The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-08-10
MILES GIBBONS.
"A SHORT SKETCH OF HIS PAST LIFE.
HIS DEATH WHILE EVADING THE OFFICERS
OF JUSTICE.

HIS DEATH WHILE EvADING THE OFFICER
OF JUSTICE.
Since the memorable trial of Miles Glib
bons fer the murder of Captain Estelle tire,
years ago in this city We have heard many
doubts expressed as to Gibbons being a MAJ
of bad character. We presume all sucl
doubts will be removed after the perusal o
the following article from the st. Louis
Times, of July 9th:
THE death of Miles Gibbons, recorded In
the papers yesterday morning, formed tbs
| chief topic of conversation in certain cir
| cles where he had been one of the most
| prominent characters for a dozen years
/ Gibbons was born in the county Mayo. Ire
lard, but moved to Leeds, England. in 1850
being at that time about twelve years old
| In Leeds he received an excellent education
| and, according tc schoOlmate, was gen.
orally recognized as 1.-The boss of the school,
! Between fourteen and fifteen years ago he
came to this country, and at once to St
Louis. which he has made his headquarters
1 ever since. 1t is said that ne followed the
occupation of steamboatman for several
/ years, and then opened a saloon in the vi
! cnity of MAR street and the levee. Since
chat time he has led shiftless sort of life,
at one time working little, and then liv-
/ ing upon the earnings of hard working
| wife. One of the peculiar features OF Mi
| ley'S" makeup was perfect reckleSSness in
| shedding blood. With knife and two or
| three hackers there was not more danger
/ Gus man among the ''rOunders," when his
opponent was single. But overpowered, he
was ready to take back or promise anything.
| One of his exploits was the killing of Cap
tain Estelle, in Jackson, Mississippi, some
three or four years ago. For this offense he
barely escaped lyncAing, and when brought
to trial, took change of venue to Vicks-
| burg where he ultimately got off. 1t is
also asserted that he stabbed man in New
Orleans who died from the effects of the
wound.
'tMany readers will recollect bloody
row at rattle on the levee, in which a man
was killed, in 1867, Gibbons and Tom Riley
being the principal accessories to the muir
der. Riley was tried but acquitted, and a
year or two ago came to his death as the re
suit of fall from railroad bridge in Day
ton. Ohio.
Gibbons and Riley had several encounters,
in one of which the latter received a severe
cut from - Miley's" knife. On another oc-
casion Gibbons carried off as a trophy a
huge piece of Toms lip, and then with a slap
on the back told him to come up and take
drink. The knife was his favorite weapon.
ahd when cornered or thirsting for blood
he would call for his ''chive," as he invari-
ably termed it. Among the police he was
looked upon as an ugly case. and when I'M
der arrest was generally obliged to march
in front ofthe officer. There were plenty
of men who would have shot him with any
show of provocation. Gibbons appears to
have felt this, for he always exhibited much
craft, and although covered with scars and
bruises, he always miraculougly escaped any
fatal injury.
In the Police court he was a frequent
visitor, and was sent to the workhouse
periodically for vagrancy. In addition to
the executions against him, there are said
to be thousands of dollars in the way of
unsatisfied judgments still in the hands of
the clerk ofthe Police court. Perhaps there
is no darker phase to this dark life then the
brutal treatment to which Gibbons subject
ed his wife, who nevertheless chung TO him
with unceasing devotion As often as three
or four times in a single night have the
patrolmen been called in by the shrieks of
the woman. and yet it was almost impossi-
BILE to get her to appear in court against
him. Three weeks ago he left her for dead
and closing the windows and doors, started
off. Some one above alarmed, perhaps, by
the unnatural stiffness, called watch and
Gibbons was caught at the foot of the stairs
He was bailed out jumped his bond, and the
depety marshal was after him the very day
he died.
1t seems that he came out upon the avn
ing to get some fresh air, and, leaning
against the railing, which was insecure. he
foil over and fractured his skull upoh the
Nicolson pavement.
The coroner held an inquest yesterday,
and large numbers of MiIey's companions
dropped in to take last look at the deceased
Patsey Curtin dropped 3 tear and paid a
high tribute to the character of his old
friend, and not few had a word.to say for
MiIey, in spite of his brutality and rough
traits. One remembered how Mfley won
five dollars on a grammatical point, over
which he and Charley Gallagher had had
a discussion Another bore testimony TO
the excellent handwriting of the departed.
and a third called to mind the palmy days of
the I" p B." when Miley valiently met
Henry Fitzgerald and others Of that ilk.