From the Sept. 6, 1907 Dallas Morning News

Mauled to Death
M.H. Zellner found with skull crushed by scantling and life extinct
Pockets are rifled.
Forty dollars in possession of victim is missing and robbery is indicated
Police are without a clue
Three Mexicans are arrested but later released - Leave weapon at scene of tragedy

Early yesterday morning the dead body of M. Hillery Zellner was found on a cot of cement sacks on Ross Avenue near Fitzhugh. As he lay on this improvised pallet, apparently, he was struck twice across the head with a piece of scantling. The blow from one had crushed the forehead across. Another piece, believed to be wielded by other hands than the first, crushed the face from forehead to chin. He had died without a struggle and with little loss of blood.
The pockets, except the right pocket of the trouser, had been turned, and whatever valuables he had were taken. The right hand was thrust in the trousers pocket, and this pocket had been cut into without the removal of the hand. This leads to the belief that the act was done near daylight, and that his slayers were in haste.
Zellner was about 60 years of age. He was in the employ of the Dallas Gas Company and was employed on Ross Avenue as a watchman at a place where the company is laying mains preparatory to the paving of Ross Avenue. The scantling had been taken from a house in process of construction more than 300 feet away. The man was last seen alive at about 3.30 o'clock in the morning. It is believed that he was still awake when he was slain, as the pipe was lying beside the head as if knocked from the mouth by one of the blows that killed the man.

Carried sum of money
Zellner lived at 145 Dexter Street. L. Homer Zellner his son, a laborer at the cotton mills says that his father left home at 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon with $40 or more on his person. He had left an additional part of the salary he had shortly before received at the home of his daughter-in-law. Not a cent was found on the dead body.
Detectives Cornwell and Gunning were placed on the case. They arrested three Mexicans during the morning. Close examination of them failed to show that they had any knowledge of the deed, so the officers declared.
The body of the dead man was discovered after daylight. The deed was committed almost in front of the residence of W.D. Hume, and the telephone call for the police was sent in from that residence. Officers Danel and Hanie answered the call. They found no clew to the act of murder other than the two pieces of scantling, small and short but heavy and bloody. The remains were removed to the undertaking establishment of J.P. Donovan & Co.
Justice John F. Williams, acting in the capacity of Corner, viewed yesterday the remains and rendered a verdict to the effect that the deceased came to his death as the result of injuries inflicted at the hands of parties unknown.
The funeral of Zellner will be held at 10 o'clock this morning from 135 Corinth Street. Interment will be in Oakland.