The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-06-26
THE SKELETON IN TIE CLOSET.
The BanCful Effects Of BaCChcr's Teach
lngs Extending 10 Dallas.
The Great Scandal Case OF Higgins
versus Austin.
Sketch OF The Unhappy COnple-Tle
Mutations Of Life.


barcfui influences oven 10 Dallas, and n case
was decided yesterday in the Mayors Court,
which has excited On'ldcrablc interest 1t
Is styled the state Of Texas W.. Austin, who
was accused Of having abducted, imprisoned
and scc"ctpl, In some place known only to
himself, the body OF Mrs. Higgins, wife of
John Higgins, who sought the strong arm
| of the law to bring back his wandering
| spouse. Higgins, as our readers may
| have surmlscl from his patronymic, ~
II broth OF boy" from the "Jim-
of the sny,"and his physiognomy docSnot be-
| lie his name. Several years ago he was u
| resident of Houston where he is well known
and bore n fair reputation. He was first II
waiter IN the Hutcliins House, alterward
became its caterer, and II we mistake not
steward. Ambitious, however, to WORK for
himself, he left the Hutchins House and
established II small restaurant, in partner
ship with an Engishman named Rogers.
and called II The SwitchoH. 1t was located
near the Central Railroad, and received
lair share of transient custom. Higgins next
change from the restaurant businesS, was TO
that of II saloon keeper, corner of franklin
and Main Streets, in, HouStOn, very dcsira-
bic location at the intersection of two busi-
ness streets. Here he did n rushing bust
ness, ana occN1uIliltcu SOillc money. WIN
his growing wealth came IL desire to find II
partner to share II, and realizing that
it was not good for man to be alone,
his choice fell upon young German girl
named CUlman, who in addition to her
charms, now full blown, possessed u fair
share of ducats. In short they were married,
and the bridegroom s honeymoon was gilded
with house ana lot bestowed on his bride,
n nd thnngnnI dollars III
backs, wherewithal to paper it, In an evil
hour, tempted by some promising specula-
ton in coal lands, Higgins moved to Dallas
and brought his wife with him. He pitched
his tent and erected the altar for his house,
hold gods Just opposite the terminus of the
street car line, and in memory OF old times,
baptised his establishment where the usual
first-class "wines, ales, brandies, cigars,
etc." may be purchased by the thirsty, the
Switchof. For n while everything moved
smoothly along, until whisky, that skeleton
in many family circle, , reared Its
hateful head. FdcHe deScenSnS Acerhf,
which may be freely translated, going to
the devil in II hnnd-basket. First, harsh
words and mutual recriminations; then for
getting what Shakespeare calls him who lays
his hand on woman, other than in the way
of kindness, he struck her, and as she testi-
fled yesterday, gave her n pair of black eyes
tor three months Mt u time. She finally left
him and sought refuge with mutual friend.
Higgins endeayored to drown his sorrow in
the flowing bowl. His affairs flourished net
and he left Dallas, going to Houston, Hunts
Vile, Marshall and other points. Other
friends tried to heal the breach, but wo-
mans love when turned to hate is uncon-
querable, and all was in vain. lie re-
turned to Dallas and finding his wife at
the house OF n Mrs. Crabbe who refused to
admit him, he procured writ OF
hubeds corpus charging Mrs. G. with ille-
gally restraining the person of his wife for
the purposes of prostitution. The writ was
made returnable before Judge Barksdale,
who dismissed it, and the disconsolate hus-
band sought another remedy. Hearing from
different sources that one Charlie Austin, n
curley y-headed, fascinating barkeeper, was
very intimate with his wife, he brought
ch arge against him of abduction and con-
ceament, and the case came up before his
Honor, the Mayor, last Saturday, and was
continued until yesterday. The high-priced
ediice bearing the suggestive picture of the
Bulls Head, painted by some Texas Michael
Angelo, was crowded with spectators. The
weather was nearly as warm as the case and
the audience was rather mixed. There We're
BARRIERS, butchers, bakers, and barkeepers.
Slim jim, Appetite Jake, Keno Bill, Big
NoSed George and the retired Keno
Comedian, Oscar s., with his shay
en- head and Websteran brow, were
there, all looking as if the "Summer
of their discomfort" haditaken thesplace of
GLORIOUS last winter" when hundred
cards were pegged, and II o'clock every Sat
uriay night yielded a ten dollar golden
premium; a very sharp ex-railroad con-
tractor who knows it all, and u retired cir
Gus proprietor were also there; a stout sa-
loon keeper near the market house, who
sports huge scar on his sinister cheek, and
a carefully dyed moustache, also loomed up
in the back ground in his shirt sleeves.
while several retired sports now laying on
their oars and looking out for sure
things, served to make up the mot
ley crowd. Mrs. Higgins sat inside the
railing, supported by Colonel Charlie
Austin and her counsel, Colonel Brooks
and Colonel Mcconnell, with Colonel Thur
mond in the background, the power behind
the throne. She is blonde, with long, light
hair, rather stout physique, and has n good,
large mouth, filed with handsome white
teeth. Her husband, Colonel Higgins, and
his counsel, Colonel shannon, sat next to
ton, Deputy Marshal, who was a close OBJ
server of the case. The witnesses were called
one after the other and examined. We will
spare our readers the testimony. One lady
witness, on being asked by Colonel Shannon
her age bridled up and said she was thirty
one last March, the first time IL ever came
under our reporters observation of a lady's
acknowledging her age on the witness
stand. Mrs. Shanahan, another lady wit
ness, gave her testimony In
very modest straightforward manner,
and prolonged .,cross-examination, con-
Quoted, however, in the most delicate man
ner by Colonel shannon, failed to weaken
her evidence. Colonel Brooks then placed
Mrs. Higgins upon the stand AMI Colonel
shannon objected, citing his authority.
Mayor Cabell failed however, to support his
objection, and ruled that her evidence was
admissible. She testified she had never
been abducted calling il inducted) and had
left her husband on account of i'll treatment,
not at the persuasion of Austin or anybody
else Colonel shannon did not cross-exam-
inc her and both sides submitted their case
On the weight of the testimony without ar
gument Mayor Cabell promptly ruled that
the charge of abduction was not sustained,
and the prisoner was discharged. Mrs. Hig-
gins retired with female friend, and SO
ended the great scandal case.