Judge Covey C. Thomas, 60, former district judge of the 81st Judicial District, and recent candidate for the Democratic nomination as chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, ended his life at Cotulla Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock on the sidewalk of the fire station. A number of witnesses on the opposite side of the street witnessed the tragedy and saw Judge Thomas as he slumped to the sidewalk dead. A recent nervous breakdown was believed to have caused the killing. Going from his home to the post office a block distant shortly before 1 o'clock he parked his car in front of the fire station and after returning from the post office stood on the sidewalk of the station near the window extracted a 45-calibre revolver from his pocket, placed it on the left side of his head and fired, the bullet passing through his head and causing almost instant death. The shooting caused considerable excitement and before the body was removed a large crowd gathered about the scene. The body was then taken to the local undertaking parlor and members of Judge Thomas family notified of the tragedy. Judge Thomas was one of the best known attorneys and ranchmen in Southwest Texas and for many years had been a resident of La Salle County making his headquartes and home in Cotulla. In addition to holding a number of minor political offices he served as county judge of La Salle County for a number of years and then as district judte of the 81st Judicial District for 12 years. Four years ago he was a candidate for judge of the court of civil appeals and was defeated, and in the July primaries he was defeated for the office of chief justice of the Texas supreme court. Several years ago he met with an accident that necessitated the amputation of his left leg above the knee, but was able to continue his legal duties by using an artificial leg. About a month ago he suffered a nervous breakdown and since that time had been in impaired health. His tragic death Saturday came as a surprise to his family and friends, as he was believed recovering from the effects of the breakdown. Surviving him besides a widow are a brother, Woodlief Thomas, who is in the Rosenberg hospital recovering from a broken hip sustained in an accident; another brother, Alva Thomas, of Cotulla; also three sisters, Mrs. Roe Oliver of Laredo; Mrs. E.B. Coleman of Fort Worth, and Mrs. G.W. Hendricks of San Antonio. Judge Thomas was one of the counsel seeking a new trial for Raymond J. West and Tomas Hernandez, former Laredo officers who were convicted in the killing of Harry Williams, late news reporter of laredo Times.