The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-04-05
THE FIGHTING SEASON.
The County Attorney Draws n Pts
toll on Capt. Edwards; then on a
Hackman, and Finally shoots at
Policeman johnson.

Policeman johnson.
Again the STATEsMAS is compelled
70 take notice of piece of ruffisnIsm
on the part Of sworn peace officer,
the county attorney, which affects the
whole community, and the very publ
cation of which is disgrace to Austin
and brings a blush of shame to the
faces of all law-abiding citizens. 1t is
especially SO because it is but repeti.
ton of similar lawless acts frequently
perpetrated by him in the past. On
Monday a great many complaints were
issued against various parties
charging them with playing
keno, and the affair alluded to grew out
Of them, said to have been made by or
at the instance of the county attorney.
B. Trigg, the attorney, L. E. Edwards
and Frank Cotton met at saloon on
the Avenue and quarrel ensued
which came near ending in bloodshed,
weapons being drawn by Col. Trigg
and Capt. Edwards. Friends inter
fered and the fracas was stopped, and
Trigg, who was under the influence
of liquor, was arrested and Policeman
johnson ordered by the city marshal
to conduct him TO the calaboose, the
| n;efoI 6a ba1 1ronp -, tba eo1oo,, how
ing been taken from him. On the way to
the mayors office, Trigg demonstrated
with the policeman, saying that he was
not drunk, and that he had no bust
ness to arrest him. The policeman re-
piled that he was acting under the
marshal's orders, and that he was COM
PEELED to obey and do his duty. So
soon as the pair arrived ia the mayors
office, Trigg pulled pistol from his
pocket and fired at Johnson, the
powder burning his lace. Two men
present, one of them special police
man, named Jack Farrell, and the
other named Davis, then left the
room in hot haste, so says Officer
johnson, who was left alone to defend
himself as best he could. He in
stantlY grappled with his foe, and dur
ing short scuffle pistol was snapped
in his face two or three times. Final
ly he showed Trigg over a table and
N into another room to unfasten his
pistol, which had got fast in the scab-
bard, and when he returned he heard
Trigg going down stairs. He and
others again arrested the party and he
was locked up for the night, and yes
terday morning he gave bond of one
thousand dollars for his appearance in
court Saturday to answer to the com.
plant made against him by Policeman
johnson for assault with intent to COM
nit murder. Before all this happened
friend of Trigg's started to take him
home in hack driven by a colored
man named West, and West states that
Trigg kept ordering him to turn back,
and that the friend told him to drive
on, and finally, arriving near home,
that Trigg drew a derringer pistol and
presented it cooked at Vests head, or
dering him on the penalty of his life
to turn back, to which order he at once
suited his actions. These are the gen.
eral facts, as gained from Policeman
johnson and the hackman West, and
other parties on the street, about this
affair =
If Trigg made complaints against
the various parties for keno playing, he
was but doing his duty as sworn OFF,
Ger, and Le is to be commended for
that, but to have parties arrested for
misdemeanors and then commit
worse than misdemeanor himself is
something the community cannot toler-
ate. When peace officers turn des-
peradoes and attempt to commit MUIR
der, and that, too, in city made up
mostly by orderly and law-abiding
people, all the circumstances should
undergo the most rigorous investiga-
ton. The law. should assert itself with
out stint, and peace, order and deceney
command the situation The peace
and dignity of this community.has been
again violated, and that too bya peace
officer whose sworn duty 1T is to, do all
in his power to preserve both. His
course in this instance certainly dis
qualities him for holding such position,
and leads him to the bar of Justice,
where statutes, If enforced, will mete
out HIM a severe and rigid punish
ment.