The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-15

Paity-F Fight and Deaths s. French tcou,ldei-
Loses his arm-Mr. Coons tolo,cs him-Aa Ed
counta-Nac Operations-Hghtcay Robbery
Death of French on the Iree-Nobe Conduct of Mr..
CoOss.
Shortly after my arrival here, | found in one Of
your papers brief account Of the acts and career
Of the notorious Captain Parker II. French, in
Texas. As the history of this noted imposter has
been both remarkable and strange, and being
witness to many Of his acts, take the liberty Of
forwarding you few items relative to French's
movements after leaving San Antonio At San
| Antonio became one Of his dupes, and purchased
Oike the $50 Others then with him) my ticket for
$500, he contracting to set me down within sixty
days in California.
French was q Of extraordinary energy, and
very pleasing address. His aaroitness and cunning
have been exemplihed during his sojourn in Texas.
Notice, the persons he duped in that State were all
old and experienced business men. Such was his
address, scarce merchant in San Antonio, 60
vernment officer, escaped him. Provisions, arms,
and ammunition were furnished him at San Antonio
at government cost prices; for all of which he
paid in drafts on Rowland & Aspinwall, of New
York. Leaving San Antonio, he pushed on, with
a view to overtakng the government train, owned
by Messrs. Coons & Lewis, then their way to
Franklin, opposite FL Paso del Norte. We reached
Coons and Lewis encampment on the Pecos river,
August 10, 1880. At this time out Of
bread stuffs and all other supplies, excepting beef
French had purchased large drove Of beeves near
San Antonio, and was well prepared in this respect.
was chosen one of three, who accompanied French
to the tent Of Mr.. B. F. Coons, government con-
tractor, in order to ascertain the practicabty OF
procuring provisions from him, company had
then been four days without flour or bread Upon
application to Mr.. Coons were referred to Major
Sprague, commanding escort to the train. The
major at once authorized Coons to issue the sup
plies required by Captain French, providing he
(Coons) should respond to the commissary at
Franklin for the original cost of the provisions.
Coons then demanded French's letters of recon-
mendation, and examined his purpcrred letter of
credit from Rowland T. nspfwall. French had
come well prepared with letters to Coons, from the
latters most intimate friends in Texas. After con-
sulting Major Sprague, Lieutenant Turnkey, the
commissary, and Capt. Nat. Lewis, (his partner)
Mr. Coons consented to furnish all the supplies
we might want between the Pecos and Franklin,
and to accept drafts on Rowland and Aspinwall for
the amour This was French's first dealing with
Coons but the latter not destined to receive so
slight share of our worthy captains favors, as
will soon be seen. In pushing to overtake the 60
yernment train, we had succeeded in breaking
down all Of our mules.
After travelling few days with the government
train, French commenced negotiating with Coons
for number Of wagons and mules. The latter
evidently mistrusted French, from the various in
quiries he made of myself and Others IN rrenchs
party, about the expedition, &c. French finally
exhibited his letters from business men in Lavacca,
Victoria, San Antonio, and New Orleans, which,
as might be expected successfully drew the blind
over Coons' eyes, and the tsade was concluded In
this pur chase French got 200 mules and 2Swagons,
which were at once delivered to him. The entire
train was now at the forks Of the two roads from
Texas; one Of these roads leading up the
Pecos, the other striking out to the left, toward
the Rio Grande. Water being very scarce, Coons
and Lewis concluded to separate herc-the former
going the upper and Lewis the lower route. French
resolved at once to part with Coons, and join Lewis
in the lower route. This move was evidently sus-
pcious, as it was thought to be a preparatory step
to crossing the Rio Grande, thus evading Coons
and such Of French's dupes asmght attempt to fol-
low him from Texas. On reaching the valley OF
the Rio Grande, French proposed passing over into
Mexico; but We found Coons had guarded
against this by giving written instructions to his
major domo, to follow the lower route, and under
no circumstances to deyiate from it,. French
now found himself constrained to push on to
IL Paso, which he did, with view of get
ting away from there before news OF his
Transaction SHOULD be received from Texas.
On the road up the Rio Grande, he purchased goods
TO the amount of several thousand dollars from the
suffers to the train, and endeavored to conceal
large amount Of provisions in his own wagons from
those he had got from Coons Leaving his train
behind, and taking four picked men with him, he
pushed ON to III Paso. Here he was again frus-
trated, for who should he meet at Franklin but
Coons. The latter had received news Of the move
paal nv To rOsSt trraute
rode TO intercept him. Before Coons and French
separated. our Captain had made contract with
Coons for i2' mules, at Zoo each to be delivered
lie also got Of him, or rather was to get, 1000
fenagas of corn, at ss 80 per ienaga, Mr. Z.
had both mules and corn on hand, but refused per-
emptorily to deliver either until he should receive
letters from San Antonio. French knew this
would be death blow to him and his projects, and
endeavored to obvate the pending evil by dupli-
eating his contracts with Mr.. James Magofin, an
old Chihuahua trader, then residing at Franklin.
Like Coons, Magofin examined the good captains |
letters, and like him, was taken In by our bold adj
yenturer. Ii were useless to detail all OF this man
dealings while at Franklin. As near rs J could
learn, his purchases were as follows;-Of b. +. |
Coons, $4,000 aud of Magofin, $4,000, all Of
which was for mules, wagons, and supplies, at very
high prices Both of these had advanced mo-
ney but not to any very large amount lie
also got goods and money from various others at /
IL Paso, amounting to about ten thousand dollars.
While on the Pecos, Coons had exacted from /
French full bill of sale of all his train and effects,
to secure draft ofsI9,ooo on lIowland& Aspinwall
This sosn became known, and gave alarm to the |
company under French. This alarm was increased
by the arrival Of express from San Antonio, /
bringing news Of French's frauds. Mr. Coons was /
amongst the first to know ofhs (frenchs) dealings,
and finding prior bill Of sale existed of Frenchs
train, he at once took forcibe possession Of the l
train he had sold French; upon seeing which,
French's company revoltcd and driving him from
his camp, took possession of it, and refused TO
admit French az owner of anything on the
grounds. Every effort was made by both Magofin,
and Coons to secure themselves from Frenchs
effects; but they only partially succeeded in
source, that Magofin would lose about $1,000,
and Coons $1,000, by French. party of
French's men soon resolved to rid the world Of
such a scoundrel; but he was nowhere to be found.
He had fed into Mexico, and remained abscondcd