In 1864-1865, fought west of the Mississippi with Lane's Partisan Rangers. After war, was in the Texas Legislature and on University of Texas Board of Regents. As district attorney, prosecuted Cincinnati jewelry salesman Abe Rothchild for the 1877 roadside murder of "Diamond Bessie" Moore. Covering 7 years, this famous trial put in conflict some of the nation's best lawyers and set numerous legal precedents.