As regarding Helms activities before becoming Sherriff several reference books claim he killed a free negro either during or after the Civil War. The nearest that I can find for a contemporary reference is the following regarding {John} Wesley Hardin whom C. Stringo calls "Wess Harden" .pp.149-150

http://tinyurl.com/3zvopj2

Note Stringo account should be used with caution-for example this version of hardin shooting a man in his hotel room in Abeline {.p.143} is apparently based on hardin's own version -that the man was robbing him and hardin shot him four times {.p.43}

> In fact -the man killed by Hardin in the hotel room was killed August 6 not July 7, 1871; he was shot in his own room-not while trying to steal Hardin's pants/money...Also Stringo has a version of Hardin shooting
> {killing one and wounded another} of the texas State Police who tried to arrest him in August 1872 {Hardin version}...this never happened According to ODMP historians}. Likewise when Hardin one of his encounters with the TSP did result in one killed/1 one wounded {also mentioned in hardin book} this happened in October-not September 1871.
>
> So at best the Stringo report is at best hearsay and second hand at least
> and not always reliable
>